SERIES INTRODUCTION

Introduction

With the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia firmly established as Asia’s premier one-make sports car racing series, 2023 sees a formidable international field of brilliant professionals competing wheel-to-wheel with dedicated privateers. A proven testing ground for fledgling talent and a showcase for the world’s leading GT competitors, today the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is the number one choice for the region’s finest drivers.

Over the past 20 years, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has become renowned as a series that ignites passion and enthusiasm for motorsport across the region. Each of this year’s entries will pilot an identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992). This impressive machine represents the latest generation of Porsche’s iconic race car, bringing faster lap times, slicker technology and improved control.

Piloting the 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992), several fresh faces will join series returnees as 21 drivers enter into the 2023 season, with a balanced mix of Pro, Pro-Am and Am racers creating a multi-level competition among the region’s most talented contestants. Also returning in 2023 is the Porsche Dealer Trophy, which will see series’ dealer teams compete head-to-head as they are awarded points based on the top performing dealer team driver.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will also continue its critical role developing Asian motorsport talent in 2023. Our focus on motoring youth continues with the Porsche Talent Pool Programme. Extended to all drivers under the age of 26, this programme gives young talent access to star coaches and training while offering the life-changing opportunity to compete in the global Porsche Junior Programme Shootout in Germany for the best performing driver.

Celebrating 20 years on the track in 2023, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has spent the past two decades proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is the premier one-make series on the continent. From the first ever race at Sepang International circuit in 2003, the series has been on a journey that has seen it take in 231 races and host over 198 competitors from 21 countries and regions. With a return to international racing in 2023, this 20th anniversary year is shaping up to be the most exciting Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season yet.

Services

Impeccable services of the highest standards are centrally managed and provided to all teams and drivers, including:

• Transportation of cars, parts and tools from race to race
• Centrally-managed parts, meaning teams do not need to invest in inventory
• Superb track hospitality at each race
• Accommodation and transfer packages
• Pit set-up and equipment

Arrive and Drive Option

While individual teams are welcome, competitors have the option of availing themselves of the unique ‘Arrive and Drive’ concept, which provides drivers with professional support services of the highest calibre.

The Technical Service Package includes highly-trained mechanics and supervisors at each race to service and maintain the car, a pre-season check and pre-event service, pit set-up at each event, and packing, loading and unloading of containers.

This option, provided by professional partner EKS Motorsports, represents savings in both time and expense and means drivers need simply to arrive at the track where the fully-prepared cars await them, making for an exciting and hassle-free race weekend.

Pro-Am Class

Privateer drivers who believe the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is the exclusive domain of full-time professionals could not be more mistaken. The creation of the Pro-Am Class within the series, designed specifically for those very drivers, affords the opportunity to race against the professionals – a unique chance to learn from the best in the business.

Am Class

As the quality of the Carrera Cup Asia’s dedicated privateers has consistently risen year-on-year, it has become necessary to introduce a new class in order to keep every spot in the race competitive. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia introduced the Am class in 2021, and it has returned every season since with its own podiums, points tables and prizes.

Porsche Dealer Trophy

In 2023, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will continue the Porsche Dealer Trophy, which gives dealer teams a chance to compete as they are awarded points each round based on the best performing dealer driver. With huge success in 2022, the trophy further solidifies the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia as one of the most inclusive, exciting racing series in Asia.

Drivers are welcome

With a truly international field, competitors come from as far afield as Europe and Australia, and as close to home as China, to test their racing mettle in the series. Both young and young-at-heart compete wheel-to-wheel each season, and the friendly off-track camaraderie has become a signature of the championship.

In order to take part in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, competitors need to:

• Own a Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992)
• Hold a valid “C” international racing license
• Purchase the Participation Package
• Purchase the Technical Service Package

The Participation Package includes all registration and entry fees, all costs for logistics, and hospitality access for three at each event. It does not include wear-and-tear, tyres, spare parts, and individual travel and on-track insurance.

Guests are welcome

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia provides thrilling motorsport competition across the region, and at each stop offers an exclusive hospitality experience for guests, be they sponsors, business associates, friends or family.

