The Cup Whisperers

50 years of history in the making

Famous names such as Stefan Bellof, Toto Wolff, and Alexander Wurz all came through his school – along with his sons Robert and Walter. When his son Walter was about to switch to GT racing, offers came in from a number of teams. His father’s response was: “Let’s do it ourselves.” And so, in 2003, Lechner Racing embarked on its Supercup journey with Walter Junior at the wheel, its first title following two years later with Alessandro Zampedri.

Talent rather than a battle of equipment

Supercup races have been held as support events during Formula 1 race weekends on tracks such as Monaco, Spa-Francorchamps, and Monza since 1993, with eight such races currently held per year. However, the idea of letting talent take center stage over the equipment goes back even further. Porsche created a race series based on this philosophy in 1986 with the 944 Turbo Cup – featuring identical cars and conditions, and using the racetrack as a testing ground for technology. In 1990 came the next step with the 911 Carrera 2, when the Carrera Cup Germany replaced the 944 Turbo Cup. Under the leadership of Herbert Linge and Jost Capito, the concept proved so successful that there are now 35 Porsche one-make series in operation, featuring more than 800 drivers in over 30 countries. They compete in cars that are technically identical, reflecting the Porsche philosophy of keeping motorsport and production models as closely aligned as possible. No racing car has been built in greater numbers than the 911 Cup. The latest generation is also based on the street-legal 911 GT cars and has the same 382 kW (520 PS; 911 GT3 (WLTP)*: Fuel consumption combined: 13.8 – 13.7 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 312 – 310 g/km; CO₂ class: G) 4.0-liter naturally aspirated engine as the 911 GT3.

The one-make series are a key part of the motorsports pyramid at Porsche and a cornerstone of the development of young talent. This is where up-and-coming drivers get the chance to learn the tools of the trade. “In a Cup car, with the field being so competitive as everybody has the same equipment at their disposal, you have to push to the absolute limit,” explains Walter Lechner, now sitting in his office on the second floor where he can watch over the workshop. “A few tenths of a second can mean the difference between first place and seventeenth. You need to keep the tires in their optimal temperature window and at the correct air pressure for two laps, without making any mistakes. The only way to learn this at this level is in a Cup car.” This means giving more than 100 percent and driving with the bit between one’s teeth. “You learn in a way that it becomes second nature to give it your all in other series as well.” Only a few fine-tuning parameters, such as track width, camber, and wing settings, can be adjusted. So there is more focus on the drivers than in other series.

It is therefore no surprise that the talented drivers chosen by Porsche for its official Junior Program traditionally come through the school of one-make racing. These races are the foundation on which Porsche has built its driver development program for decades. The objective is clear: not just to make drivers faster, but to accompany them on their way to becoming professionals and brand representatives. 

Passionate about developing young talent

“They’re all highly qualified and have a winning mentality when they come to us, otherwise they wouldn’t have been selected as Porsche Juniors,” Robert explains. “We often take on the role of a sort of big brother. And sometimes that of a psychologist.”

One thing that makes Lechner Racing special is that both brothers were successful racing drivers in their own right. Few team principals can claim that. Robert was an established name in Formula 3 and his successes include overall victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Walter was the youngest class winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “This enables us to see both sides,” says Robert. “On the one hand, we’re team principal, but we can also see things from the drivers’ perspective.”

A racing series all of their own

Even on race weekends, it all stays within the family. There are just 10 team members on-site looking after the three Cup cars. The impressive record of 78 race victories speaks for itself. Focusing on Porsche one-make series racing for such a long time has developed the team into a specialist outfit. They are sometimes referred to as the “Cup whisperers.” After 23 years of competing in the Supercup along with occasional appearances in the Carrera Cup Germany, more than 15,000 Michelin tires have passed through their hands. A figure that highlights the team’s extraordinary wealth of experience. “Of course, that’s a big help to us,” says Walter. “Along with our understanding of how the grip on the track changes over the course of the weekend. A setup developed within a test is completely different from a Formula 1 weekend, when a huge amount of grip builds up.” Robert adds: “The most important aspect is always the people.” What he means by this is that, from the driver of the team truck to the mechanic to the racing driver, everybody needs to work together.

A shining example of just how fully Lechner Racing embraces the principle of one-make series racing is the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East. A long time ago, Walter Lechner Senior, who passed away in 2020, recognized the potential of the region. It began as the GT3 Cup Challenge and has been held under the official title of the Carrera Cup since the 2023/2024 season. Lechner Racing plays a unique role in this – the team is both a promoter and oversees technical operations for the series. This dual role is also played by Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe. It is designed specifically for ambitious amateur drivers and young talents, who also compete against each other in Cup 911 cars.

But ultimately, everything leads back to Thalgau. To the spotless white hall where the pink Cup 911 cars are housed. To a workshop where perfection is a way of life – and everybody is greeted with a warm handshake. Perhaps this is the secret of Lechner Racing: Motorsport at the highest level is never just business here; it is always about family, too.