Inside the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada

This International Motor Sports Association-sanctioned spec series will again produce intense, exciting competition for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers in the world’s most produced and iconic race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. With all cars being identical in performance, the emphasis is put on driving talent. The series also welcomes the arrival of a new race car, the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

The IMSA-sanctioned series is one of Porsche's 20 global single-make Cup Challenge series in the world and is the perfect platform for aspiring drivers to ascend to the highest levels of GT competition, such as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Platinum Cup and Gold Cup classes of the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama will be contested exclusively in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car – one of the world’s most successful race cars. Developed for Porsche one-make cups worldwide, the 911 GT3 Cup car is based on the production 911 GT3 RS road car. Its engine is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS, with the same output of 450 horsepower and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. It is fitted with the necessary safety equipment such as a racing seat, a six-point racing harness, a roll cage, a fire extinguisher and more.

A new tire manufacturer

The series has switched tire manufacturers to Yokohama after five years with Michelin. The Canadian series will also run its first joint events with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series in June at Montreal during the Canadian F1 Grand Prix and in early July at Watkins Glen during the WeatherTech Championship weekend.

Racing is divided into three classes – Platinum Cup, featuring the 2014-16 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which is based on the seventh, and current, generation of the street car; and Gold Cup, which is comprised of the previous iteration (model years 2010-2013) of the race car. A Masters Championship also is conducted in the Platinum class. The series will also feature the return of the Silver Cup class with the new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car.

Each class races simultaneously but is awarded with its own podium at the end of every race and individual champion at the end of every season. Points are awarded by finish in class.

Several series’ veterans and newcomers will be drivers to watch this season

Daniel Morad, from suburban Toronto, is the top returning driver with Alegra/Porsche Centre Oakville Motorsports. He finished second to Platinum Cup champion Chris Green by just five points last season. Among the top challengers to Morad will be Montreal resident Jesse Lazare, who is racing in the Canadian and USA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series this season with Wisconsin-based Kelly-Moss Road and Race. Three-time reigning Platinum Masters champion Marco Cirone also will contend for overall podium finishes in his Mark Motors Racing Porsche.

Orey Fidani edged fellow Michael de Quesada by just two points last season to win the Gold Cup title. Both drivers are climbing to the Platinum Cup this season, with Fidani staying with Pfaff Motorsports and de Quesada with Alegra/Porsche Centre Oakville Motorsports.

First full-time female driver

Another interesting storyline will be the performance of Valerie Chiasson with Porsche Prestige/GT Racing in Platinum Cup. Chiasson, from Repentigny, Quebec, is the first full-season female driver in series history.

Quebec driver Martin Harvey and Ontario drivers Shaun McKaigue and Bruno Chapinotti will be among the contenders for podium finishes in the Gold Cup class.

The season opens May 20-22 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park near Bowmanville, a one-hour drive east of Toronto. Other stops include Montreal, Watkins Glen, Toronto, Trois-Rivières and a return to CTMP for the season finale on Sept. 2-4.

For more information, photos and videos, please visit the series’ website at www.imsa.com/series/gt3-challenge-canada.