European Showcase adds Extra Incentive for Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Drivers

Shanghai. With the 13th season of the region’s premier sportscar competition already promising a title chase of epic proportions, organisers of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia have announced another incentive to excel amongst its 28-strong field: the opportunity to compete on Belgium’s fabled Spa-Francorchamps circuit in July.

The Porsche Carrera Cup 24 Hours of Spa 2015, will run in support of the 24 Hours of Spa and has been organised jointly by the Porsche Carrera Cups of France and Italy with guest drivers from sister series across the world. Whoever tops the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia overall and Class B leaderboards after the Fuji rounds in June will receive an invitation to compete at Spa, fully supported by Porsche China and its partners. 

After two rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, held at the Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai recently, the top four drivers overall are separated by just two points, while the competition in Class B – for non-professional drivers – is equally close. When the teams assemble at the Korea International Circuit in May, the drivers will be on the hunt for more than just championship points.

Commented Alexandre Gibot, Motorsport Manager, Porsche China: “Like our Porsche Carrera Cup Asia field, Porsche motorsport is truly international, and we are constantly seeking innovative ways to both reward and test our drivers. There is no question that the level of competition within our series is truly world class, but the challenge of one of Europe’s most famous race tracks and the opportunity to compete with fellow drivers from Porsche Carrera Cups around the world, will be both a memorable and enjoyable experience.”

Whichever two drivers carry the Asian torch to Europe, they will face a formidable field, with a grid of 55 entries expected.

Practice for the Porsche Carrera Cup 24 Hours of Spa 2015 begins on July 23, with two sessions. Qualifying the following day will see the entire field take part in a 30-minute session, followed by a 20-minute Superpole shootout. The 45-minute race on the famous 7.004km circuit, which features the world-famous Eau Rouge chicane and is celebrated as being one of the biggest challenges in racing, will be both a fascinating showcase of Porsche one-make racing at its most international, as well as a chance for two Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers to fly the flag for regional motorsport.

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.