Porsche announces Michelin as official tire supplier for GT3 Cup Challenge Canada

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 26 /CNW/ - Shortly after announcing the 20th one-make Porsche series in the world - Porsche Canada today announced that leading tire manufacturer and worldwide Porsche technology partner, Michelin, will be the official tire supplier of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada.

Porsche and Michelin look back on a long-standing and extraordinarily successful cooperation. Together, they won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours with the 911 GT1 in 1998. Today, Michelin supplies racing tires for the 911 GT3 Cup cars in Porsche Michelin Supercup and the worldwide Porsche Carrera Cups, for the 911 GT3 RSR in the American Le Mans Series and the FIA GT championship as well as for the Porsche sports cars in Porsche Sports Cup.

Tires produced for one-make race series like the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada have to face a wide range of specific challenges, because the drivers have to use the same tire for all conditions in every race of the season. For rainy conditions, Michelin provides the specific rain tire. Furthermore, setup changes are limited to a few values defined in the regulations. This is another way Porsche ensures that the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada is more about driver ability, not the team's ability to set up the car.

In addition to providing the series' official racing tire, Michelin will also provide a set of its new Pilot Super Sport street tires to the winner of each GT3 Cup Challenge Canada race. Michelin will also provide a Porsche Design Driver's Selection watch (worth approximately $1,000) to each second-place driver and $500 cash to each third-pace driver.

"We are thrilled to enter this exciting new chapter with Porsche, our global partner, and a very promising partnership with the International Motor Sports Association for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge," said Tony Mougios, Marketing Director, Michelin Canada. "A race series of this caliber deserves no less than the most exciting tire. That's why Michelin is proud to offer the new Pilot Super Sport as part of the prizing package for the competitors. The champions will enjoy a tire with endurance racing pedigree inspired by the same engineering that has powered 13 consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

The first race of the new Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada runs from May 14-15 at Calabogie Motorsports Park (Calabogie, Ontario), followed by June 3-5 at Circuit ICAR (Mirabel, Quebec) and ending the season with their American counterparts July 23-24 at the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport.

From Laurance Yap / Porsche Canada

Porsche announced GT3 Cup Challenge for Canada!

New Series Becomes Porsche's 20th GT3 Cup Challenge Series Worldwide...

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 28 /CNW/ - Porsche Canada today announced North America's newest single-make racing series, designed to develop new drivers and prepare them for competition in the American Le Mans Series - the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada.

Porsche Cars Canada Ltd (PCL), in partnership with Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), has entered into an agreement for the 20th such series in the world. The inaugural 2011 series will consist of three events: May 14-15 at Calabogie Motorsports Park (Calabogie, Ontario), June 3-5 at Circuit ICAR (Mirabel, Quebec) and ending the season with their American counterparts July 23-24 at the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport.

The new series will be contested by Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars - one of the most popular and successful race cars ever produced. Developed by Porsche for their one-make cup series worldwide, 911 GT3 Cup is based on the production 911 GT3 RS road car. In fact, the 911 GT3 Cup car is produced on the same production line as all road-going Porsche 911s. Its engine is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS, with the same power output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

"Canada has always been a part of the Porsche motorsport family," said Joe Lawrence, President and CEO of Porsche Canada. "Canada was the stage for one of the most competitive one-make Porsche series in the 1980s and Mosport has hosted the American IMSA GT3 Challenge every year. It's great to once again have a Canadian series and Porsche Canada looks forward to playing a more active role in the worldwide Porsche motorsport community."

"This new series is a significant step for Porsche's worldwide network of one-make cups as Canada has a rich heritage for both Porsche and sports car racing," said Jens Walther, president of Porsche Motorsport North America. "Trans-Am champion Ludwig Heimrath, Sebring winners Kees Nierop and Bill Adam are some of the many Porsche drivers who have called Canada home. The fact that there is enough interest to start their own Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is not only a testament to the reputation of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car, but of Porsche Canada's commitment to the 911 market and IMSA's willingness to meet the demand of the Canadian motorsports market. We look forward to the growth and expansion of this series."

Series management, promotion and supply will be divided between the three partners: Porsche Canada will manage series promotion, press relations support and marketing relations within Canada, while PMNA will assume a role similar to that of their American IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge involvement, including technical and parts support at all events. IMSA will be the sanctioning body, overseeing licensing, race administration, officiating and sporting management.

IMSA sanctions the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama in the United States, currently the largest one-make series in North America. The Mosport event will give both series a chance to go head to head on the Canadians' home turf.

"This is a great opportunity to promote driver development and provide veteran drivers a professional racing experience in Canada," said IMSA Vice President of Operations Scot Elkins. "We look forward to working with PMNA and Porsche Cars Canada to build this new racing series."

Additional information, including competitor regulations, will be available at www.imsaracing.net.

PHOTO: Porsche Canada today announced North America's newest single-make racing series, designed to develop new drivers and prepare them for competition in the American Le Mans Series - the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada. (CNW Group/Porsche Canada)

For further information: Contact: Laurance Yap // Distributed by CNW Group Ltd.