Paddock Radar from the Red Bull Ring

Here’s what we noticed during races eleven and twelve of this season’s Prototype Cup Germany at the Red Bull Ring.

Newcomer Miro Konopka

The Prototype Cup Germany welcomed another new face, in the form of Miro Konopka (63/SVK, ARC Bratislava). At 63 years of age, the Slovakian was also the oldest starter in the field. Despite this, he was by no means slow, and took victory in the Trophy competition in race two. Konopka has a wealth of experience in GT, LMP3 and LMP2 cars, and is also principal of the ARC Bratislava team, with which he lined up in the German LMP3 series. “The Prototype Cup Germany is a good racing series with talented and fast youngsters, against whom I have no chance, but also ambitious Trophy drivers like Thomas Ambiel, with whom I had some nice battles out on the track. I can even imagine racing here more often.”

Debutant Marcel Kopp

There was also a newcomer in the Mühlner Motorsport tent: Marcel Kopp (30/UAE). The German has been living in Dubai for nine years, where he contested a season in the Gulf Radical Cup. “I did a bit of karting as a child, but they were not real racing karts back then. I always had a desire to be involved in motorsport. Then, one year ago, I just went for it. And now here I am, in at the deep end in LMP3.” Kopp’s debut was indeed a bit of a plunge into the deep end: he climbed into an LMP3 car for the first time on the Thursday, while the Red Bull Ring was also completely new to him. He was impressed by the Prototype Cup Germany, particularly the V8 engines, which were still used in the German series in 2025. “I like the atmosphere in the paddock. The competitors all get on well with each other, which I really like.”

Comeback for Keanu Al-Azhari

Kopp had a fast teacher at his side for his first kilometres in LMP3 racing, as he lined up together with Keanu Al-Azhari (17/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport) in Austria. Last year, the diminutive racing driver from the United Arab Emirates caught the eye with his speed, and also impressed with pole position for race two at the Red Bull Ring. However, he then made a mistake: Al-Azhari skidded off into the grave bed, before returning to the track through the grass. He consequently had to retire with a broken radiator shortly after his involuntary excursion.

Thomas Ambiel’s car did not have to remain in the tent for race one © Photo: ADAC

Big support for Thomas Ambiel

Another driver who experienced the special atmosphere in the Prototype Cup Germany paddock, of which Kopp was so complimentary, was Thomas Ambiel (45/Eppingen, Rinaldi Racing). “I could not start in the first qualifying session, as my clutch was faulty,” he explained. “It then became a race against time to be ready for race one. I received a new clutch from Franz Konrad, who fortunately had one with him. However, other teams like Mücke and Mühlner also helped get me out there. I am really very grateful for that.” Rinaldi Racing had the green Duqueine up and running just in time for the opening race, and Ambiel rewarded them for their efforts with sixth place.

Pavel Lefterov (left) and Danny Soufi (right) were honoured as champions on Sunday evening. Team principal Franz Konrad (centre) received the trophy awarded to the best team © Photo: ADAC

Honouring the best

There was another important item on the agenda for Sunday evening, as the champions were presented with their trophies. Danny Soufi (22/USA) and Pavel Lefterov (27/BUL, both Konrad Motorsport) were honoured for their title during with a small celebration. The top Trophy driver Ambiel, who like Soufi and Lefterov had already secured his title at the Nürburgring, also received his champion’s trophy. The Junior and Team competitions had to wait until the Red Bull Ring to discover their champions. The title in the Team category went to Konrad Motorsport with a slender one-point advantage over BWT Mücke Motorsport. In the Junior class, Mattis Pluschkell (21/Elmenhorst) and Maksymilian Angelard (18/POL) clinched the title, finishing six points clear of their team-mates Riccardo Leone Cirelli (17/ITA) and Mattias Bjerre Jakobsen (18/DEN, all BWT Mücke Motorsport). Pluschkell and Angelard, who were both contesting their first season in the LMP3 series, finished runner-up behind Soufi and Lefterov in the Drivers’ Championship.

Sven Barth and Maxim Dirickx were the best-placed Ligier in both races © Photo: ADAC

Duqueine gains the upper hand on Ligier in both races

The battle of the chassis manufacturers once again pitted Duqueine against Ligier at the season finale, with Duqueine twice coming out on top in the Austrian region of Styria. Cirelli and Jakobsen claimed two victories for the manufacturer, while the best Ligier came home in second place in one race and third in the other. The two Ligier podiums came courtesy of Maxim Dirickx (21/BEL) and Sven Barth (44/Eberbach, Aust Motorsport).