Luisa Kahler showcased significant progress in her second GT4 race weekend at Portimão, securing two podium finishes in the Cayman Trophy class and demonstrating strong racecraft and remarkable improvements in lap times in both dry and wet conditions.
Luisa Kahler made her GT4 racing debut in Estoril just one week ago in the GT Winter Series. Then, in Portimão a few days later, she already showed remarkable progress in the SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm Porsche Cayman, securing a second-place finish in her sprint race and a third-place result in class in the endurance race, despite facing mixed weather conditions.
Kahler, who previously raced in the BMW M2 Cup in 2023 and focused on her Permit-A at the Nordschleife in 2024, continues to make impressive strides, having significantly reduced lap time gaps and demonstrated strong racecraft in racing conditions.
The 18-year-old remained in Portugal with the team after the Estoril round, taking part in collective tests at Portimão—a new circuit for her—a few days later, where she had to learn the track while adapting to both dry and wet conditions.
"After Estoril, I stayed in Portugal with the team until the second race weekend of the GT4 Winter Series in Portimão", Kahler told us.
"Thursday and Friday were test days again, giving me the opportunity to train under all weather conditions. Even during practice, I could already see a significant improvement", Luisa continued.
Sharing the #111 car again with teammate Michael Sander, the duo led the final test session among the Cayman Trophy entries on Friday, setting the stage for encouraging official sessions on Saturday.
Michael Sander took the wheel for the first qualifying session on Saturday morning. His initial representative lap placed the #111 Porsche Cayman fourth overall and at the top of the Cayman Trophy class; he then improved to a 2:11.779, maintaining his class lead with a slim margin of just one-tenth over second-placed Franz Linden.
However, the session remained tightly contested. In the closing minutes, Wilhelm Kuhne, in the sister #110 SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm Porsche, made a significant improvement, clocking a 2:10.281 to take class pole position. Sander would therefore start second in class and 12th overall.
Luisa Kahler took over for the second qualifying session shortly after. She immediately set a 2:11.425, placing eighth overall and third in class. Continuing to improve, she broke the 2:11 barrier with a 2:10.566, closing in on the #66 Speedworxx Porsche. On her final lap, she made a big leap with a 2:09.370, securing 12th overall and third in a highly competitive Cayman Trophy class, where the #110 car of Cedric Fuchs claimed pole.
"I was much closer to the lap times of the other drivers and managed to secure third place in my class during Saturday’s qualifying session", Kahler said, confident about her progression.
Saturday’s first sprint race saw Michael Sander taking the start under dry yet overcast conditions in Portimão. It was a tricky start for Sander, as he dropped to third in class on the opening lap. However, he quickly closed back in on Kuhne and mounted an attack.
By lap five, they were separated by just half a second. The two continued to match each other’s lap times, with Sander running in the 1:56 range. Kuhne responded by picking up the pace, opening a small gap in the following laps.
Although Sander struggled slightly in the final minutes, he maintained a healthy margin over the #700 Mücke Aston Martin. After 16 laps, he crossed the finish line 14th overall and third in the Cayman Trophy class.
On Sunday morning, it was time for Luisa Kahler’s solo sprint race. She lined up 13th overall and third in the Cayman Trophy class. Following a second formation lap, the race began on a slightly damp track for the 30-minute sprint.
Kahler had a clean start, losing one position overall but maintaining third in class. CT class leader Cedric Fuchs made an incredible start, moving up to fifth overall.
Kahler engaged in close battles with the #30 W&S Porsche and the #187 BMW M4 GT4 in the midfield; when Ellerine’s BMW made a move on Gründel, Kahler seized the opportunity to complete a brilliant overtake for overall position at the end of lap one.
Once ahead, she pulled away from the cars behind and quickly hunted down the #66 Speedworxx Cayman of Franz Linden, who was running second in class. Luisa was visibly faster, and the two engaged in an exciting battle—though their fight allowed Gründel’s Porsche to close back in and retake the position on lap three.