Individual guest packages are offered by the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia organisation.

SEASON 2023

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia celebrated its 20th anniversary season in 2023 with a return to international racing.

With 21 series registered drivers, including 6 Pro drivers, 6 Pro-Am and 9 Am, with 5 drivers making their series debut this year, and 13 dealer teams with a total of 14 dealer entries, the season kicked off in April with Rounds 1 and 2 at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

In Sepang TORO Racing’s Luo Kailuo, won both races outright, starting off his season by putting 50 points on the scoreboard. Finishing with a fourth place and second place ranking, series newcomer Florian Latorre with Meidong Racing was the other stand out name from the first stop, taking home points for his pole position start and two fastest laps to put him second-place in the rankings.

The Pro-Am category saw three-time Carrera Cup Asia Pro-Am champion Zheng Tong Auto’s Bao Jinlong take the first Pro-Am pole position of the season, however his luck wouldn’t hold as he ended his first race with a DNF result. The Pro-Am winner of Round 1 was series veteran Team BetterLife’s Li Chao, who has had 137 Carrera Cup Asia race starts over the past 11 seasons. Bao Jinlong took home a victory in Round 2, with Porsche Beijing Central & Goldenport’s Zhou Bihuang taking home both second-place finishes.

The Am category saw series newcomer BD Group’s Yang Ruoyu take home a second and first place finish respectively, while R&B Racing’s Wu Jiaxin took home the first Am win of the season. This was the start of what proved to be a dominant run for Yang Ruoyu.

Rounds 3 and 4 saw the series head to Korea’s Yeongam International Circuit for the first time since 2015. Once again taking home points for pole position and fastest lap, Latorre scored his first victory of the season in Round 3, and finished Round 4 in a respectable second-place. Luo Kailuo earned a second and first place win respectively, keeping the young Chinese driver on top.

Bao Jinlong scored a win and a second-place finish in Rounds 3 and 4, putting him on top of the Pro-Am points table. Series newcomer TORO Racing’s Eric Zang – who graduated to the Carrera Cup Asia this year after showing impressive skill in previous seasons of the Porsche Sprint Challenge China – took home the remaining second-place-finish and victory.

Round 3 saw Z.SPEED Motorsport’s Li Xuanyu claim his first Am victory, adding another podium finish in Round 4. Yang Ruoyu flitted between extremes this stop, earning a DNF result and first-place-finish respectively, while Wu Jiaxin similarly earned a DNF result and second-place-finish respectively.

Rounds 5 and 6 were held at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit. Round 5 proved to be the most drama-filled of the season, with torrential rain causing problems. Latorre put in a dominate performance throughout the weekend, taking home every available point with two wins, two fastest laps and pole position. Luo Kailuo earned a respectable second-place finish in Round 6, however this still left Latorre sitting pretty at the top of the table.

Bao Jinlong put in a similar championship-worthy performance in Suzuka, mirroring Latorre’s overall performance by also taking home every available point with two wins, two fastest laps and pole position. Zhou Bihuang and Eric Zhang traded second- and third-place-finishes, keeping both drivers in contention.

Series guest driver Zhang Yaqi with Modena Motorsports dominated the Am category in Suzuka, taking home both wins, and in Round 5 finished the race in second overall – the highest finish for any Am driver in the series’ history! Yang Ruoyu added two more podium finishes to his tally, keeping him at the top of the table.

Rounds 7 and 8 were held at Chang International Circuit in Thailand’s Buriram province. With the story of the season so far being the fierce rivalry between Latorre and Luo Kailuo, it was finally time for a third name to enter the fray. Round 7 was won outright by three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Chris van der Drift driving for Team Shanghai Yonda, with the Kiwi driver also picking up a third-place finish in Round 8, putting him within striking distance of the top two.

The Pro-Am contest was dominated by Bao Jinlong and Zhou Bihuang, with the two Pro-Am leaders swapping first and second place finishes over both races. The remaining podium spots were scooped by Trans-China Automotive Racing’s Francis Tjia in Round 7 and Team C&D’s Hong Shijie in Round 8.

