Indian racer Akshay Gupta clinched victory in the Nurburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) second round, securing 1st place in the AM sub-class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (Cup3) and finishing 43rd overall out of 132 starters in a highly competitive field. Gupta, driving a Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Cup3) under car #949, shared driving duties with German drivers Darian Donkel and Aaron Wenisch in his debut race in the Porsche GT4 category.
Starting 12th in the Cup3 class for the 4-hour race, Gupta’s team progressed to 8th after the initial stint by Donkel. Subsequently, Wenisch advanced to 7th before Gupta extended the lead to 1 min 53 seconds over the second-place car in the AM category. This win marks a significant comeback following a disrupted season start due to the cancellation of NLS1 because of heavy snowfall.
The race witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen, initially finishing 1st overall, was later disqualified, leading to a revised final ranking. Another Indian driver, Arjun Maini, competing in the SP9-PRO (GT3) class, secured the 11th position after qualifying 12th, showcasing his strong presence in elite endurance racing circles.
Expressing his thoughts, Akshay Gupta mentioned the challenges of adapting to the Porsche GT4, highlighting its differences in driving dynamics compared to his previous experiences. He expressed satisfaction with the victory in the AM category and outlined aspirations to target the AM or ProAM championship in the upcoming seasons, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in lap times.
Gupta’s triumph signifies his steady progress in transitioning to Porsche GT4 machinery, following a track record of podium finishes and race victories in past NLS seasons across various production-based categories. The competitive nature of the Cup3 category within the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring underscores the significance of this early-season win as a testament to Gupta’s capabilities.
