Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: USA preview
For the second year in succession, two races at a venue never before used by the prestigious one-make Porsche 911 series will decide the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup as the 2014 season culminates at Circuit of The Americas in Texas.
As the season has progressed, the battle for the 22nd Porsche Supercup title has gradually boiled down to an intense fight between Porsche’s international scholarship winner, Earl Bamber and perennial frontunner, Kuba Giermaziak.
Bamber headed the points after an impressive victory for the Kiwi racer in round one at Barcelona. However, Giermaziak immediately hit back for his VERVA Lechner Racing team with a brace of victories in Monaco and Austria.
Giermaziak looked to have cemented a solid lead with a third win at the Hungaroring only to see Bamber storm into the championship lead next time out at Spa Francorchamps as the Kiwi took the win after a thrilling duel with outgoing champion, Nicki Thiim.
Last time out in Monza, neither of the championship protagonists reached the top step of the podium, instead having to settle for third (Bamber) and fourth (Giermaziak) as Porsche Junior, Sven Müller took a breakthrough victory around the Italian speedbowl.
This leaves the title battle finally balanced as the 2014 championship concludes with the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup’s first visit to the USA since the Indianapolis double-header in 2006.
Two races around the 3.43-mile Texas track will decide whether it is Bamber or Giermaziak who goes into the history books. The first 14-lap race will take place at 3:00pm (local time) on Saturday, with Sunday playing host to the second encounter at 11:15am.
Bamber currently holds the advantage, with a five-point gap back to Giermaziak but, the Pole has experience of the COTA circuit having competed in September’s Tudor USCC race at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT America.
Giermaziak’s teammate, Ben Barker will be hoping to round off his season the way he started it. The Total 911 columnist took a podium in Barcelona and will be hoping to match or better that result in America.
Like his VERVA Lechner teammate, Barker also competed in the Lone Star Le Mans event, giving him an advantage over much of the 2014 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup grid who will have to learn the demanding track in practice.
Among the other potential challengers for race victory, Klaus Bachler will look to consolidate his third place in the championship from Müller while Michael Ammermüller is still looking for his first 2014 triumph.
Keep on track of all the Porsche motorsport news with our dedicated online coverage and look out for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race reports on Monday.
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