- Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux is expanding its range
- Racing during the winter months in the best conditions by Porsche standards
The Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe is a new series that was recently announced and the response to the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive. With a start on January 20 and 21 in Valencia, preparations are in full swing and the provisional field of participants already looks strong.
Recently, Cup Challenge Benelux BV, the promoter of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, announced that it would also race in the winter period. The new one-make series was named the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe and, of course, racing takes place in the south of Europe.
The first event will take place in Valencia on January 20 and 21, followed by a second meeting in Portimão, Portugal (February 11-12), and will conclude in Barcelona (February 24-25). The first season, therefore, consists of three meetings in five weeks. That is a short period, but more than enough to finish a real championship in a high-quality way. In 2024, five meetings are planned, of course also in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Of course, the choice of circuits in Spain and Portugal ensures that driving can be done in optimal conditions, of course, because of the much milder climate, but also because the organization ensures the well-known quality of the Porsche one-make series.
Each meeting gives the opportunity to test for a full day and complete a full race program on the second day, according to a tight schedule. Prospeed Technical Customer Support and Spare Parts Service are present at all meetings, as well as Porsche hospitality. The organization from the Benelux works closely with the Spanish motorsport federation to ensure that the competition runs smoothly.
Quality on all fronts
“Various types of Porsche are allowed, in concrete terms: the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Type 992 – and various types of Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport (718 GT4 Clubsport, 718 GT4 Clubsport MR, and 718 GT4 RS Clubsport) with a maximum number of cars per division (GT3 Cup Division and GT4 Clubsport Division) which will fluctuate around 25 cars on the grid,” said Series Manager Lars Plato. “During all track sessions, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport will be separated. Depending on their experience and level, the participants also be divided among various classes.”
In the meantime, everything is in full preparation and the organization is working to make the first season a direct hit. “For this, several conditions must be met. Firstly, we want the strongest possible competition on the slopes. That means not only well-filled starting fields but also the best teams and strongest drivers. In this regard, we also limit the number of registrations to best meet the needs of our customers and create optimal testing and racing conditions. The registrations are promising, but we are still betting extra on the competition with the various Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. We also want to bring the best teams and drivers to the south with the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. The second element is the quality of the entire championship, which must also offer the participants a bit of relaxation in a beautiful setting.”
The atmosphere on and off the track
Those who travel to the south during the winter do so as part of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe to give their Porsche the spurs, but also to enjoy the beautiful setting in Spain and Portugal. “We provide a warm welcome to the participants on the eve of the first day, welcoming everyone during the opening reception of each event. People should be able to participate in the competition in a relaxed way and that is what we aim for. After the three events, we will round off the season in a festive way with a beautiful award ceremony and an end-of-season party.”
The field of participants is now steadily taking shape and the names of participants and teams will be announced in due course.