The Porsche Carrera Cup is unlike any of the other seven Carrera Cups in existence today.
From when the 28 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991) cars were packed into their containers and left Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit after the official pre-season test in March, to when they return there after the end of the 2015 season, the fleet will have travelled more than 24,000km.
From Malaysia, to Shanghai, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia a second time, Singapore, and the 2015 season finale in support of the Shanghai round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in October, the cars remain under the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia management for the entire season, much of it spent being transported by road and by sea to five different nations by series organisers, Porsche China.
Along with the cars go the spare parts, which are centrally managed by the series, tools, tyres, weighing scales, pit boards, furniture, flooring, banners, umbrellas, coffee makers and all the other equipment needed to run Southeast Asia’s premier sportscar championship and its ancillary facilities.
A total of 15 containers make up the travelling fleet: seven for the cars (four cars per container); four for spare parts; two for pit and hospitality equipment; and two for the Michelin tyres.
Apart from the fleet of containers, the hundreds of individuals involved in the series between them cover even greater distances during a season. Hailing from as far as Europe, the US and New Zealand, and right across Asia Pacific, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is a truly international affair.
This mighty operation ensures that the same high standards are guaranteed at every round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, wherever it may be. Whether at an F1-standard, purpose-built race track such as those in Malaysia and Shanghai, or at a temporary street circuit like Singapore’s, as far as the technical set-up and garages are concerned – as well as at the five-star hospitality – the highest standards of excellence and consistency are maintained.
In addition to the drivers, team personnel, technical crew and key officials such as the series manager, race director, stewards and scrutineers, a cast of hundreds helps bring every round to life with series partners, sponsors and their guests, VIPs, cameramen, photographers, editors, writers, media, hospitality managers, waiters, chefs, grid girls… The roll call is endless.
The teams themselves are a hybrid; while the series is open to private teams, who provide their own engineers and mechanics, many of the services they rely on are provided by Porsche China and official technical service provider, Malaysian-based EKS Motorsports. Preferential rates at nearby hotels are offered to all teams, as well as transfers to the track. Hospitality comes as part of the entry fees as does logistics.
A unique ‘arrive and drive’ option is available to all competing teams, which includes highly-trained mechanics and supervisors at each race weekend, pre-season checks and servicing, pit set-up, and packing and unloading/loading of containers. All the drivers and team principal need do is arrive at the race track where they will find a professionally-prepared car waiting for them.
While the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has grown and prospered since its birth in 2003, when organisation of the Cup transferred from Porsche Asia Pacific to Porsche China in 2011, the addition of more Porsche dealer teams further strengthened the series. Joining Team Jebsen, which had run future FIA WTCC driver Darryl O’Young from 2004, were a number of newcomers such as Team Porsche Holding, who brought Austrian talent Martin Ragginger to the Cup in 2012.
This season, there are eight Porsche dealer entries, all of which run under the banner of their dealership groups and fully finance their teams: Team Jebsen, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary with a two-car team for Rodolfo Avila of Macau and Singapore’s Yuey Tan; Team Yonda Dongfang with Ro Charlz Skyangel; Team Betterlife China’s Li Chao; fellow countryman Bao Jin Long with Zheng Tong Auto; new dealer team Kamlung Racing with sensational newcomer Chris van der Drift of New Zealand; Team Porsche Holding with Ragginger; and PICC Team StarChase with the series’ youngest-ever driver, 17-year-old Nico Menzel, son of two-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion, Christian.
From the tropical drama of Malaysia to the electrifying metropolis of Shanghai, the majesty of Japan’s Mount Fuji, and the unrivalled hospitality of South Korea; from the famous smiles of Thailand to the glitter of Singapore’s Lion City; this unique and complex championship crosses both geographical and cultural borders as seamlessly as it does finish lines.
As diverse and as resourceful as its home, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia knows no boundaries.
