The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge enters its second year of competition at Brands Hatch on April 9th, the series providing a racing home for the 400BHP racing Porsche GT3s formerly eligible for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and similar series across the world. 2011 sees the addition of some strong challengers to the series, especially inh Class One – for the newer 997 GT3 Cup cars.

Peter Smallwood took the 2010 Driver of the Year crown and has now stepped up to Class One in a 997 GT3, taking on 2010 title rival Bertie Carruthers. A force in the class should be Stephen Ritchie, who went from rookie to front-runner during the 2010 season and will be chasing his first outright win.

Some strong newcomers include former Mini champion Ollie Mortimer making his GT3 Cup debut, ex-BTCC competitor Simon Blanckley, and international Porsche racer Yucel Ozbek. Greame Mundy and Steven Liquorish are also both welcome additions to the Brands Hatch grid.

Porsche regulars Paul Winter and Tim Speed will also be out sharing their GT3 in Class Two, the pair aiming to get amongst the Class One cars in their older 996 GT3.

The GT3 Cup Challenge concept forms part of Porsche’s world-wide racing activities, the UK only the second country to run both Carrera Cup and GT3 Challenge series. The international Porsche Supercup heads the Porsche GT3 series pyramid, with several nations or regions holding a Carrera Cup, and the GT3 Challenge then existing in other areas, or supporting the Carrera Cup as now happens in the UK.

Qualifying for the GT3 runners is at 09.45 on Saturday morning. The opening 25-minute race is scheduled for 13.25, with race two at 16.35.