SERIES INTRODUCTION

Introduction

With the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia firmly established as Asia’s premier one-make sports car racing series, 2023 sees a formidable international field of brilliant professionals competing wheel-to-wheel with dedicated privateers. A proven testing ground for fledgling talent and a showcase for the world’s leading GT competitors, today the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is the number one choice for the region’s finest drivers.

Over the past 20 years, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has become renowned as a series that ignites passion and enthusiasm for motorsport across the region. Each of this year’s entries will pilot an identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992). This impressive machine represents the latest generation of Porsche’s iconic race car, bringing faster lap times, slicker technology and improved control.

Piloting the 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992), several fresh faces will join series returnees as 21 drivers enter into the 2023 season, with a balanced mix of Pro, Pro-Am and Am racers creating a multi-level competition among the region’s most talented contestants. Also returning in 2023 is the Porsche Dealer Trophy, which will see series’ dealer teams compete head-to-head as they are awarded points based on the top performing dealer team driver.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will also continue its critical role developing Asian motorsport talent in 2023. Our focus on motoring youth continues with the Porsche Talent Pool Programme. Extended to all drivers under the age of 26, this programme gives young talent access to star coaches and training while offering the life-changing opportunity to compete in the global Porsche Junior Programme Shootout in Germany for the best performing driver.

Celebrating 20 years on the track in 2023, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has spent the past two decades proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is the premier one-make series on the continent. From the first ever race at Sepang International circuit in 2003, the series has been on a journey that has seen it take in 231 races and host over 198 competitors from 21 countries and regions. With a return to international racing in 2023, this 20th anniversary year is shaping up to be the most exciting Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season yet.

Services

Impeccable services of the highest standards are centrally managed and provided to all teams and drivers, including:

• Transportation of cars, parts and tools from race to race
• Centrally-managed parts, meaning teams do not need to invest in inventory
• Superb track hospitality at each race
• Accommodation and transfer packages
• Pit set-up and equipment

Arrive and Drive Option

While individual teams are welcome, competitors have the option of availing themselves of the unique ‘Arrive and Drive’ concept, which provides drivers with professional support services of the highest calibre.

The Technical Service Package includes highly-trained mechanics and supervisors at each race to service and maintain the car, a pre-season check and pre-event service, pit set-up at each event, and packing, loading and unloading of containers.

This option, provided by professional partner EKS Motorsports, represents savings in both time and expense and means drivers need simply to arrive at the track where the fully-prepared cars await them, making for an exciting and hassle-free race weekend.

Pro-Am Class

Privateer drivers who believe the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is the exclusive domain of full-time professionals could not be more mistaken. The creation of the Pro-Am Class within the series, designed specifically for those very drivers, affords the opportunity to race against the professionals – a unique chance to learn from the best in the business.

Am Class

As the quality of the Carrera Cup Asia’s dedicated privateers has consistently risen year-on-year, it has become necessary to introduce a new class in order to keep every spot in the race competitive. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia introduced the Am class in 2021, and it has returned every season since with its own podiums, points tables and prizes.

Porsche Dealer Trophy

In 2023, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will continue the Porsche Dealer Trophy, which gives dealer teams a chance to compete as they are awarded points each round based on the best performing dealer driver. With huge success in 2022, the trophy further solidifies the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia as one of the most inclusive, exciting racing series in Asia.

Drivers are welcome

With a truly international field, competitors come from as far afield as Europe and Australia, and as close to home as China, to test their racing mettle in the series. Both young and young-at-heart compete wheel-to-wheel each season, and the friendly off-track camaraderie has become a signature of the championship.

In order to take part in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, competitors need to:

• Own a Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992)
• Hold a valid “C” international racing license
• Purchase the Participation Package
• Purchase the Technical Service Package

The Participation Package includes all registration and entry fees, all costs for logistics, and hospitality access for three at each event. It does not include wear-and-tear, tyres, spare parts, and individual travel and on-track insurance.

Guests are welcome

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia provides thrilling motorsport competition across the region, and at each stop offers an exclusive hospitality experience for guests, be they sponsors, business associates, friends or family.

Individual guest packages are offered by the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia organisation.

SEASON 2021

The 18th season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia brought with it more change than perhaps any season before it. June saw the establishment of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd. as its own independent entity in Jiading Comprehensive Bonded Zone – the home of Chinese motorsport. Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd. now has the ability to sell race cars directly in RMB and store them directly in Shanghai’s Jiading district, marking a significant step in the development of Chinese motorsport. Due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, it was decided early on that the whole season would take place entirely within China. This eventually proved to be serendipitous, as it aligned with the year-long celebrations for the 20-year anniversary of Porsche’s entry into the Chinese mainland, and also allowed for the opportunity to join forces with the Porsche Sports Cup China for three stops of multi-series motorsport madness. With more Chinese drivers, teams and circuits than ever before, the 2021 season was a landmark in terms of inspiring more local Chinese fans and widening the Porsche Motorsport family.

The season started, as is tradition, at Shanghai International Circuit. The first race of the season saw series newcomers dominate in the Overall and Pro-Am classes, with Meidong Racing’s Ling Kang winning the race and gaining fastest lap on his maiden appearance in the series. The series’ longest-serving Chinese Pro driver – Cui Yue racing for Porsche Holding – came in second Overall, while another new driver, BD Group’s Leo Ye, made his mark on the series by coming in third. The series’ second Meidong Racing driver – Zhou Bihuang – took the victory in the ProAm category, once again on his maiden appearance, making a very solid season start for Meidong Racing. This season also saw the long-awaited introduction of the new Am driver category, with long-time series veteran Eric K in his brightly coloured KiddyWorld Racing car, beginning what was to become a dominant run, with his brother Henry Kwong hot on his heels all the way. The second race of the season saw another new driver, Leo Ye, take the overall victory, joined on the podium by Team Starchase’s Yu Kuai in second, and series veteran Daniel Lu Wenlong driving for Team Jebsen, finally finding his mojo and making his mark on the scoreboard. Having had a disastrous DNF result in the first race, reigning twotime Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Pro-Am Champion Bao Jinlong driving for Team Shanghai Yonda took home the first of his victories this season in the second race, while Porsche Beijing Central & Goldenport’s Li Chao – the series veteran with more series starts than any other entrant this season – found his first podium of the year with his third place finish.