In the Am category, Yang Ruoyu added one more win. Li Xuanyu won his second victory of the season, while Wu Jiaxin and KiddyWorld Racing’s Eric Kwong each took home a second-place-finish.

In Rounds 9 and 10, the series visited Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit for the second time this year. Having found his mojo in Round 7, van der Drift went full throttle at the second Sepang stop, earning two solid victories and a fastest lap point. This result catapulted van der Drift into second place in the season standings, pushing Luo Kailuo down to third for the first time this season.

In a repeat performance from the last stop, Bao Jinlong and Zhou Bihuang once again exchanged first- and second-place Pro-Am finishes, with Li Chao and Hong Shijie taking the remaining podium positions.

Yang Ruoyu further extended his lead with a perfect race weekend where he took home every available point. Series veteran Modena Motorsports’ John Shen earned his first podium finish of the season by coming in second in Round 9, with guest driver Zhang Yaqi taking second in Round 10.

For the season’s penultimate stop, the series headed to Marina Bay Street Circuit for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix. Latorre once again raced a perfect weekend taking home every available point, bringing his total number of wins this season up to 5. Luo Kailuo took home two second-place-finishes, while van der Drift only managed a single podium finish across the weekend. This left Latorre going into the final two Rounds of the season with a daunting 32 point lead, with just 5 points separating van der Drift and Luo Kailuo. With 53 points remaining in the season, the stage was set for a thrilling showdown in Shanghai.

Bao Jinlong raced another perfect weekend in Singapore, taking home every available point, and with it the Pro-Am season championship with two races in hand.

The Am category also saw a season mathematical champion crowned, as Yang Ruoyu added another win and a podium finish to his score.

With two champions already decided, there was still a fierce battle for overall victory remaining at the final stop.

With just 5 points between himself and Luo Kailuo entering the final stop, van der Drift pulled off a lights-to-flag victory. Luo Kailuo settled for a disappointing p6 finish, extending van der Drift’s lead to 21 points before the final race. Coming in second in Round 13, Latorre had earned enough points to make him the mathematical season champion with a race in hand. Having fought valiantly all season, Luo Kailuo settled for a third-place championship finish, with van der Drift taking season second.

With Bao Jinlong having already secured his fourth Pro-Am championship, there remained a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions, with Zhou Bihuang and Eric Zang battling against each other. Never one to rest on his laurels, Bao Jinlong took home every available point in the final stop. Zhou Bihuang took home a second and fourth place finish, while Eric Zang earned a podium finish in Round 13. These final results left Zhou Bihuang in second place in the championship, with Eric Zang occupying the third championship podium spot in his debut season.

With Yang Ruoyu already crowned Am champion, the stage was set for a showdown between Li Xuanyu, Wu Jiaxin, and Eric Kwong all battling for the remaining season podium spots. Eric Kwong settled for two fourth place finishes across the weekend, knocking him out of season podium contention. Yang Ruoyu took home a final victory of the season in Round 13, with Wu Jiaxin coming in second and Li Xuanyu in third. The final race of the season saw Li Xuanyu take home a win and fastest lap, with Wu Jiaxin coming in third. This final result allowed Li Xuanyu to leapfrog Wu Jiaxin and finish the season in Am second, with Wu Jiaxin claiming third.

PORSCHE MOTORSPORT

With 75 years of racing history and more than 30,000 victories to date, Porsche is the biggest manufacturer in the world to specialise in high performance cars and is the most successful marque in motorsport. We are passionate about this and uphold these ideals as the entire philosophy underpinning Porsche Motorsports: Spirit. Principle. Vision.

The global Porsche Motorsport programme includes both works and customer racing. At the pinnacle of the Porsche Motorsport pyramid is the LMP Sport programme, which returns to Hypercar racing this year with the Porsche 963, which will be competing in the 100th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans race. In the GT category, Porsche also competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the IMSA Championship (which includes the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring), and the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Porsche onemake Cups include the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the international Carrera Cups and the Cup Challenges, while the global programme also features the Cayman GT4 Challenge alongside a myriad of track experience opportunities such as the Porsche Sport Driving School, the Porsche Sports Cup Series and Porsche Club Sports Events.