Rast seals title, hints at DTM switch for 2012

Rene Rast sealed a second successive Porsche Supercup title at Abu Dhabi win second spot in the first of the weekend's two races.

The Lechner Racing driver came in behind Nick Tandy (Konrad Motorsport), who took his first win of the year at the Emirati venue, with Frenchman Kevin Estre (Attempto Racing) completing in the podium. With nearest challengers Nobert Siedler (Lechner) fourth AND Kuba Giermaziak (VERVA Racing) a distant tenth Rast duly took championship honours.

Race two saw the 25-year-old really stretch his legs, taking pole, victory and the fastest lap to boot. In what may have been his final Porsche Supercup run Rast achieved a perfect result.

"The championship title for me and the overall crown for the team on Saturday followed by today's race win … it has been such a dream for me and Lechner Racing," Rast said afterwards.

"It looks like the DTM is my calling for next season," he added, confirming recent rumours that his sights were set on the tin-top series for 2012.

Rast was joined on the race two podium by Estre and Christian Engelhart (Konrad), the latter standing on the podium for the first time since winning the season-opening race in Turkey.

Overall Rast enjoyed a dominant campaign once he'd found top gear. After lacklustre runs to fifth and seventh in Turkey and Spain respectively he went on a four-race winning streak. A DNF in Hungary was followed before three successive runner-up finishes and his season-closing win. From 11 races Rast was only outside the top two on three occasions.

His Lechner team-mate Sideler takes second in the standings, narrowly beating the highly-impressive Giermaziak after the Pole endured an off weekend in Abu Dhabi. Brits Sean Edwards (Team Abu Dhabi) and Tandy were fourth and fifth in the standings.

Watch the Porsche Supercup on Motors TV


James Weeks