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2015 Carrera Cup GB Championship calendar + Spa date

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Season includes two races in support of World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa

The 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship calendar has been confirmed, and a definite season highlight is a visit to the world-renowned Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Belgian Ardennes region for a prestigious two-race event in support of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The Porsche Team will be racing for the second year in the top LMP1 category in the WEC and Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid, and the Spa support race for Carrera Cup GB underlines the close ties between the domestic Championship and the international Porsche Motorsport programme.

The Carrera Cup GB Championship will be contested over 16 races and eight weekends, and continues to support the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at seven circuits.

Each of the two Spa races will count as full Carrera Cup GB Championship rounds. One race will be 45-minutes' duration, giving drivers extensive exposure to the challenging 4.3 mile circuit.

2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship

Rounds 1 + 2: 4/5 April - Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent
Rounds 3 + 4: 1/2 May – Spa, Belgium (FIA WEC support race)
Rounds 5 + 6: 6/7 June – Oulton Park, Cheshire
Rounds 7 + 8: 27/28 June – Croft, North Yorkshire
Rounds 9 + 10: 8/9 August – Snetterton, Norfolk
Rounds 11 + 12: 22/23 August – Knockhill, Scotland
Rounds 13 + 14: 26/27 September – Silverstone (National), Northamptonshire
Rounds 15 + 16: 10/11 October – Brands Hatch (GP), Kent

In addition, Carrera Cup GB drivers also qualify for a guest package giving entry to a 'European Carrera Cup' support race prior to the Spa 24 Hours GT race on 25 July, at extra cost. As in previous years, competitors are eligible to participate in the prestigious Porsche Mobil1 Supercup support race at the Silverstone British Grand Prix (again at extra cost).

Confirmation of the calendar follows the announcement of a series of wide-ranging enhancements to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for the 2015 season. As currently, there will be three (factory-supported) categories: Pro, Pro Am1, Pro Am2 - plus a new 'Rookie Class'. Furthermore, prize money at all race weekends will be doubled as part of a harmonization with other Carrera Cups worldwide, culminating in a generous end-of-season rewards package.

New End-of-Season Prizes

New Rookie Class, aimed at drivers aged 17-24 with the goal to find new talent for Porsche Motorsport - overall winner: £50,000, 2nd place £20,000, 3rd place £10,000

Pro overall winner: £15,000 plus fully-expensed drive in Porsche Supercup supported by Porsche Motorsport engineers

ProAm1 overall winner: £7,000 plus loan of Porsche 911 for a year and opportunity to spend 0.5 days at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone with a Porsche Works driver – emphasising the key role of Carrera Cup within Porsche Motorsport

ProAm2 overall winner: £5,000 plus either loan of a Porsche 911 for a year or 'money can't buy' opportunity to participate in a one day 'Masterclass' with a Porsche LMP1 driver at Silverstone

In addition:

all drivers invited to attend the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone for a two hour personal session, as part of their sign-on package

– Team Cayenne: for the duration of the season, main teams who run more than two race cars will receive the loan of a Cayenne with Carrera Cup Championship livery

– Carrera Cup Hospitality at each circuit with ample opportunity to host guests and sponsors

– Early registration reward offering between two and three free sets of Michelin slick tyres as incentive to join Porsche Carrera Cup GB promptly

– New tyre regulations and new testing schedule: free pre-season testing, four days maximum in the season

Porsche Carrera Cup GB overview

The Carrera Cup, the fastest and most successful single marque GT racing Championship in the UK, is contested by identical examples of the latest 'Type 991' 911 GT3 Cup, each powered by a charismatic, rear-mounted 460 hp flat-six engine. The racing edition of the iconic 911 coupe has thrilled spectators around the UK in support of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) since 2003.

Over the past decade, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB has become an established stepping stone for drivers looking to forge a career in GT sports car and endurance racing. The Championship is fully integrated into the international Porsche Motorsport programme, and factory backing – not least in terms of parts and technical support –provides unrivalled opportunities for development. Consequently, victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is highly prized and preserving this reputation for driver development lies at the heart of the programme of upgrades for 2015.

Core to the appeal of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB to sponsors is that it lies within the proven TOCA package as a support race to the BTCC, and the action is transmitted live on ITV4. Over the course of the season, these broadcasts reach an annual audience in excess of 20m viewers on Sunday afternoons.

Over 30,000 enthusiastic spectators attend the majority of races, and total crowds of approximately 370,000 over the duration of the season visit the circuits in England and Scotland to enjoy the high octane atmosphere.
 

