An exciting new format is being finalized for the GT3 Cup Challenge NZ series. It will see some changes for this coming season with the introduction of a 100km race at each meeting late on Saturday afternoon, in addition to the two 20 minute races on Sunday.
Testing will still take place on Friday with qualifying on Saturday morning while the afternoon will see the first 100km race which will include a compulsory pit stop and wheel change where two wheels must be changed.
Two years ago the series saw the introduction of the latest spec 997 GT3 and drivers soon switched over from the older 996, dropping the numbers competing in the older class. This season will see renewed emphasis on the 996 class with a separate championship and winner will be recognized as the national champion by MotorSport NZ.
Full marks must go to Grant Smith, General Manager of Porsche NZ and all those involved with the series. “We are concentrating on growing the category through the expansion of the 996 class. Our goal is to get up to ten 996 GT3 Cup cars competing with the existing twelve 997 GT3 Cup cars for fields with consistent grids of more than 20,” commented Smith.
Already Colin Caldwell and Simon Evans have purchased cars for the season and will join 996 competitors Rob Steele and Hugh Gardiner.
Expect twelve cars competing in the 997 class. Triple X Motorsport plan to field six cars on the grid while International Motorsport will have another six including the existing crew of Jodi Vincent, Jono Lester, Ant Pedersen, Darryn Henderson and Andrew Bagnall. Successful negotiations may see the possibility of Jonny Reid, Matt Halliday, John McIntyre and Aaron Slight also joining.
Prize money will be introduced for the 100 km race with approximately $10,000 being allocated to both classes. Initiatives in cost reduction for competitors could include a reduction in tyre allocation for each race weekend, the use of used/mark tyres as well as initiatives in reducing tyre wear over a race weekend.
“We have never had such a high interest in the category, and we are fielding new enquiries every day. All of this bodes extremely well for the biggest and best Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge NZ series ever,” says Smith.
