Twenty eight of the mighty Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991) racing cars will line up on the grid at the Shanghai International Circuit, with an international field representing the finest sportscar talent racing today behind the wheel.

 The double-header season opener will see both newcomers and championship regulars take to the track for the first time in 2015, with a single qualifying session followed by two, 12-lap races.

 Competing for the overall championship as the field storms off the grid will be 2014 vice-champion Martin Ragginger of Team Porsche Holding, who is joined by other returnees from last season Rodolfo Avila (Team Jebsen), China’s Tung Ho-Pin (Budweiser Team Absolute Racing), young Malaysian and reigning Class B champion Alif Hamdan (Alif Hamdan Motorsports), Singapore’s Ro Charlz Skyangel (Team Yonda Dongfang), and Bao Jin Long, this year competing with Zheng Tong Auto. Joining them are the world record holder for Porsche Cup victories, Craig Baird of New Zealand (Clearwater Racing), fellow countryman and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia rookie Chris van der Drift (Kamlung Racing), and the series’ youngest ever entrant, 17-year-old Nico Menzel (PICC Team StarChase), son of two-time champion Christian.

 What promises to be a battle of epic proportions for the coveted Class B title, a category for non-professional drivers held within the series, also gets underway this weekend. Front runners Yuey Tan (partnering Avila in a two-car entry from Team Jebsen), Francis Tjia (OpenRoad Racing), and Hong Kong brothers Wayne and John Shen (Modena Motorsports) will be quick off the mark, but face a number of newcomers and guest drivers.

Non-series registered drivers for this weekend are Samson Chan, joint 6th in Class B last season and standing in for Kenneth Lau in Shanghai, newcomer Andersen P Martono of Indonesia who replaces Singapore’s Ringo Chong at Team Kangshun for the season opener, LKM Racing’s Siu Tit Lung replacing his brother Siu Yuk Lung, and Australian Max Twigg taking the seat of Henri Richard.

The grid positions for Round 1 will be determined by the fastest laps in Saturday’s single qualifying session, with the second quickest lap by each driver setting the grid for Round 2.

When the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia embarks upon its 13th season this weekend as part of China’s most prestigious race weekend, all eyes will be on the 28 cars and drivers as they roar into what promises to be an utterly enthralling 14-round, no-holds-barred battle for glory.

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2015

Provisional Entry List – Rounds 1 & 2

 *non-series

2015 Provisional Calendar 

* Subject to confirmation of commercial agreement

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2015

Series Partners

Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991)

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsport version of the new 911 GT3 (Type 991). The near-standard race car, based on the seventh generation of the 911, made its debut in Asia in 2014, having previously run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre, six cylinder boxer engine which, due to the weight optimized modular race exhaust system, generates 460hp (338 KW) at 7,500 revs per minute, ten horsepower more than its predecessor. Power is delivered to the rear axle via a race clutch and a Porsche Motorsport designed six-speed dog-type gearbox with a mechanical limited slip differential. For the first time in a Porsche makes cup race car, gear shifting is activated with paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres.

Compared to its predecessor, the wheelbase has grown by 100 millimetres, improving handling at the limit, while Porsche Motorsport newly designed the forged single-piece 18 inch race rims with central locking. The new racing brake system improves the endurance qualities of the 911 GT3 Cup, and the internally vented and slotted steel brake discs are operated by aluminium six-piston racing calipers in the front, and four-piston units at the rear.

Safety features have also been further enhanced, and drivers are protected by a newly calculated safety cage and newly designed race seat, while a rescue hatch in the roof enables easy access and extrication.

Like the road going version, the body of the new 911 GT3 Cup combines maximum rigidity with low weight thanks to its aluminium-steel construction, and weighs in at just 1,175 kilograms.

About Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Preparing for its 13th season in 2015, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia blasted off the starting grid in 2003 and has never looked back. Joining the family of hugely successful Porsche “one make” series, it is now firmly established as the Number One racing series in Asia.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia offers sporting competition at the highest level across the region and is truly international, with competitors from all over Asia as well as Europe and the Pacific. The field is made up of a combination of professional racing drivers and ambitious and talented gentlemen drivers.

About Porsche China

Porsche was founded by Prof. Ferdinand Porsche in Stuttgart, Germany in 1931 and was then transformed into a sports car manufacturer by Ferry Porsche in 1948. Porsche has been known as one of the most prestigious automobile brands in the world for decades. Under the guiding credo of “Intelligent Performance”, Porsche leads the way in providing a new generation of sports cars that prove performance and efficiency can be perfectly combined.

Since entering the Chinese market in 2001, Porsche China has been dedicated to bringing the sporty genes and innovative spirit of the marque to Porsche enthusiasts in this dynamic market. In Porsche’s network in China, customers can experience the unlimited appeal of Porsche’s iconic sports cars: the legendary 911 series, the renowned Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, the luxurious Cayenne premium SUV, the dynamic and pioneering Macan SUV, the sleek four-door Panamera Gran Turismo and the futuristic 918 Spyder super sports car. Each demonstrates excellence in performance, exquisite design, and consistent commitment to perfect quality that Porsche embodies. Across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, there are now 80 Porsche Centres in operation, ensuring that Porsche customers across the country receive the hallmark personalised care that sets Porsche apart around the world.  

In 2014, Porsche has delivered a spectacular sales record of 46,931 deliveries across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. In 2015, Porsche China expects to continue another year of outstanding performance in the Chinese market.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms Chester Zhang

Supervisor Public Relations and Press Motorsport

Porsche China

Tel: (86-21) 6156 5911

Fax: (86-21) 5058 4210

Email: chester.zhang@porsche.cn

Website: www.carreracupasia.com