20-year-old EST1 Racing driver climbs from P20 to P13; team credits Kvjat’s input and prepares for U.S. debut.
Alex Reimann faced a tough start to his Porsche Carrera Cup France weekend at Misano, but bounced back with an impressive performance. After qualifying last due to multiple track limit violations, the Estonian talent stormed through the field on Saturday to finish 13th in the Pro class, gaining seven places — his biggest climb of the season so far.
“I learned to brake later and more aggressively into Turn 1 — that was all down to Kvjat’s input,” Reimann said, referring to his first weekend working with former F1 driver Daniil Kvjat. “His analysis and feedback helped me see exactly where I’d been losing time.”
Tough Qualifying, Confident Comeback
Reimann struggled to find rhythm on Friday and early Saturday. He exceeded track limits three times in free practice and six times during qualifying, which led to multiple lap deletions and an official warning from the stewards. As a result, he was forced to start both races from the back.
According to EST1 Racing’s data analysts, had his fastest laps not been deleted, Reimann could have qualified between P7 and P10.
Despite that, he delivered a clean and determined drive in Race 1, fighting through a tightly packed field to gain seven positions in just a few laps — a sign of his rapid progress.
Race 2 Marred by Incident
Sunday’s race brought disappointment. A heavy crash in a prior GT World Challenge Europe session led to a three-hour delay, forcing drivers to wait in extreme heat.
Starting from a significantly better grid position, Reimann was caught out by a competitor who braked sharply into Turn 1. Without traction control or ABS, his rear tyres locked under braking, causing him to spin. He was then struck by a following car, damaging the radiator and forcing an early retirement on the opening lap.
“When the field is that close and you spin… that’s a moment you can’t take back,” Reimann admitted. “But it’s exactly those situations that help you grow.”
Promising Pace and Valuable Data
Despite the setback, Reimann’s Saturday pace told a positive story. He posted the fastest third-sector times over four consecutive laps and clocked a best time of 1:37.746 — just 0.8 seconds off the race winner’s 1:36.915.
“That kind of progression in the Pro class shows Alex can compete with Europe’s top drivers,” said EST1 Racing team boss Raimo Kulli.
Kvjat’s Influence: A Mentor, Not Just a Guest
Daniil Kvjat, known for his time in Formula 1, joined EST1 Racing at Misano as a driver advisor. He worked closely with Reimann, focusing on braking techniques and data analysis, offering precisely the kind of expertise a young driver needs at this level.
“Your team made me feel right at home,” Kvjat wrote to Kulli after the weekend.
He added that it was a pleasure to contribute and that he’d be happy to support Reimann again in the future.
Meanwhile, Reimann continues his training in the simulator, working on braking zones and learning circuit profiles ahead of upcoming races.
“What we learned at Misano will definitely help in the next race,” said Reimann with confidence.
Next Stop: U.S. Debut at Road America
In two weeks, Reimann will face a brand-new challenge: his first race in the United States. He will join the grid at Road America in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America — a major milestone in his career.
While it will be Reimann’s first outing on American soil, EST1 Racing already has international experience, having competed in the series previously.
“It’s Alex’s first time racing in the U.S., but as a team we’re well prepared,” said Kulli.
“He’s already learned the circuit on the simulator — now it’s time to apply that on the real track. And we’re sure there’s still more to come from him.”
