The 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB will roar into life this weekend at Brands Hatch with an unprecedented number of teams and cars working to a reinvigorated structure – and providing electrifying viewing for those in support of the British Touring Car Championship.
Eleven teams running a record-breaking 30 cars will take to the world-famous Kent circuit this Easter weekend for the first two races of the season, the highest number of 911 GT3 Cup race cars ever to participate.
The Porsche one-make race series really puts the focus on individual driver performance, as the field is comprised of identical – and exhilarating – 460 hp 911 GT3 Cup cars. The 911 GT3 Cup car is the world’s best-selling race car, and bears a very close resemblance to the road-going 911 GT3 and GT3 RS. Through a raft of eye-catching initiatives, this could be the best year so far in the 13-year history of the championship.
A new Rookie Class for drivers aged 17 to 24, offering a mighty £50,000 winner’s prize, is a highlight. Increased prize money across all three categories (Pro, Pro-AM1 and Pro-AM2) is another. But a re-worked calendar that includes the awesome Spa-Francorchamps is also a factor in making this season so exciting.
Top teams like Redline Racing, Team Parker Racing and Parr Motorsport are all fielding multi-car squads, while established Carrera Cup teams, including IN2 Racing, Samsung SUHD TV Racing, Juta Racing and GT Marques, are joined by new teams G-Cat Racing, Credit4Cars, IDL Racing and Brookspeed.
Defending champion and current Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship winner Josh Webster is determined to achieve back-to-back titles. Josh, 21, knows he faces a major challenge from another 10 Pro drivers including former double champion Michael Meadows.
However, this is no two-horse race. Former single-seater racers Daniel Cammish (who raced the guest car to victory here last October) and Dino Zamparelli are both major talents. Championship returnee Stephen Jelley along with Paul Rees and Victor Jimenez are all proven front-runners, while newcomers such as Tom Sharp will be chasing an early podium.
In Pro-Am1, three drivers stand out as likely early season pacesetters. Karl Leonard, Mark Cole and Jordan Witt are all winners at this level. Add in newcomers like Jack Falla, Chris Dockerill, Peter Jennings and Ignas Gelzinis, and the Pro-Am1 contest will be every bit as competitive as the overall contest.
The Pro-Am2 field is the biggest yet with more than 10 drivers lining up to do battle. Peter Kyle-Henney missed the 2014 title by a single point, so will start the new season as favourite. However, he has competition from championship new blood such as Iain Dockerill, John McCullagh and Shamus Jennings, as well as Lithuanian duo Tautvydas Barstys junior and Nerijus Dagilis.
So it’s all set to be a thrilling season and a spectacular start at Brands Hatch. Be sure not to miss a thing, by following us at @CarreraCupGB and @PorscheGB on Twitter or visiting www.porsche.co.uk/CarreraCupGB for more information and for the full race entry list.
New leadership for Porsche Carrera Cup GB
“Since the end of last season, we have worked hard on developing and implementing major changes for Carrera Cup GB for 2015,” commented Ragnar Schulte, General Manager, Marketing, Porsche Cars GB. “At Porsche, our heart beats for motor sport, and we look forward to an exciting Carrera Cup season with much more new talent in the Championship.”
James MacNaughton joined Porsche Cars GB in January as Manager Motorsport, to lead the new-look Carrera Cup GB. James is committed to taking the Championship forwards into a successful future. “I am enjoying working with the teams, drivers and sponsor partners and look forward to the success of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB continuing over the coming years,” he said.
