Porsche double challenge: Jeffrey Schmidt 2015 continues with Walter Lechner Racing
Jeffrey Schmidt has high hopes for the new season. The Swiss youngster embarks on his third season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup which is a support series to the Formula 1 World Championship. As in the 2014 campaign, Schmidt will have the backing of the experienced Walter Lechner Racing Team. Together, they will be aiming to build on his previous record in the two prestigious Porsche Cup championships.
“I am looking forward to what we hope will be another successful season with Walter Lechner Racing,” says Schmidt. “I’ve been training hard all winter hard and am super motivated. I’ve set myself a clear target for this year, namely to be competitive in both championships and to pick up more podiums and race wins. The first tests this year at Hockenheim were very promising for me and for the team. I can’t wait to get back into the Porsche cockpit.”
Schmidt has used the winter to acquire further valuable experience with the Porsche Cup racing car. The 21-year-old driver acted as coach and reference driver in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East organised by Walter Lechner Racing.
The talented youngster has a demanding schedule in the 2015 season. Schmidt will be competing on all nine race weekends of the German Porsche Carrera Cup, one of which takes place in the context of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The nine events in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup take Schmidt to legendary racetracks such as Monaco, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, where he will be competing with the world’s top Porsche Cup drivers.
Schmidt made a big impression last season with a number of strong performances. In the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, he finished as runner-up in the home race of his team at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. In the German Porsche Carrera Cup, his podiums in both races at the Nürburgring made him the most successful driver overall on that weekend.
Schmidt’s team – Walter Lechner Racing – are celebrating a special anniversary this year. The outfit led by Walter Lechner Senior from Austria is entering its 40th season. “I am delighted to be a part of this great history, and I’ll be going flat out to bring further success to the team,” says Schmidt. In the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Walter Lechner Racing won the team title and finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship. In the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Walter Lechner Racing took second place in the overall standings.
Schmidt will once again have experienced team-mates starting alongside him. The 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany runner-up Michael Ammermüller continues as a member of the Walter Lechner Racing squad. The team has also taken on a current Porsche youth development protégé, Sven Müller from Germany, and a former member of the same scheme, Alex Riberas from Spain.