Undeterred, Kahler fought back on the following lap, overtaking Linden to claim second place in class. With 16 minutes remaining, she aimed to build a gap and managed to pull over two seconds clear on the next lap. However, class leader Fuchs was at that point already over 15 seconds ahead.
Now in clean air, Kahler settled into a competitive rhythm, matching the pace of cars ahead. Meanwhile, up front, Jay Mo Härtling comfortably led as Josh Rattican and Charlie Hart continued to duel for second overall. The RAFA Racing McLaren of Hart later received a track limits penalty, promoting Peter Terting to third.
On lap 14, the #18 BWT Mücke Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Tobias Bille Clausen retired, and Kahler gained another position overall after Joachim Bölting received a track limits penalty.
With that, Kahler secured her second consecutive runner-up finish in a solo sprint race, showcasing strong progress. The young German displayed consistency, solid racecraft, and determination in wheel-to-wheel action.
The final race of the weekend, a 60-minute endurance event, took place in colder, cloudy, and rainy conditions. Michael Sander started from 13th overall and second in class. The track was wet at the start of the two formation laps, and rain intensified as the race got underway.
At lights out, Sander lost second in class but immediately fought back; lapping in the 2:11 range—significantly quicker than many rivals—he swiftly passed Linden and gained several overall positions before catching and overtaking Wilhelm Kuhne, the previous class leader, who was running slower in 2:13 pace.
Sander even dipped into the 2:10s in the mixed conditions, overtaking the #11 Schnitzelalm Porsche from the Pro class. While he couldn't quite catch the cars ahead, he remained the fastest in his class. However, by lap six, Linden also found pace and began running in the 2:10s.
By lap nine, Sander held eighth overall but now faced pressure from Linden and Kuhne, who were closing in. Linden ultimately overtook Sander with a rapid 2:09 lap, while Sander struggled slightly with a 2:14 pace.
Just as the pit window opened, rain intensified again. Sander pitted on lap 11 for the driver change and Luisa Kahler took over from second in class and 12th overall, facing extremely tricky conditions as heavy rain returned.
She initially lapped in 2:14s as drivers searched for grip. Holding a nine-second margin over Fuchs for second in class, she trailed the #66 Speedworxx Porsche, now driven by Hoffmeister, by 16 seconds.
As the track conditions stabilized, Kahler improved by two seconds per lap. However, Fuchs was closing in and caught her on lap 18, making a move for second place. Their battle took on greater significance when race leader Hoffmeister was handed a drive-through penalty for violating the pit stop handicap.
Kahler continued to match Fuchs, staying within two seconds and returning to the low 2:12s.
On lap 20, Hoffmeister served his penalty but managed to retain the class lead, staying ahead of both Fuchs and Kahler with nine minutes remaining.
By lap 25, Kahler set some of her best lap times, closely matching Fuchs. However, she had to be cautious after receiving a track limits warning.
At the chequered flag, Kahler finished 11th overall and third in the Cayman Trophy class despite challenging and ever-changing conditions, she made no mistakes and delivered another consistent, competitive stint.
"On Sunday, I started from this position and, thanks to my strong lap times, I fought my way up to second place in the Cayman Trophy during the sprint race. In the endurance race, Michael and I secured third place in our class, rounding off a successful weekend", Kahler summarized.
"It was a fantastic race weekend – I had a lot of fun and am getting closer to my goal. I’ve made big improvements and feel more and more confident in the car."
"But this season, my job isn’t just on the racetrack", she added. "Off the track, I have many different responsibilities as well—I take care of my car and help out wherever I can.
I’m very grateful to be part of such a great team. SR Motorsport stands together like a family, and that support means a lot to me."
In just two race meetings, Luisa Kahler’s improvements have been evident, with strong steps forward in pace and racecraft. She now sits second in the Cayman Trophy class championship standings with 64 points. The next round is scheduled for Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit on February 15-16.
"Now, a two-week break is ahead before we head to Valencia for the third race weekend of the GT4 Winter Series. I can’t wait and am already looking forward to it.
New track, new challenges – let’s go!"
Comments