New Car and New Look for Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
Asia's premier sportscar championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, is
set for a new look in 2010, with the addition of private teams to the
line-up as well as the stunning new Porsche 911 GT3 RS-based version of
the 911 GT3 Cup car and a stellar calendar.
From next season, private teams will be permitted to enter the 12-round
championship for the first time, providing their own mechanics and race
engineers to service the cars. However, the 'arrive-and-drive' package
will remain available, where competitors are provided with professional
mechanical services by respected motorsport outfit and series partner
EKS Motorsport.
In addition, shipping, parts and hospitality services will still be
provided to all entrants.
The total cost of purchasing the new race car, which is only available
to drivers who sign up for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2010, is Euros
148,150, including a basic parts package and shipping from the Porsche
AG base in Weissach, Germany. Participation in the series is Euros
36,267, which includes all registration costs, shipping and track
hospitality.
The EKS Motorsport service packages, which include professional racing
personnel at each round, comprehensive vehicle checks and servicing, and
packing and unpacking for shipping, is Euros 24,000 for the full season.
Just seven of the 14 international Porsche one-make series have been
selected to run with the new car in 2010, amongst them the Porsche
Carrera Cup Asia.
For the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, established in 2003, the change to
the regulations marks a coming of age for the series. Says Porsche Asia
Pacific's Motorsport Manager, Christoph Choi: "We believe the option of
actually building your own team and running your car will broaden the
entry, particularly as there is an increasing number of regional racing
outfits who operate at a very high level. Their participation will only
add to the competitiveness and quality of the series."
However, Choi is keen to emphasise that the series will still provide
the same level playing field which has made the concept so successful
internationally, with seven Carrera Cups running across the world this
season.
"Modifications to the car are, and will remain, strictly limited and
tightly controlled. Porsche provides a high-performance and reliable
racing car, a comprehensive set of regulations, and the rest is down to
driver skill. We create a competitive environment carefully designed to
nurture and reward sporting excellence. This is the principle on which
all Carrera Cups are based, and this will not change."
Already Porsche Asia Pacific has been flooded with enquiries from teams
across Asia looking to secure entries in the 2010 season, which will
get underway with an official test at Malaysia's Sepang International
Circuit in February next year.
The provisional calendar includes four meetings in China: At the 2010
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in April; in the country's
capital city Beijing in May; at the Pearl River Delta's Zhuhai
International Circuit in June; and the season grand finale schedule for
the newly-constructed Guangdong International Circuit in October.
The calendar also includes a second round of the FIA Formula One World
Championship, on Singapore's Marina Bay Circuit, and the series' debut
in September at the new South Korean track which is scheduled to host
the country's first F1 Grand Prix in October next year.
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.
-credit: pcc ap