The next stop of the season took the series back to Zhuhai International Circuit for the first time since 2014. This stop also marked the first time ever that the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia would be joined at the stop by the Porsche Sports Cup China. Cui Yue took home both Overall victories for the weekend. In the Pro-Am class, Absolute Racing’s Bian Ye, another driver making his season debut this year, came in first in Round 3 with Bao Jinlong trailing just behind him in second. While in Round 4, Bao Jinlong took home his second victory of the season. The Am category saw Eric K begin his dominant run, claiming both victories of the stop. Henry Kwong came in second in Round 3, however a DNF result in Round 4 made room for SilverRocket’s Li Jia to finish in second, and for Shanghai Pudong & Waigaoqiao 69 Racing’s Jeffrey Zee to finish in third.

The third and fourth stops of the season saw the series make its debut at Ningbo International Circuit. These were the stops where Daniel Lu’s championship run started in earnest. Over the five races held in Ningbo across two consecutive stops, Daniel Lu claimed three victories and three fastest laps, adding a second place finish to his tally in Round 6 and taking him straight to the top of the points table, while Leo Ye and Team StarChase’s Yu Kuai each claimed a victory apiece. The Pro-Am category saw Bao Jinlong continue his dominant run, claiming four out of a possible victories. TORO Racing’s Min Heng stuck to Bao’s heels across both stops, taking home two second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. The Am class saw Eric K take home three victories and two second-place finishes, while his brother Henry Kwong mirrored his results with two victories and two second-place finishes.

Round 10 saw the series make its debut at Zhuzhou International Circuit, another newly-built Chinese track that opened in 2019. At this point of the season, Daniel Lu was just three points ahead of Cui Yue for the season championship. Yu Kuai had his best stop of the season, claiming a lights-to-flag victory in the first race and a victory and fastest lap in the third race. Daniel added two second-place finishes to his tally, while Cui Yue saw only one podium all weekend with his firstplace finish in Round 11. Bao Jinlong claimed another two victories in the Pro-Am class, while Zhou Bihuang had a solid weekend, coming in second in the first two races and claiming a victory in the third. The Am class saw the brotherly rivalry between Eric K and Henry Kwong heat up, with Henry coming out the clear victor over the weekend’s three races.

The grand finale of the season brought the series back home to Shanghai for three thrilling races to settle the championship. Going into the final round, Daniel Lu and Cui Yue headed into the final race of the season neck and neck on 258 points apiece, setting the stage for a nailbiting finale. Leo Ye started in pole once again, and once again crossed the finish-line first before a post-race penalty saw him disqualified. Starting in P2, with Cui Yue just behind him in P3, Daniel Lu had a flawless race, driving intelligently to frustrate Cui Yue to his rear, but never aggressively attempting to supplant Leo Ye in first. Daniel Lu’s clever strategy paid off, crossing the finish line just before Cui Yue and taking both the final victory of the season and the overall season championship, becoming the first ever driver from the Chinese mainland to claim the title. Cui Yue took home the second place championship position, while Yu Kuai came in third having impressed during his maiden season. With Bao Jinlong starting the stop a clear 35 points ahead of nearest rival Zhou Bihuang, there wasn’t much question over who would be taking home the championship. Bao Jinlong did as expected, coming in second in Rounds 13 and 15, and winning Round 14 outright, becoming the mathematical season champion at the close of the penultimate race, and sealing his position as the series’ only three-time Pro-Am champion. The battle for Pro-Am second proved to be much more exciting, with Zhou Bihuang and Min Heng thrashing it out on every race. In a stunning upset, Min Heng had his best stop of the season, claiming two victories and one second place finish, while Zhou Bihuang found a single podium across the weekend in the final Round. With the points eventually tallied, Min Heng had edged ahead of Zhou Bihuang and claimed the second place season championship by a single point. The final races of the Am class went off as they had all season, with a battle between the Kwong brothers. Eric claimed all three pole positions, and added one more victory and two more second place finishes to his tally, comfortably making him the inaugural Am category champion, while Henry claimed the other two victories and a second-place finish to end his inaugural season in a respectable second place. Li Jia occupied the third season podium spot, however the weekend saw a late flourish from ZZRT Competizione’s Wu Jiaxin, who took two second-place finishes across the final weekend.

PORSCHE MOTORSPORT

With 75 years of racing history and more than 30,000 victories to date, Porsche is the biggest manufacturer in the world to specialise in high performance cars and is the most successful marque in motorsport. We are passionate about this and uphold these ideals as the entire philosophy underpinning Porsche Motorsports: Spirit. Principle. Vision.

The global Porsche Motorsport programme includes both works and customer racing. At the pinnacle of the Porsche Motorsport pyramid is the LMP Sport programme, which returns to Hypercar racing this year with the Porsche 963, which will be competing in the 100th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans race. In the GT category, Porsche also competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the IMSA Championship (which includes the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring), and the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Porsche onemake Cups include the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the international Carrera Cups and the Cup Challenges, while the global programme also features the Cayman GT4 Challenge alongside a myriad of track experience opportunities such as the Porsche Sport Driving School, the Porsche Sports Cup Series and Porsche Club Sports Events.