Australian Carrera Cup adds Malaysian round

The move into Asia follows a joint round between the Aussie and Asian Carrera Cup championships at Sydney Motorsport Park this season. The Sepang round next July will also be a joint venture between the two series.

The freighting of the Australian-based Cup Cars to Malaysia will be funded by Porsche Cars Australia.

The tie-up between Australia and Asia will also include four Asian competitors being allowed to join the Aussie grid for the Australian Grand Prix support races at Albert Park, and four Aussie competitors then allowed into the Asian series for the Singapore Grand Prix support races later in the year.

Other new initiatives for Carrera Cup Australia include a one-off, fully-funded overseas Porsche drive for the outright and Challenge winners, a drop-your-worst-round points system, and the ability to run the 991-spec Cup Cars at the Bathurst 12 Hour in February.

“There’s no doubting that the 2017 Carrera Cup season will be special, highlighted by our first event in Asia,” said Porsche Cars Australia motorsport manager Kurt Sakzewski.

“This is something we have wanted to do for some time and have now put the foundations in place to make it happen. Taking the Carrera Cup championship to Malaysia is a significant investment by Porsche, but will be a priceless experience for our teams and drivers.

“We have also created numerous money-can’t-buy opportunities, available only to those racing in Carrera Cup Australia. You can’t purchase a spot on the grid at the Singapore Grand Prix, so it’s invaluable to be able to offer this to our drivers. We also retain our premium event schedule, attending the best motorsport events in the country, while continuing the popular Pro-Am format.

“An endurance mini series will also add a new element to the championship and provide more racing laps around some of the country’s greatest circuits.”

The 2017 Aussie Carrera Cup series will kick off in Adelaide in March, with an eight-round schedule that includes the Grand Prix, Phillip Island, Hidden Valley, Sandown, Bathurst, and the Gold Coast street race.