Inaugural Porsche Carrera World Cup

[FTS]

Porsche Press Release:


It will be one of the most spectacular sprint races ever. The Porsche Carrera World Cup (“PCWC”) on June 25, 2011 with up to 200 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers will line up on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany watched by more than 200,000 spectators and up to 20 positions on the starting grid are reserved for North American drivers.

“We have already received serious inquiries from numerous of our North American customers for participation in this once-in-lifetime event. With the assistance of the Porsche Carrera Cup Organization based in Weissach, Germany, we were able to put together an “Arrive & Drive” package catered to drivers who want to race, but do not wish to ship their cars and send their crew overseas,” said Jens Walther, President of Porsche Motorsports North America, Inc. (“PMNA”).

Walther emphasized that time is of the essence, and that potential competitors should contact PMNA by March 31 in order to make the best arrangements. The details of this package are available by calling PMNA at 714-361-2500.

The world’s greatest Porsche race takes place just prior to the start of the 39th ADAC 24 hour race and runs over a distance of six laps (70.2 miles). The Porsche Carrera World Cup will highlight Porsche’s 19 brand trophy and challenge series worldwide, including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama in North America. This race will count as a competition round towards several other championships, including the Porsche Carrera Cups in Germany, Scandinavia, France and Italy.

For this inaugural event, the field will be divided into two classes. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with 3.6-liter engines from 2007 to 2009 model years (400 to 420 hp) and the 3.8-liter versions of the 2010 and 2011 model years (450 hp). Each class will be scored separately. All competitors must provide proof of their considerable track experience. For all Nordschleife rookies, an intensive two-day training course will take place in the week leading up to the event with former Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen (Germany) as the head instructor.

Over the last years, the success story of Porsche Motorsport has been closely tied to the Nürburgring. From 2006 to 2009, the Porsche team, Manthey Racing, won the 24 hour race on the Nordschleife four times in a row. In May this year, the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid held the overall lead for more than eight hours at Germany’s most popular automobile race. From the ten races on the VLN Nürburgring Long Distance Championship calendar this year, a Porsche 911 won nine times.

[CWS]

The two-day training course with Maassen is probably worth the price of admission alone. Hopefully it's successful enough that it doesn't turn out to be a once in a lifetime event.

[TwentySix]

Have you guys seen this cool training clip of the Nordschleife done by Sascha Maassen for this? He's so casual about the whole thing, though I know it's quite an undertaking. Had hoped to go and watch the race that weekend, sounds like a blast... all those cars out there on that narrow track will be interesting! Probably great beer too!

[FTS]

I have been looking for this video, thanks for the link.

It would be a very nice trip to go see this race and sllep on the hills just to get a glimps of it

That's a lot of cars, long trak, but as you said narrow road, I am sure it will be an expensive race for many teams.

[FTS]

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST:

PCNA is entering a car and it will be driven by....

MELANIE SNOW

For more information on Melanie Snow, please visit:

http://www.imsachallenge.com/teams-a.../melanie-snow/

http://www.trackchic.com/wbw/index.asp?articleID=203

We wish them the best of luck, Godspeed.

[TRAKCAR]

Very cool, who's visiting the Ring June 25th?

[FTS]

ATLANTA – June 23, 2011 – Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) intern Anna Frey designed the livery that will appear on a 911 GT3 Cup racecar the company will campaign in the Porsche Carrera World Cup Race this Saturday at Germany’s infamous Nürburgring race track.

“I am very excited my design was selected,” Frey says. “I have loved cars since I started attending car shows with my father when I was growing up. The opportunity to intern at Porsche has been very rewarding and exciting. And the thought of my design appearing on a Porsche race car in front of thousands of people – and 100 other Porsche race cars – is quite amazing!”

Frey, a recent graduate of Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, GA, majored in industrial design. Her paint scheme was selected from four final contenders by PCNA employees and won out over several designs drafted by professionals.

American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTC Champion Melanie Snow has been chosen to pilot PCNA’s 911 GT3 Cup racecar and will be joined by six PCNA “pit crew” employees.
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The Porsche employee team, selected from submitted video and written essays detailing their motorsports passion, will be on hand to capture and share the insider’s view on what it takes to compete internationally, what it feels – and sounds – like from the driver’s seat, and who’s who in the world of Porsche motorsports.

In addition to featuring photos and videos posted by the on-site Porsche employee team, “The Hub” will also serve as a Porsche motorsports history destination, including historic racing images from Porsche archives and Porsche motorsports milestones.

Lufthansa German Airlines is supporting the PCNA crew with logistics and air travel to and from Germany. “This racing endeavor is an exciting opportunity to showcase the relationship between these two iconic German brands,” said Nicola Lange, Director Marketing and Customer Relations The Americas, Lufthansa. “Our Lufthansa team is incredibly enthusiastic to be a part of the team and support Melanie Snow and the Porsche Cars North America 911 Cup car effort at the Nürburgring,”

Snow joins more than 100 participants from 25 countries on the starting grid at 10:30 am local time, at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring on June 25, she’ll not only have a unique ground support crew; she is slated to be the only female racer to compete in the Carrera World Cup.

[FTS]

Few photos courtesy of PCNA:

Unfortunately, Snow was hit from behind at the very beginning, on lap 1, that spun her, which another car hit her again and her day was over

That GT3 RS Hybrid also looks like it got quite a bit of beating during the race and it was taped almost at all of its corners, especially the rears.

Chris Harris came in 3rd in Category 2 (Cup cars of 2007-2009).

Latest results can be found at Paddock Talk.

[FFaust]

Thanks

[csmarx]

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

Very cool, who's visiting the Ring June 25th?

Dang, missed it. But I'll be there July 17, 18 & 19 driving my trusty old 968 Club Sport.