If the timesheet is any guide, this year’s fifth anniversary season of Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship is set to be an incredibly fierce battle.

In this week’s pre-season test at Sebring International Raceway, a total of 12 drivers recorded laps faster than last year’s pole position time of 2:03.291 seconds from eventual champion Loek Hartog.

While Hartog continues to charge up the Porsche Driver Development Pyramid into a drive at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with Manthey Racing – a host of new young stars, plus a familiar face, are set to battle it out for championship honors this season.

The 2023 series champion, Riley Dickinson, returned to Carrera Cup action at the test and was immediately on the pace. While he broke series records en route to his championship title, this year, he will face tough opposition both from within his own Kellymoss squad as well as other teams.

His new teammates include a pair of race winners, who make the jump to Carrera Cup this year. Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama race winner and 2023 991 class champion Ashley Freiberg will make her debut this year alongside two-time Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama race winner Aaron Jeansonne.

Both were faster than last year’s pole time at the pre-season test.

They weren’t alone with that honor. Topp Racing’s Tyler Maxson finished the test hot on the heels of his teammate Ryan Yardley, who finished second in last year’s championship.

The third-place racer in last year’s title hunt also has competition from within his own team. Zachary Vanier will be joined by Paul Bocuse – another Porsche Sprint Challenge North America graduate – continuing his climb up the Porsche Motorsport pyramid.

Bocuse won the Cayman Pro-Am class in 2023 and went on to score 13 podiums from 14 races in GT3 Cup Pro-Am last season.

The 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge series champion, Jared Thomas, is not only coming to Carrera Cup as a driver, but he is bringing his entire team to run a multi-car operation in 2025.

Jared Thomas was one of the front runners in testing in the Pro class, while JTR Motorsports Engineering also will enter Peter Atwater and Rob Walker in the Masters category this year.

Other new teams joining the championship include Robb Holland’s Rotek Racing, which won two GT4 championships in SRO competition last year. Holland’s GT4 America co-driver Jaden Lander will make his Pro class debut this year, while Brady Behrman will contest the Pro-Am class.

While not a new team, NOLASPORT returns to Carrera Cup competition with ex-INDYCAR racer Matheus Leist at the wheel. He was one of the 12 racers quicker than last year’s pole time. His GT4 America teammate from last season, Michael Auriemma, will debut in the Masters class.

Keep an eye out for Alegra Motorsports in 2025 as well. Carlos De Quesada has handed driving duties to his son Michael, who has massive experience in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machinery, including the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, and Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.

Teams return to Sebring on Tuesday, March 11, to unload before the first practice sessions are held on Wednesday, March 12, at 9:40 a.m. ET and 2:10 p.m.

Qualifying is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, and the first race of the season going green at 4:55 p.m. The second round will race into darkness on Friday, March 14 from 6:15 p.m.

Follow the race action live on the IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porshe Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin and X.