Here are a few things that caught our eye during races nine and ten of this season’s Prototype Cup Germany at the Nürburgring.

Danny Soufi is the driver with the most victories in the history of the series

Danny Soufi (22/USA) not only celebrated winning the title together with Pavel Lefterov (27/BUL, both Konrad Motorsport) at the Nürburgring, but he also took his place in the history books as the driver with the most race wins in the series. Since making his debut in 2022, the American has won eight times – and has been involved in every single Konrad victory in the Prototype Cup Germany. Lefterov already has a notable six wins to his name, putting the Bulgarian second in the list, together with Markus Pommer. The team with the most podiums is BWT Mücke Motorsport, who added a further three podium results to their total in the Eife Mountains.

Thomas Ambiel is the new Trophy champion

Thomas Ambiel (45/Eppingen, Rinaldi Racing) celebrated his car’s new livery – now a striking light green number – with his first title on the LMP3 scene: victory in the Trophy classification in race two at the Nürburgring was his fifth of the season and enough to see him crowned champion in this competition. “It is obviously great to win a title in my first year. I believe it is also important for my team, and they were also thrilled,” said the Rinaldi driver. His only rival was Michael Herich (48/Brühl, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport), who, like Ambiel, claimed five Trophy wins. The biggest difference between the two Trophy drivers is that Ambiel also managed to claim an overall victory and currently lies sixth in the Drivers’ Championship. “I don’t actually look at the table, but it is nice to know that reliability is rewarded with a good number of points in the Prototype Cup Germany,” he says, proudly referring to the fact that he has finished every single race so far this season. Besides Ambiel, the only other drivers to have scored points in each of this season’s ten races are Maksymilian Angelard (18/POL) and Mattis Pluschkell (21/Elmenhorst, both BWT Mücke Motorsport), Sven Barth (44/Eberbach) and Maxim Dirickx (21/BEL, both Aust Motorsport), Alexzander Kristiansson (25/SWE, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport), and Herich.

New pairing: Alexzander Kristiansson / Oscar Tunjo

Kristiansson shared a car with Oscar Tunjo (29/COL, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) for the first time at the Nürburgring, and benefitted from the experience. “It is great to drive alongside such an experienced and fast man as Oscar. He is helping me to take the next step.” Kristiansson felt more comfortable than ever behind the wheel in the Eifel Mountains. “I now have more confidence in the car and my ability. I think that is partly down to the test day on the Thursday before the race weekend, but also to working with Oscar. It gives me an extra push.” The fact that Gebhardt is taking him to the next round of the VP Racing Sportscar Challenge, an LMP3 series in North America, has only served to boost his confidence. “You race alone there, so I can’t hide behind Oscar,” he chuckles. “I am very grateful to Fritz Gebhardt for giving me this opportunity.” He seized that opportunity at the Nürburgring, claiming his first podium in the Prototype Cup Germany together with Tunjo on the Saturday.

Mikkel C. Johansen now lines up with Michael Herich

Mikkel C. Johansen (38/DEN, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) returned to the Prototype Cup Germany following his mistake at the Norisring, and started alongside Herich for the first time. The Dane also lined up at a circuit he had encountered before in an LMP3 car, having made his Prototype Cup Germany debut at the Nürburgring last year. Back then, he represented the AF2 Motorsport team. Now, he races in the colours of Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport. “Gebhardt has more experience than AF2,” said Johansen, who is happy with his new partner. “Michael knows the car very well, as he has been around for a long time. I think he is a good team-mate for me.”

Pavel Lefterov goes all-out for the fastest lap

Lefterov and his partner Soufi won the opening race of the Eifel weekend. As well as pulling off some courageous overtaking manoeuvres, he also caught the eye with the fastest lap of the entire race, which came on his final lap. “Our radio was not working perfectly, so I didn’t understand my engineer correctly. Did he say ‘you don’t need to push any more, you already have the fastest lap’, or was it ‘push again for the fastest lap’? I wasn’t sure…” To be on the safe side, he put his foot down – despite already having a healthy lead of several seconds over the second-placed car – and improved on his own fastest lap time again.

A glance at the various standings

The titles have already been decided in the Drivers’ Championship and the Trophy classification, but there is still all to play for in the Junior competition. Pluschkell and Angelard have their nose in front, but Dirickx is lurking just eight points back in second place. Mattias Bjerre Jakobsen (18/DEN) and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (17/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport), and Kristiannson are also still in with a shout. The battle to finish runner-up in the overall standings is also wide open. Here, just nine points separate Pluschkell / Angelard and Dirickx / Barth. Jakobsen / Cirelli, Kristiansson and even Ambiel, Tunjo and Herich also have a mathematical chance of ending the season as runners-up. Konrad Motorsport leads the Team standings and can only be caught by BWT Mücke Motorsport.

Battle of the chassis manufacturers: Ligier comes out on top twice

Two chassis manufacturers were in action again at the Nürburgring, in the form of Duqueine and Ligier. Three Ligier cars went up against six Duqueine, but it was the Ligier contingent that took the two race wins. Lefterov and Soufi once again served up the victories, while second and third place went to Duqueine pairings on both occasions. The most successful Duqueine duo was that of Jakobsen and Cirelli, who finished second in both races.