Octane Finance enjoys winning start to 2023 Porsche programme

The 16-year-old Dutch racer joins former Carrera Cup GB champion Harry King as an Octane Finance-backed driver this year and went into the Donington weekend bidding to replicate the stunning pace that saw him secure the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe title during the winter.

Running with the Richardson Racing team that secured the teams’ title in the series last season, Robert qualified in third place on the grid but was then faced with tough conditions when the first race came around due to overnight rain.

Faced with wet but drying circuit, Robert lined up alongside his rivals fully aware of the need to manage his wet tyres as the race wore on, and he would briefly grab the lead early on before settling into second behind Adam Smalley.

Robert saw his chance to make a move for the lead and took it with both hands going into the chicane on lap 15, and kept his rival at bay during a late safety car period to kick off the year with a race win.

It also made him the youngest driver in the history of the championship to stand on top of the podium.

Unfortunately, a trip off track whilst dicing for the podium places in race two saw Robert drop to the back of the field but he still showed his talents by lapping faster than anyone else when he rejoined the action - despite a damaged car - as he recovered to 18th overall and tenth in class.

Robert heads from Donington Park to Spa, where he will start his programme in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series - the series won last year by fellow Octane-backed racer King.

He too will be in action at the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, with Harry contesting the first round of Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland at the same circuit.

"It’s great to start my Carrera Cup GB career with a race win, and to be on the top step in my first weekend in the Octane car," he said. "Race one as difficult as we had to be really careful with the tyres when the circuit was drying out but we got the car right and I could manage them well. It meant we were quick near the end and I could get ahead of Adam for the win.

"In race two, I hit water going down the Craner Curves and when I got on the wet grass, I was never going to stop the car from spinning. It was lucky no-one collected me and it took me a while to get the car restarted, but the speed then was really good - I was the quickest guy on track.

"We were fast enough to be on the podium so it’s a shame we didn’t get one, but now I can look forward to Spa - especially because we went well there in testing."