Jaxon Evans clean swept the opening round of the 2020/21 Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East with the Kiwi executing a perfect weekend on his series debut.
Evans was a guest star in the 17-strong field for two races around the Skahir International Circuit as a support class for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Launched in 2009, the Sprint Challenge Middle East series operates on an ‘Arrive and Drive’ concept to give promising young talent, as well as gentleman drivers, the opportunity to race in Porsche GT3 Cup cars.
The series is supported by global Porsche powerhouse team Lechner Racing who Evans drove for in this year’s Mobil 1 Supercup.
Having raced on the 15-turn circuit just two weeks earlier in the World Endurance Championship, Evans was well-equipped with the venue and was immediately on the pace.
Donning a fresh black and yellow DHL-backed colour scheme, he topped the weekend’s final practice session to set him up for a pole position run in the qualifying.
From pole, Evans then led all 12 laps of the meeting’s opening affair en route to a crushing 3.7-second win to become the series 25th newest race victor.
German driver Julian Hanses claimed the runners-up position with Evans’ Supercup rival Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer rounding out the podium.
The weekend’s final 12-lapper was held on Sunday afternoon, and once again Evans convincingly downed the field.
He set the fastest lap of the race, which was some six-tenths quicker than the next best time, on just his second tour.
This time around, Simmenauer reversed the race one result to lead home Hanses in P2. Still, he finished some three-seconds adrift of a runaway Evans who now holds an commanding points lead.
Two more rounds, both at Bahrain, will cap off the season. The first of which is just two weeks away on December 5-6.
This year has already seen Evans claim a Porsche Supercup race win as well as clinching the Porsche Carrera Cup France title – no doubt his most successful international campaign to date.