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When I read the title of this thread I thought you had a 2015 calendar with pics of Porsche and race tracks. :damn:
 
Hoping for bigger grids this season. Have been seeing a few names signed already, including David Walley who I followed in GT Cup last season. Too rich for me, though - although I am looking at early 997 Cups at the moment.

Chris.
 
from today's Press Day

Finally a full grid of quality drivers :thumb:



 
Grid Grows for Carrera Cup in 2015

A damp and misty Silverstone hosted the media day for Carrera Cup GB and 2015 will see virtually twice the number of cars on the grid, with a mix of returning drivers and new hands joining Porsche's premiere Championship.



Overall winner from last year Josh Webster returns to defend his title, no doubt closely followed by Michael Meadows. Other familiar names include Steven Jelly, Dan Cammish (who guested last season) and Steven Liquorish.



Drivers joining for the season include Lithuanian driver Ignas Gelzinis, Candian Nicholas Latifi. Karl Leonard from Ireland rejoins after a short absence and Belfast-based Shamus and Peter Jennings jump up from a season in GT Cup last year.



A new rookie class brings in a slew of young single seater or sports car drivers, all under the age of 25, who will be chasing a separate prize fund of £80,000. The Rookie Class will operate its own separate points table, so drivers are also able to compete within one of the main championship categories: Professional, Professional Amateur 1 or Professional Amateur 2, thereby gaining the opportunity to win even more prize money from their respective classes.



The season kicks off at Brands Hatch on 4/5th April and will visit Spa-Francorchamps for its continental round in May but the Championship won't be as closely tied to the BTCC programme as in previous seasons.

Chris.
 
New-look Championship attracts new teams and brings fresh talent to the grid

2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship heralds biggest grid in history

Today at Silverstone, Porsche unveiled the 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB and proudly announced the biggest grid in the 12 year history of the Championship.

Eleven teams running 27 cars took to the hallowed Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone for the first test of the year, in preparation for the first rounds at Brands Hatch on 4/5 April. Thirty cars are anticipated to race at the Kent track next month, representing the highest number of 911 GT3 Cup race cars ever to participate.

Since 2003, three teams have been the bedrock of Carrera Cup GB, and Team Parker Racing, Redline Racing and Parr Motorsport are returning for 2015, all with multiple car entries. Each can be counted upon to mount a serious title bid with their traditionally strong pack of 'Pro' drivers.

Reigning Carrera Cup GB Champion Josh Webster (Stowmarket) returns to defend his title with Team Parker Racing, and is joined by Touring Car race winner and former Carrera Cup GB front-runner Stephen Jelley (Loughborough).

Steven Liquorish (Wantage) also returns to Carrera Cup GB with Team Parker Racing, and will be joined in the Pro-Am2 category by Rupert Martin.

Redline Racing lines up with former British Formula Ford Champion Dan Cammish (Leeds), who has already provided a foretaste of his Porsche pace by taking a win at the last Carrera Cup race weekend of 2014. He is joined by Channel Islander and British GT graduate Jack Falla, and also Jordan Witt (Cheshire), who returns to the Carrera Cup looking to build on his impressive performances last season. Making up a fearsome foursome for the Cleveland-based team is John McCallagh (Stokesley), who will contest the Pro-Am2 category.

The distinctive colours of the Samsung UHD TV Racing team return with two-time Carrera Cup GB Champion Michael Meadows (Oxford) alongside series newcomer Nicolas Latifi. Nineteen year-old Latifi, from Canada, is dovetailing a Carrera Cup GB campaign with a season in Formula Renault 3.5, but will be a man to watch.

Further underlining the appeal to single-seater drivers of switching to racing the 460 hp rear-engined 911 GT3 Cup is the signing of Dino Zamparelli by Parr Motorsport. Bristol-based Zamparelli (22) raced in GP3 last season and was a frequent visitor to the podium. Now, he is looking forward to the challenge of driving the Porsche, and continues to enjoy the backing of Bristol Sport.

Another driver sure to be on the pace again this year is seasoned Porsche racer Mark Cole (Berkshire) who returns to the grid with Parr Motorsport, in partnership with Nicholls & Clarke ceramics. And lining up alongside Zamparelli and Cole at Parr Motorsport is proven Carrera Cup GB race winner Paul Rees (Oxford), who finished third in the Championship last year. Parr also field Championship returnee Peter Kyle-Henney in Pro-Am2.

Long-standing Carrera Cup GB supporter IN2 Racing is also back this year. The Warwickshire-based team enjoyed a strong 2014, and aims to maintain this form this year with speedy Spaniard Victor Jimenez. In Pro-Am2, the team will field Paul McKay (Edinburgh) and David Walley. Walley is supported by Alexander Daniels and The IFA under the AD brand.

