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A field of about 30 Porsche Carrera Cup cars will join the program at V8 Supercar races next year following approval by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport for the new category.
The new series, which will see high profile Porsche racers such as Jim Richards and Peter Fitzgerald defect from Nations Cup, will begin at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in March and then fill the major support role at all rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship.
The series, for identical Porsche Supercup 911 racers has been a resounding success overseas and an abortive attempt by Porsche Cars Australia to introduce it this year founded on a bitter dispute over money with V8 Supercar administrator AVESCO.
One consequence of the new series will be the end of Porsche Cup racing in Australia and PCA has already advised competitors that it will no longer support or sanction Porsche Cup racing in Australia. SCR understands competitors have been told they will either have to move up the Carrera Cup or race their existing cars in other categories.
Up to 21 new Porsche Supercup racers are to be rushed to Australia for the new series by the end of January. A further five GT3 racers that are already in Australia, such as Richards’ Nations Cup Championship winning car, and five from New Zealand will be converted to Supercup specification to make up the field.
Racers like Jim Richards believe the stability of Carrera Cup racing, which relies heavily on driver ability for race wins, will have more appeal than the ever changing regulations of Nations Cup.
Words by David Twomey
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