IMSA, Porsche Announce Multi-Year Extension Of Single-Make Series
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama enters its 11th season in 2015 as one of the largest of Porsche’s 20 single-make Cup Challenge series in the world. The IMSA-sanctioned series produces intense, exciting competition for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers in the world’s most produced race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
“We have enjoyed a productive, positive and very successful partnership with Porsche for this series and will proudly build upon that through 2017," IMSA President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Atherton said. “The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama has consistently provided a strong entry point in IMSA competition for young, career-minded GT drivers – with many advancing over the years to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The championship also provides an exciting platform for seasoned drivers who want to improve their skills in a professional environment with great competition in a truly iconic car."
The 2015 season starts March 18-20 at Sebring International Raceway. The championship then will visit seven other prestigious venues throughout North America, with two 45-minute rounds at each event, comprising a 16-round schedule.
Racing is divided into two classes – Platinum Cup, featuring the 2014 and 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which is based on the seventh, and current, generation of the street car, and Gold Cup, which is comprised of the previous iteration (model years 2010-2013) of the race car. A Masters Championship also is conducted in Platinum and Gold classes. Each class is recognized with its own podium awards ceremony at the end of every race and individual champions at the end of every season.
“Extending our partnership with IMSA is testimony to the true nature of Porsche," said Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. “We believe in long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. The affiliation we have forged with IMSA has helped make the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama an integral element of the Porsche one-make Cup lineup of more than 20 Cups worldwide. It has become a remarkable development tool for both experienced and young drivers and teams. That has come through the long-term vision of IMSA, their corporate partners, such as Yokohama, and the teams that have long been the foundation of the series. Without all of them, especially our drivers, this series would not be possible."
Two recent champions from the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama have advanced to top-level GT competition in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and global GT racing.
2012 Platinum Cup champion Sean Johnston raced in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013 and 2014, while 2013 Platinum Cup champion Madison Snow is a standout competitor in the GT Daytona class of the TUDOR Championship, co-driving to a third-place GTD finish in the 2015 Rolex 24 At Daytona.