Alexandre Gibot, Head of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific, today announced at the annual Porsche China Dealer Conference in Sanya that Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will return in 2021. The season comprises of 15 rounds over seven weekends, featuring two Formula 1 Grands Prix supports, with the added highlight of using the new-for-2021 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

With Porsche celebrating 20 years in China next season, Asia’s premier one-make series will be amongst the first of the region’s international championships to return to the race track. It will also be one of five Porsche Carrera Cup series worldwide, in addition to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, to debut the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992), which will be fully unveiled on 12 December. Teams and drivers will sample their new machinery at pre-season testing in Shanghai, which is currently scheduled for 19-21 March.

The new season will kick off supporting the Chinese Grand Prix on 9-11 April, with a second F1 support in Singapore on 1-3 October as well as the Suzuka 10 Hours on 20-21 August. The other four events in Zhuhai, Zhuzhou, Ningbo and a second Shanghai weekend will coincide with an expanded Porsche Sports Cup China calendar as the series reaches new regions in China after receiving high praise in Shanghai and Zhuhai in 2019 and 2020.

Due to travel restrictions in the region which will likely still be in place at the start of next year, the first eight rounds of the season will make up the PCCA Porsche China 20 Years Trophy, with the overall 2021 Carrera Cup Asia comprised of the final seven rounds.

Once again, the PCCA Talent Pool will continue Porsche’s extensive driver development programme which started in 2016 with the Porsche China Junior Programme, providing coaching from former factory driver Sascha Maassen, fitness regime and training camps, as well as the opportunity to win free entry for 2022 to all full-season entrants under 26. Winners also get the opportunity to attend the global Porsche Junior Shootout, the victors of which earn a full-season spot on the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup grid.

Since its inception in 2003, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has helped to bring both Pro and Am drivers through the ranks, such as double series champion Earl Bamber who is now a Porsche factory driver, and 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am Drivers’ champion Egidio Perfetti. To further accommodate every skill level, the Am class will debut in 2021 alongside the existing Pro and Pro-Am categories.

Daniel Schmollinger, Vice President Marketing, Porsche China: “2021 will be 20 years since Porsche first established itself in China and the upcoming Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season is set to honour that with a brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, a great calendar and, of course, some fantastic racing. Motorsport is in Porsche’s DNA so we are very happy to not only be the first single-make championship to return, but also that we can accommodate those unable to complete the full season and still offer a strong package as a series.”

Alexandre Gibot, Head of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific: “We are very pleased to announce that we are back. Porsche is fully committed to returning to the race track with our customers and although we have been able to host two Porsche Sports Cup China events this year, this is a true marker towards going racing again. 2021 is an important year for us, as we celebrate 20 years of Porsche China and welcome a new generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which we are very excited to debut in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia as it reaffirms that the region is a key market for Porsche. We will also be bringing Porsche Sports Cup China to two new venues in Zhuzhou and Ningbo to now cover more of the south and east of China.”

2021 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia provisional calendar

Official Test Days Shanghai International Circuit 19-21 March
Rounds 1-2 Shanghai International Circuit April 9-11*
Rounds 3-4 Zhuhai International Circuit 14-16 May
Rounds 5-6 Zhuzhou International Circuit 25-27 June
Rounds 7-8 Ningbo International Circuit 16-18 July
Rounds 9-10 Suzuka International Circuit 20-21 August**
Rounds 11-12 Marina Bay Circuit 1-3 October*
Rounds 13-15 Shanghai International Circuit 29-31 October
*Formula 1 support race
**Suzuka 10 Hours support race

2021 Porsche Sports Cup China provisional calendar

Rounds 1-2 Zhuhai International Circuit 14-16 May
Rounds 3-4 Zhuzhou International Circuit 25-27 June
Rounds 5-6 Ningbo International Circuit 16-18 July
Rounds 7-8 Shanghai International Circuit 29-31 October