Alex Hardt and Alexander Reimann write history with first overall wins at Spa-Francorchamps
More than 100 000 spectators enjoy intense races and exciting battles in all classes
Spa-Francorchamps, 9 May 2026. Two intense races, more than 100 000 spectators during the race weekend and six different winners overall and in the classes: the first race weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux 2026 fulfilled all expectations. Moreover, with Alex Hardt (a-workx by KATANA Tools) and Alexander Reimann (Quanloop EST1 Racing), the fastest one-make series in the Benelux got two new names on the victorylist. The young Estonian Reimann leaves as the first leader in the championship for Circuit Zandvoort, where the second heat of the season is scheduled on 22, 23 and 24 May.
On Friday afternoon, the first battle for the starting places was completed and it was German guest driver Alex Hardt who set the fastest time of the session. He thus immediately captured pole position for the first race, and that on his first participation in the competition. Pole position for Saturday's race was then again
for Alexander Reimann, a second first.
On Friday at six in the evening, the lights went green for the 2026 season, but an incident at the start caused the first race to be stopped for a while.
"There was indeed a collision, with Thijn van Berkel (Team GP Elite) hitting the stationary car of Joep Muller (PG Motorsport) hard," explained Olivier Aerts, Series Manager of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. "Fortunately, we are dealing with enormous safety standards in motorsport today and we will therefore see both drivers back in our competition in the foreseeable future and we wish them a speedy recovery. Obviously, this is also part of motorsport and I wish to thank the circuit's safety and medical teams for their fantastic work in these conditions."
New faces at the top at Spa
The race resumed and it was Alex Hardt who maintained his pole position, ahead of an impressive pack of chasers. The German won the race after ten laps, perhaps to his own surprise, with a bonus of just under three seconds over Alexander Reimann and reigning champion Jaap van Lagen (Team RaceArt). Frank Porté Ruiz (NGT Racing) and Tio Ellinas (Quanloop EST1 Racing) completed the top five, ahead of 2025 Rookie champion Milan Marczak (Ajith-RedAnt Racing).
"I can hardly believe this," laughed the German winner. "To immediately take pole position and victory here in this competition on my debut is unlikely."
Among the rookies, the battle was equally intense, with a win for Henry Wheeler (a-workx by KATANA Tools), ahead of local driver Arthur Peters (Team RaceArt) and David Dziwok (Team GP Elite). The champion of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux 2025, Dino van der Geest (Team GP Elite), tapped in fourth.
The PRO-AM category saw a win for Jani Käkelä (39 Racing), ahead of Maik Rosenberg (Team GP Elite) and Levent Türkmen (MDM Motorsport).
Reimann takes his first
On Saturday, the grandstands were already particularly full when the lights went green at 10.40 am for the second appointment of 30 minutes and one lap.
Alexander Reimann took a perfect start and maintained his position throughout the race, while behind him there was particularly hard fighting. The battle for the places of honour kept the many fans on the edge of their seats.
In the end, Alex Hardt took second place, despite a very late attack by Jaap van Lagen. Hardt kept his cool and had less than three tenths of a second left on the 2025 champion at the finish line. Hjelte Höffner (MDM Motorsport) finished handsomely fourth, ahead of Frank Porté Ruiz and Tio Ellinas. Behind Ellinas, David Dziwok, including a superb overtaking manoeuvre, drove to victory in the Rookie class. Joep Breedveld (Team RaceArt) and Henry Wheeler battled for silver and bronze throughout the race, with the Dutchman eventually winning. Arthur Peters tapped in fourth.
In the PRO-AM category, Maik Rosenberg won ahead of Jani Käkelä and Levent Türkmen.
Rendezvous now at Circuit Zandvoort for the second meeting of the season, on 22, 23 and 24 May.