Heading the new teams is Essex-based Credit4Cars led by Iain Dockerill, which will field a multiple car line-up. Dockerill has raced in the GT Cup and British GT Championship, and the Credit4Cars team is looking forward to joining the Carrera Cup GB grid in 2015. Driving alongside Ian Dockerill are his son, Chris, and Peter Parsons.

Another new entry is G-Cat Racing, which will be running former GP3 racer Ryan Cullen (Somerset). The team will also run cars for Peter and Shamus Jennings, both from Bangor, Northern Ireland. G-Cat has extensive track experience, most recently running with Ferrari in the GT Cup Championship plus supporting a range of historic F1 and sports racing cars around Europe.

Tom Sharp makes the step up from Ginettas to race with Porsche with IDL Racing in 2015, and the Weybridge driver will be keen to make big impression among the Pro category.

These newcomers see an entry in the Carrera Cup as a logical step in their commitment to GT racing, and have been drawn to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship by the appeal of racing the 'Type 991' 911 GT3 Cup, and the revised calendar with the WEC race at Spa in Belgium.

Juta Racing also returns to the Championship this year, and has drawn-up exciting plans for a fresh campaign with another multiple car entry. Lithuania-based Juta Racing clinched the Pro-Am1 title in 2011, and Jonas Gelzinis finished second overall in the 2013 Carrera Cup GB. Now, younger brother Ignas steps up to the 'Pro' category for 2015 and will be a driver to watch. Tautvydas Barstys and Nerijus Dagilis also join the team in the Pro-Am2 field.

Another returning team is GT Marques, which enjoyed great Carrera Cup GB success in 2013. The Buckinghamshire squad is running Scott Marshall, in Pro-Am2, and Francis Galashan (London) in Pro-Am2.


Carrera Cup drivers Get Race Fit with Mark Webber

Scott Marshall, Dino Zamparelli, John McCullagh and Josh Webster each had the opportunity to 'Get Race Fit' with Porsche factory Works driver and F1 star Mark Webber during an exclusive fitness seminar at the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone on 21-22 February.

Each driver participated in a variety of workshops with topics covering nutrition, strength and conditioning, and mental preparation and also had the chance to quiz Mark for hints and tips on preparation to race at the highest level.

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.

Josh Webster returns to defend title

The high-calibre of competition and high-profile rewards offered by the Carrera Cup GB were a key attraction for Josh Webster to enter the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship programme in 2013. Since becoming the first Scholar to win the overall Championship in their debut season last year, 21-year old Webster is eager to begin his title defence. His two-year Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship support extends into the 2015 season, and another action-packed year of racing combined with ambassadorial appearances on behalf of Porsche Cars GB lies ahead of him.

"I'm very happy to confirm my return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship in 2015 to defend my championship title," said Josh. 'Thanks to Porsche Cars GB for its continued Scholarship support which makes this possible. My move to Team Parker Racing is really exciting and I'm looking forward to working with Stuart and the team, who have made me feel very welcome. It's going to be a fantastic season ahead and we can't wait to get the car out on track!"

The appeal to young drivers of racing in the Carrera Cup GB is plain to see. Experience in the 911 GT3 Cup offers a proven pathway to future careers in GT/sports prototype racing with factory teams. Graduates from the Carrera Cup include British Porsche Works 911 RSR driver Nick Tandy, and his Porsche factory team-mates, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas, who triumphed in the final race of the 2014 WEC in the LMP1 919 Hybrid.

New partners for Carrera Cup GB

Porsche is pleased to announce Pommery as the official champagne supplier to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, and will be a formal part of the podium ceremony at each race.

A new partnership between Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Swiss watchmaker Chopard has also been confirmed. Chopard and Porsche are united by shared values such as a constant quest for performance and excellence, and it began a relationship as official timing partner of Porsche Motorsport in LMP1 last season.

The top 12 at the end of the TEST day were:

Michael Meadows - Samsung SUHD TV Racing - 2.05.515
Dan Cammish - Redline Racing - 2:05:643
Josh Webster - Team Parker Racing - 2:06:393
Dino Zamparelli - Parr Motorsport - 2:06.514
Nicholas Latifi - Samsung SUHD TV Racing - 2:06:546
Paul Rees - Parr Motorsport - 2:06:773
Karl Leonard - Team Parker Racing - 2:07:131
Stephen Jelley - Team Parker Racing - 2:07:436
Mark Cole - Parr Motorsport - 2:07:547
Ryan Cullen - G-Cat Racing - 2:07:613
Tom Sharp - IDL Racing - 2:08:072
Ignas Gelzinis - Juta Racing - 2:08:254
 

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