Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Enters its 5th Season
Sepang, 14 February 2007 – The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia began its fifth season today when the series was officially launched today with a driver’s briefing and official test session that is going to last over two days. The Carrera Cup will be run over twelve races, with the first in the series being an official support race for the F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, scheduled for April 8th. Two further rounds will be held at Kuala Lumpur’s Sepang International Circuit on May 6th, before moving on to Indonesia’s Sentul Circuit on July 15th.
The second half of the season will be held entirely in China. Two rounds are provisionally scheduled at the new racetrack at Chengdu, China on September 9th. The Porsche Carrera Cup will also be a support race for the Formula One race in Shanghai on October 7. Zhuhai International Circuit, located in the burgeoning Pearl River Delta will host two races on November 4, with the climax being held as part of the Macau Grand Prix on November 18.
The two-category system of the Porsche Carrera Cup makes for exciting action all the way throughout the field. Whilst the Class A category of professional drivers are fighting for top honours at the forefront of each race, the Class B category, which caters for non-professional drivers will have drivers battling it out at the middle of the pack and at the rear. Separating the race into two categories is an added incentive for first-timers to the Porsche Carrera Cup, as winning it or finishing consistently on the podium will encourage these drivers to join the Class A Category.
All the competitors entering for the series will be competing in identical cars built up from the standard 997-based Porsche 911 GT3. Competitors have to purchase the cars at EUR 133,540, and pay a participation fee of EUR62,000. This package does not include racing tyres, racing fuel, drivers’ equipment, on track insurance, and expenditure for spare parts and engine overhauls.
Since its debut in 2003, the Porsche Carrera Cup has attracted leading drivers from far and wide, such as Britain’s youngest ever GT Champion Jonathan Cocker, who won the series in 2005, and fellow Britons Danny Watts and Simon Harrison. This year’s entry list includes youngster Christian Jones, son of the legendary 1980 Formula 1 World Champion, Alan Jones. Also registered for the series is Tim Sugden, of former British Touring Cars Championships and Le Mans fame.
Nearer to home, we have Singaporean newcomer Melvin Choo who started his racing career in the JPM Integra Cup last year. Malaysia’s Tunku Hammam, who finished ninth overall in the series in 2003 is making a comeback this season.
