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 2019

The 2019 season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia saw 24 world class GT competitors from 12 different countries and regions take to the track on six of the toughest circuits Asia has to offer. Legions of devoted fans watched the action unfold live, with those unable to make it to the grandstands able to view each race online via carreracupasia.com.

Round 1 was held on China’s number-one racetrack as a support race for the historic 1000th ever F1 event. Team Porsche Holding’s Martin Ragginger was first on the scoreboard after claiming the first pole position of the season. This first race saw Team Giltrap Group’s Will Bamber supplant Ragginger in P1 early on and hold position until the Kiwi driver took the first victory of 2019. The Pro-Am class – renowned for its tough competition – saw Round 1 won by another series stalwart; OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia. In 2019, Tjia celebrated his tenth consecutive year at the PCCA, one of a handful of drivers who have spent more than a decade racing in the series.

Rounds 2 and 3 saw the series leave the borders of China for the first time this year to head to the legendary Suzuka International Circuit in Japan. This was to be the Carrera Cup Asia’s maiden race at Suzuka, the last major Asian circuit to be added to the series’ roster. Under the scorching Japanese summer weather, the Carrera Cup was joined on the track by sister-series the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan for two thrilling joined-races which saw a mind-blowing 44 cars racing on the track simultaneously. The rolling start of race 1 saw Team StarChase’s Philip Hamprecht come in first. The Pro-Am class saw reigning champion Bao Jinlong from ZhengTong Auto claim his first taste of victory for the season. Round 3 saw Hamprecht complete what appeared to be a lights-to-flag victory, however multiple faults with the rolling start were recorded and several drivers appealed the decision, which would take some months to fully settle. For the Pro-Am class, Novu Racing Team’s Yuey Tan – the driver with more PCCA starts than any other – took his first victory of the season, followed by Bao in second and Porsche Beijing Central and Goldenport’s Li Chao in third.

For Rounds 4 and 5 the series stayed in Japan, this time at the legendary Fuji Speedway. What was planned to be a three race weekend turned into a two race weekend due to heavy rain. Round 4 opened with Bamber drifting wide out of the grid to frustrate reigning champion Chris van der Drift from Kamlung Racing to his rear, opening up space for Ragginger to breeze through and eventually secure his first victory of the season. Class B saw Tjia find his mojo and complete a lightsto-flag victory, finishing a clean seven seconds ahead of Bao, who himself finished five seconds ahead of Li Chao. Round 5 saw the sun shining on the track for the first time in the weekend, as Bamber took the second pole of the stop and drove a flawless race to earn himself a lights-to-flag victory, becoming the first Pro driver of the season to have two wins under his belt. Bao Jinlong continued his dominating run of the Pro-Am class, earning himself a race win from a P2 start.

The series’ next stop was Malaysia’s renowned Sepang International Circuit for Rounds 6, 7 and 8. The first race of the weekend was notable for being the historic 200th ever race for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Somewhat fittingly, Sepang was the site of the series’ first ever race all the way back in 2003, bringing the series full circle. On the track, the weekend belonged to one name and one name only: Martin Ragginger, who stormed Sepang Circuit to pick up a victory in all three races, becoming the first Carrera Cup Asia driver to ever block out a triple victory race weekend. Also notable was Chinese Pro driver Cui Yue, driving for Team Jebsen, who took his first ever series podium. The Pro-Am class also saw a first when long-time series driver OpenRoad Racing’s Michael S. earned his maiden victory. The weekend’s second race was the series’ first ever night race under the floodlights at Sepang, and while Ragginger was winning his second victory of the day, the Pro-Am class saw Presido Jakarta Ban Racing’s Ahmad F. Alam claim his first ever series victory after claiming his first series podium in the previous race. The final race of the weekend saw Ragginger move up from a P5 start to lock in his history-making triple victory weekend, while the Pro-Am class saw Tan earn his first victory of the season.

Rounds 9 and 10 saw the series return to a driver favourite, the Bangsaen Street Circuit. The idyllic beachside locale saw over 300,000 motorsports fans lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the motorsport carnival unfolding in front of them. Round 9 saw Hamprecht set a series record for fastest qualifying time at Bangsaen, setting him up perfectly for this incredibly tight circuit where overtaking is all but impossible. Hamprecht earned a lights-to-flag victory, while the Pro-Am class saw Bao ignore the unwritten rule about no-overtaking and leap up into P1 from a P3 start to eventually win the race. Bamber earned a lights-to-flag victory in Round 10, while Tjia earned his second Pro-Am victory of the season.

Next up, series visited Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit alongside the Singapore F1 Grand Prix for Rounds 11 and 12. Round 11 saw another series first, as Porsche China Junior driver Daniel Lu Wenlong – the youngest ever Carrera Cup Asia Pro competitor – became the youngest ever Carrera Cup Asia race winner as he secured his maiden victory to raucous cheers from the grid. In the ProAm class, Alam won his second race of the season followed by a resurgent Bao. Round 12 saw an all-Porsche-talent-pool podium, with Hamprecht coming in first, Lu in second and Bunjong Motorsports’ Tanart Sathienthirakul placing third. Bao continued dominating his class by winning the Pro-Am race, having earned a podium or a win in every race bar-one that he’d started this season.

The finale of the season took us back to Shanghai for Rounds 13 and 14 as a support race for the WEC 4hrs of Shanghai. Going into the finale, Hamprecht was out in front with a 33 point lead over nearest rival Ragginger. Bao was still dominating the Pro-Am class, a clean 13 points ahead of his closest rival Alam, despite having missed three whole races this season due to injury. Round 13 saw a stunning display from Bamber, who scored a perfect race by earning pole, coming in first and getting the fastest lap. Ragginger came in second, however it wasn’t enough to stop Hamprecht. Having only needed a seventh place or better finish to mathematically seal the season, Hamprecht became the 2019 champion after his third place finish in the year’s penultimate race. Pro-Am Round 13 saw Bao Jinlong earn first place ahead of rival Tjia in second and Earl Bamber Motorsport’s Antares Au in third. The final race of the season roared off the starting grid just a few hours after the previous race. The Pro competition was already decided, with Ragginger salvaging some pride by earning his 24th Carrera Cup Asia career victory in the final race. However the Pro-Am racers still had everything to fight for, with a confident Bao securing his fifth victory of the season and the Pro-Am championship along with it. Bao became the first ever Pro-Am racer to secure back-to-back championships in the series’ history. While Hamprecht not only won the overall championship, but also secured a back-to-back win for Team StarChase in the Dealer Trophy. With Bao dominating the Pro-Am table all season long, second championship place went to Alam and third place went to Tjia.

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.