Keagan Masters is Larry Ten Voorde’s first challenger for the title of the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia 2024. In an opening weekend that in Misano he lost a bit along the way due to some adverse events, Simone Iaquinta, the only one who on the Romagna circuit was proving that he could fight with the two stage winners, the South African new face of Team Q8 Hi Perform made his mark by launching himself in the best possible way in what is the season of truth for him.
It was in the Carrera Cup that the 24-year-old driver from Johannesburg made his debut in European racing and within a few months he became a point of reference in the Italian Schoalrship Programme. Hence the transition between the rookies of the Supercup and now the permanent return to the single-brand team that launched him, in which he also became the testimonial of Q8 Hi Perform, a team this year technically supported by an expert team like Ombra Racing.
At his seasonal debut he achieved a second place last night and a first today, a crucial victory in terms of the standings, where there are now only 4 points separating him from Ten Voorde. On the top step of the Masters podium he was beaming: “It was fantastic, I have to thank the team, they really did an amazing job”.
Hence the comparison with the reigning champion, complete with a challenge now launched for the title: “Larry was very fast, but something happened today. For sure we need to push even more for Imola, I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger. However, it’s really nice to bring the team a victory immediately in the first round, I couldn’t be happier”.
A victory that has real weight: “It’s very important because Larry is the reference, he’s probably the most experienced rider and beating him today was an honor for me”.
As for the Dutchman from Fulgenzi Racing, the contact with Iaquinta evidently took away something from his overall potential, even if he himself, with his usual sportsmanship and without losing his smile, admits the mistake that cost him the lead and perhaps the second victory of the weekend shortly after today’s start: “I felt a big hit and from that moment on I hadn’t felt the car in the same way. It was an ok race, I made a few mistakes in turn 3 when Masters overtook me, I wasn’t able to slow the car down as much as I needed. Overall, however, I’m happy, we scored valuable points”.
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