After long months of waiting, the competitors of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux will finally have the opportunity to meet again. This Thursday, around 20 of them are expected on the Zolder Circuit for an official Test Day including no less than 3.5 hours of driving.
Hours before what will ultimately be the first meeting of an inevitably atypical season, the promoter of the fastest single-brand cup in the Benelux has more good news to announce. “We have a calendar which, barring any rebound due to COVID-19, is final this time”, rejoices Olivier Aerts, the Series Manager of the two championships. “We are keeping a very good program of five events, but we have decided to modify the fourth meeting. We had the opportunity to join the DTM championship on the Zolder Circuit from October 9 to 11. On the one hand, it is obvious that the setting is prestigious, but in addition it solves the problem of timing that we had. At Spa-Francorchamps, where we should have gone initially the same weekend, we couldn’t get enough track time for the races in our schedule. This time, we will indeed have three races – as in the other events – to guarantee maximum driving for our drivers. ”
Good news never coming alone, integration into this DTM meeting will also allow the promoter to offer quality television coverage on three of the five meetings. The two events with the DTM (on the Nürburgring and at Zolder) as well as the races at Zandvoort on the sidelines of the GT World Challenge Europe will indeed be broadcast live via the Internet. “For our teams and our drivers, this is obviously a great way to showcase their sponsors,” confirms the GO for Porsche competitions in the Benelux.
Despite the health crisis that the world has been going through for a few months, the whole team of The Driving Force has therefore been active behind the scenes to make this 2020 season a success. Even if twists and turns are always possible, and this at all levels … “Our loyal friends of GP Elite have had an opportunity to tackle the Porsche Supercup this year with four drivers from the Benelux Carrera Cup”, explains Olivier Aerts . “This in itself is very good news because it proves that the pyramid wanted by Porsche Motorsport – and in which the Carrera Cup Benelux clearly fits – works very well. On the other hand, in a calendar as condensed as the one we will know this year, this will not allow them to be present in the Benelux competition in 2020. Which means that there will be a little less drivers in the Pro class… and that the Pro-AM and AM pilots of our championship will therefore more than ever have the opportunity to put themselves forward in our general classification! ”
Note also that, in terms of sport, an adaptation has been made. “We are offering our Pro-AM and AM drivers who drive Porsche 911 GT3 Cups to participate in both the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux”, explains Olivier. “As the races will be common, it is quite possible. Without any additional cost, they will be able to score points for the Carrera Cup during the two 30-minute sprint races. In addition, they will also be able to participate in the Sprint Challenge which will take up the results of the three races of the weekend: the two sprints, but also the longer race – with a mandatory pit stop – of 55 minutes. ”
For the first edition of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux, which aims to be an access platform to Porsche competitions, amateur or beginner drivers will therefore be put in the spotlight. Remember that this competition will offer two Divisions: the Cup Division for Porsche 911 GT3 Cups built since 1999 and the Clubsport Division, reserved for Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport and GT4s of the previous generation. Enough to guarantee a great peloton on the track and maximum fun for all participants!
Calendar 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux
July 9: Official Test Day – Zolder
August 21-22: Zolder Fun Festival (3 races) September 11-13: DTM Nürburgring (3 races) September 25-27: GT World Challenge Zandvoort (3 races) October 10-11: DTM Zolder (3 races) October 30-November 1: Final Races Assen (3 races)
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