The 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup GB will feature three classes as a new entry-level category is added to the championship for 2006 and 2007 model 911GT3 Cup cars.The new category, which will be known as pro-am2, has been designed to encourage new drivers and those on restricted budgets to compete in the most prestigious one-make series in Britain.With a new fleet of 18 2008-specification 420bhp cars arriving for the pro and pro-am1 categories, the pro-am2 category will allow the existing 400bhp cars to remain in the Carrera Cup. A series of cost-cutting measures will be applied to pro-am2, and drivers will be able to dip in and out of the championship to suit individual budgets and schedules. A harder compound tyre and a lower tyre allocation for the weekend are among the cost-cutting measures, but pro-am2 drivers will still enjoy the Carrera Cup race centre facilities and podium presentations after each of the 20 races. A separate points' system will operate for pro-am2.The category is expected to appeal to gentleman racers wanting to move up to race at very high-profile events, as well as young drivers aiming to make a switch from single-seaters or other one-make categories.The initiative has been met enthusiasm from existing Carrera Cup teams and drivers. "It’s a fantastic idea. If we can get the budget right, so that it’s not that different to a single drive in British GT and you are going to get 20 races with just you driving, it will be a fantastic feeder for Carrera Cup," said Stuart Parker from Team Parker Racing. "The teams have already got the cars and it makes perfect sense to have at least one pro-am2 car as a feeder for the team. It will be like having a junior team."Current pro-am racer Colin Willmott, nearing the end of his first season in the Carrera Cup and says that pro-am2 would have suited him perfectly when he moved up from the Porsche Open Series for 2007. "It would have been ideal for me," said Willmott. "This was always going to be a learning year for me and if pro-am2 had been there a year ago, I would definitely have done it. I’d wholly recommend it to people stepping up from series like the Porsche Open. The Carrera Cup is a brilliant championship.""It’s just right for the Carrera Cup and needs to be fully supported by teams already in the championship and new teams coming into the championship," said Parker. "If someone doesn’t have a full budget to do the pro or pro-am1 categories, this is a great option. They’ll get the full Carrera Cup experience. We expect to run at least one pro-am2 car alongside our pro and pro-am1 team."The high-profile Carrera Cup GB will continue to be at the forefront of British motor racing in 2008 as a prime support race to the MSA British Touring Car Championship.