The second round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux took place this past weekend at the fast and flowing Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Representing EST1 Racing, Estonian driver Alex Reimann lined up once again for what turned out to be a dramatic and action-packed weekend.
Much of the spotlight was on Zandvoort not only for its competitive field, but also because reigning WRC World Champion Kalle Rovanperä made his circuit racing debut just across the paddock with RedAnt Racing.
Reimann entered the weekend targeting a top-three finish in the Rookie classification, but fate had other plans right at the start of Race 1. Mere seconds after the lights went out, a major multi-car collision unfolded on the main straight. A wheel from another competitor’s car flew off and slammed into the bonnet of Reimann’s Porsche—causing significant damage before he’d even reached Turn 1.
The incident forced a red flag, and the EST1 Racing crew had just minutes to make the car race-ready again. With time ticking, the team used both resourcefulness and determination—straightening the dented bonnet with the help of… another wheel.
Despite starting the restarted race with a less-than-perfect car, Reimann managed to salvage 14th place overall, a commendable result given the circumstances. Fellow Estonian Thomas Kangro, driving for Porsche Estonia, wasn’t as lucky—he was forced to retire after being directly involved in the chain-reaction crash. The incident began when a Lithuanian driver stalled on the grid, triggering a domino effect. Kangro’s front wheel struck Reimann’s car head-on.
Raimo Kulli, Team Principal of EST1 Racing, commented:
“If that wheel had hit just 15 cm higher, it could have come through the cockpit. This was a lucky escape in an unlucky moment.”
In Race 2, things improved significantly. Reimann delivered a strong and steady performance, climbing to 10th overall, which earned him 5th place in the Rookie standings. Kangro finished 19th.
Alex Reimann:
“Race 1 was definitely far from boring. With the luck we had, finishing 14th felt like a small victory. Huge thanks to the EST1 Racing crew for getting the car back in shape in just six minutes before the restart—they made that race happen for me. In Race 2, we finished 10th overall and 5th in the Rookie class. I’m happy with the progress we made throughout the weekend. I had some grip issues in the final laps, but overall the car felt great. This was definitely a strong comeback after Race 1.”
While the Estonians battled misfortune, WRC Champion Kalle Rovanperä impressed in his circuit debut, finishing 4th in Race 1 and 5th in Race 2—proving once again that his talent stretches well beyond the rally stages.
For Reimann, the lessons learned at Zandvoort will be key in his pursuit of a top-three Rookie finish in the overall championship. His next opportunity comes in less than a month when the third round of the Carrera Cup Benelux takes place from 5–7 July at the legendary Imola circuit, as part of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) weekend.
📺 Watch full race replays here – free of charge:
www.carreracupbenelux.com/live
