New Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 2012

Porsche has launched a new six weekend, 12 race calendar in co-operation with the BARC, for older 911 GT3 Cup cars – "designed to be perfect stepping stone for Porsche drivers aiming to graduate from track days." The new series will have a thrilling season finale, at Silverstone, alongside the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, supporting the British Touring Car Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is to be managed and promoted by Porsche Cars GB in 2012. The series is open to any 911 GT3 Cup race car from the 2009 model year or earlier, is aimed at younger racers with some sponsorship backing, as well as competitors graduating from track days and is open to drivers with a National B race licence. "The GT3 Cup Challenge is the ideal series for any driver wanting to race a 911 GT3 Cup on a level playing field," said Marion Barnaby, Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars GB. "It is the perfect learning platform for drivers hoping to move up to the Carrera Cup GB, but it will also suit competitors coming into racing for the first time from track days as well as those currently racing in other series. We will be aligning the GT3 Cup Challenge closely with the Carrera Cup GB." The GT3 Cup Challenge is expected to feature two classes; Class One will be for ‘Type 997’ 911 GT3 Cup race cars up to and including the 2009 model year. There will be two minimum weights to balance performance between the two specifications of car from this period. Class Two will be for all earlier ‘Type 996’ 911 GT3 Cup cars. Races will be of 25-30 minutes duration wherever possible and the calendar is designed to keep time away to a minimum to help contain costs. Leading teams from the Carrera Cup GB will be fielding cars in the GT3 Cup Challenge, with full-season budgets from £50,000, or from £30,000 if drivers own their cars. Further information about the GT3 Cup Challenge 2012 including calendar will be announced on the Porsche Cars GB stand at Autosport International at the Birmingham NEC on January 12-15, 2012. Looks good to us... 'cheap Porsche racing, and a great stepping stone for those with the talent. Let's just hope it's not just full of folk with too much money and not enough talent...