Competent Motorsport, LLC, which operates the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA championship, is pleased to announce plans for the 2016 season.

With races on some of the most iconic tracks on the continent, a revised class structure and the integration of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport into the series, the 10th anniversary season for Competent Motorsport is poised to be the best ever.

Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA is one of over 20 different single-make championships which utilize the Porsche platform around the globe.

Utilizing the proven Porsche GT3 Cup turn-key racer that has been the competition foundation of the internationally-recognized category, the 2016 Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA season will take place on the western half of North America and will feature an 8-weekend, 16-race championship staged on some of the best tracks the country has to offer.

A new class structure will see the Diamond Class once again feature the Porsche GT3 Cup car that is based on the seventh generation 911 (991), which was introduced in 2014. The Platinum Class will utilize the 997-generation based Porsche GT3 Cup machines from 2010-2013.

All new for 2016 will be the inclusion of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which will run as the Silver Class. Introduced at the LA Auto Show, the newest offering from Porsche Motorsport will deliver 385 horsepower from the normally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine mated to Porsche’s ultra-quick six-speed PDK transmission.

Each of the three classes will also include a Masters Championship for drivers over 50 years old.

“We are fortunate to have some great tracks on our 2016 schedule, and the interest in our Silver Class and the Cayman GT4 Clubsport has been amazing,” said Competent Motorsport president Greg Franz. “Our schedule will also be great for our customers as there is a lot of track time built in every weekend, including two races and two different qualifying sessions, so we are very excited about 2016 and of course continuing our relationships with Pirelli and Porsche Motorsport North America. ”

Partnerships with Pirelli and Porsche Motorsport North America have positioned the series with a solid foundation for the future.

With Pirelli North America continuing to serve as the Official Tire and Title Sponsor, the fields will once again exclusively feature the Pirelli P Zero Racing Slicks and Racing Rain tires.

“We are proud of our involvement with Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA and the series has grown every season since we first became partners,” said Rafael Navarro, Vice-President, Communications, Media Relations and Motorsports for Pirelli Tire North America. “The 2016 schedule has some great tracks, and the customer focus in Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA is impressive. Having every driver race on the Pirelli P Zero is a big part of that great experience and we are very much looking forward to another big season in 2016.”

The popularity of Porsche’s one-make platform continues to grow internationally, and the category is set for further growth with the inclusion of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport starting in 2016.

“With the series updating the class structure and of course adding the new Cayman GT4 Clubsport for the Silver class, there is a lot of excitement around the 2016 Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA season,” offered Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO, Jens Walther. “The GT3 Cup platform is a central element for our global motorsports program for customers, and we are excited to be a part of this series as it continues to get stronger each season.”

The season will open on the weekend of March 18-20 at the Circuit of the Americas.  The series has staged races at the popular track in the past, including playing a prestigious role in the inaugural Formula 1 race weekend at the 3.4-mile circuit in 2012 as a double-header support event.

Rounds 3 & 4 will be hosted by the new Thermal Club, which is based in Thermal, California and boasts a remarkable 4.5-mile track with unmatched amenities.

Two visits to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, first in May 13-15, and then again June 3-5, will see the series return to race action through the iconic Corkscrew, which recently played host to the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in August.

A visit to wine country and Sonoma Raceway on July 1-3 will precede a return to the newly-renamed Utah Motorsports Campus on August 26-28 as part of the traditional Pirelli World Challenge race weekend.

The season-finale will see the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA closing out the year on the same track in which it opened the season with two final races of the 2015 season at the Circuit of the Americas.

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets. “Like” us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

About Porsche Cars North America, Inc. | One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354 USA

Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche 918 Spyder, 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars, the Macan and Cayenne SUVs, and Panamera sports sedans. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia since 1998, PCNA is also home to the first Porsche Experience Center in North America featuring a module-based 1.6 mile driver development track, business center, human performance center, and fine dining restaurant. PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide parts, service, marketing, and training for 189 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 65-plus year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. PCNA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Information:

Just like its well-developed production sibling, the Cayman GT4 Clubsport is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six engine, positioned directly behind the driver’s seat. The racing version features a modified six-speed Porsche double clutch PDK transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel and a mechanical rear-axle locking differential specifically for racing. The lightweight strut front axle is taken from its big 911 GT3 Cup brother, which is campaigned in 20 one-make Porsche championships around the world. An enhanced lightweight strut suspension with transverse arms adopted from the 911 GT3 Cup, is at the rear. The racing brake system features large 15-inch (380-millimeter) steel brake discs all round. One-piece, six-piston aluminum fixed calipers are located at the front, with a four-piston equivalent at the rear. The anti-lock brake system features twelve settings. The Electronic Stability Program has been recalibrated for slick racing tires. The power steering is operated electro-mechanically.

Tipping the scales at just 2,866 pounds (1,300 kilograms), the Cayman GT4 Clubsport, is a virtually turn-key racecar, delivered from the factory with a welded-in safety cage, a racing bucket seat as well as a six-point harness. The North American version comes with an 18.5 gallon (70-liter) or an optional 26.5 gallon (100-liter) FIA FT3 safety fuel tank. The car also comes with a central fire extinguisher system. Mounted on the front axle are 18-inch five-bolt forged wheels with 25/64-18 tires while the 18-inch five-lug forged wheels at the rear have 27/68-18 tires. Michelin® supplies the racing slicks.

In the USA, the new Cayman GT4 Clubsport racecar is available directly from Porsche Motorsport North America for $165,000.