Car Collection expands its entry in the GT Open with a third Porsche

18.03.2024

Car Collection Motorsport will make a stellar debut in the International GT Open this season. The German team led by Peter Schmidt is not doing things by halves and is fielding three current Porsche 911 GT3 Rs (992). In addition to the cars already announced for "Hash" and Alex Fontana (#12) and Gustav Bergström and Nico Menzel (#15), Canadian Bashar Mardini and Dutchman Tijmen van der Helm will share the wheel in car #7.

Bashar Mardini (42) has a solid experience with Porsches, having contested the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy and won the Pro-Am title in the Middle East series. He also won two races (in two outings) in the GT Cup Europe in 2022 and took part in the 24H of Spa.

Tijmen van der Helm (20) is a experienced endurance driver. The Dutchman has a background in formula racing and switched to Le Mans prototypes in 2022, racing in IMSA and in the ELMS. In 2023, he drove a Porsche 963 LMDh in IMSA.

Bashar Mardini commented: "I'm thrilled to be competing with Car Collection in the Pro-Am class of the International GT Open. This will be my first racing series with the 992 GT3 R and it was important for me to join a competitive and experienced team. I'm looking forward to a great season and hopefully some podium finishes."

Tijmen van der Helm stated: "I can't wait to start the season with Car Collection. A great team with to start with and make my first kilometers in a GT car. I am sure there are a lot of promising moments waiting for me this year."