Max Mutschlechner pointed it out.

Max Mutschlechner sniffs the podium

The Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East is entering its crucial phase. Two races were held at the Dubai Autodrome last weekend. Max Mutschlechner from Bruneck narrowly missed his first podium finish.

27 January 2026

From: pm

Max Mutschlechner (20), the overall winner of the 2025 Porsche Sports Cup Swiss racing series in the Open GT class, will contest his first season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, the next higher racing series. Conditions on the 5.390-meter circuit in Dubai were difficult; the asphalt offered little grip due to desert sand blown onto the track.

In the first race, Mutschlechner started from tenth on the grid and finished eighth. With a modified setup, the driver from Puster Valley gained three places right at the start of the second race, charging from ninth to sixth. After a safety car period, he overtook two more competitors and finished the race in fourth place.

Hopes for a first podium finish

“On this track, which was new to me and very technical, I first had to find my rhythm. I feel more confident in the car with each run, and the collaboration with the team is going great. I hope that I'll soon achieve my first podium finish,” said Mutschlechner after the halfway point of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East.

In the overall standings, Max Mutschlechner (51 points) has improved to seventh place, while he is in fourth place in the rookie standings. The overall standings are led by Japan's Taichi Watarai with 98,5 points.

Next week the campaign continues in Abu Dhabi; Mutschlechner is expected to skip the last two stops in April in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as these races clash with the rollout and preparation for the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.