Carrera Cup to kick off 10th Season in Adelaide

This weekend’s opening round of the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship marks the start of its 10th season, featuring a vastly new look on track.

The Adelaide event will see the introduction of the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991) to the championship; the first of any Carrera Cup series worldwide to field the new race car thoroughbred.

Many of the Professional Class drivers have continued in the series, namely reigning champion Craig Baird, who will celebrate his 150th Carrera Cup Australia race start in Race 2 of the Clipsal 500.

Also returning is Warren Luff, Steven Richards, Michael Patrizi, Duvashen Padayachee, Renee Gracie and Shae Davies while South Australian duo Michael Almond and Sam Power begin their first full-season in the Porsche category.

Former title winning team Sonic Motor Racing Services returns having enlisted Professional Class drivers Nick Foster, who returns after a full season in 2012, and debutant Nick McBride.

The Elite Class has six drivers return from the 2013 season including Stephen Grove, Tony Walls, Marc Cini, James Bergmuller, Tony Bates and Shane Smollen.

The Elite Class newcomers all bring racing experience to the championship including V8 Supercars Development Series driver Maurie Pickering, former Carrera Cup racer Ash Samadi, Formula Holden ace Brenton Ramsay, 2010/2011 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia champion Roger Lago, past Formula Ford driver Adrian Mastronardo and Australian GT driver Dean Koutsoumidis.

Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager Cam McConville is pleased to have the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car make its first appearance in the championship along with an impressive driver line-up.

“We’re delighted to come into the 10th season of Carrera Cup with such a strong field. Having 23 brand new race cars on the grid at the Clipsal 500 is a huge success for the championship and a fitting way to celebrate this significant milestone,” said McConville.

“We also have a tremendous group of teams and drivers who have committed to the season. There are 13 drivers who have returned to the category from last year, while we welcome 10 drivers who are either new to Carrera Cup or return after a previous stint in the series.

“The importance of an even mix of Professional Class and Elite Class drivers is again not lost on the championship with a close-to 50/50 split between the two classes.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia will hold its first two practice sessions for the season this Thursday, with Qualifying and Race 1 on Friday, Race 2 on Saturday and Race 3 on Sunday.

It is just one of the exciting categories supporting the V8 Supercars at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, with V8 Utes, Formula 3, Aussie Racing Cars, Touring Car Masters and the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series on-track over the weekend. Tickets are available for the event now.