Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA announces new class structure and 2016 schedule

Competent Motorsport, LLC, which operates the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA championship, has confirmed plans for the 2016 season of the series.

Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA is one of over 20 different single-make championships which utilize the Porsche platform around the globe. Utilizing the proven Porsche GT3 Cup turnkey racer that has been the competition foundation of the internationally recognized category, the 2016 Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA season will take place on the western half of North America and will feature an 8-weekend, 16-race championship staged on some of the best tracks the country has to offer.

A new class structure will see the Diamond class once again feature the Porsche GT3 Cup car that is based on the seventh-generation 911 (991), which was introduced in 2014. The Platinum Class will utilize the 997-generation based Porsche GT3 Cup machines from 2010-2013.

All new for 2016 will be the inclusion of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which will run as the Silver class. The newest offering from Porsche Motorsport will deliver 385 horsepower from the normally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine mated to Porsche's ultra-quick six-speed PDK transmission.

Each of the three classes will also include a Masters championship for drivers over 50 years old.

"We are fortunate to have some great tracks on our 2016 schedule, and the interest in our Silver Class and the Cayman GT4 Clubsport has been amazing," said Competent Motorsport president Greg Franz. "Our schedule will also be great for our customers as there is a lot of track time built in every weekend, including two races and two different qualifying sessions, so we are very excited about 2016 and of course continuing our relationships with Pirelli and Porsche Motorsport North America. "

Partnerships with Pirelli and Porsche Motorsport North America have positioned the series with a solid foundation for the future.

With Pirelli North America continuing to serve as the Official Tire and Title Sponsor, the fields will once again exclusively feature the Pirelli P Zero Racing Slicks and Racing Rain tires.

"We are proud of our involvement with Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA and the series has grown every season since we first became partners," said Rafael Navarro, Vice President, Communications, Media Relations and Motorsports for Pirelli Tire North America. "The 2016 schedule has some great tracks, and the customer focus in Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA is impressive. Having every driver race on the Pirelli P Zero is a big part of that great experience and we are very much looking forward to another big season in 2016."

The popularity of Porsche's one-make platform continues to grow internationally, and the category is set for further growth with the inclusion of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport starting in 2016.

"With the series updating the class structure and adding the new Cayman GT4 Clubsport to the Silver class, there is a lot of interest in the 2016 Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA season," offered Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO, Jens Walther. "The GT3 Cup platform is a central element for our global motorsports program for customers, and the addition of the new Cayman GT4 Clubsport offers a great entry for new racers."

The season will open on the weekend of March 12-13 at the Circuit of The Americas. The series has staged races at the Austin track in the past, including playing a role in the inaugural Formula 1 race weekend at the 3.4-mile circuit in 2012 as a double-header support event.

Rounds 3 & 4 will be hosted by the new Thermal Club, which is based in Thermal, Calif., and boasts a 4.5-mile track with unmatched amenities.

Two visits to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, first in May 13-15, and then again June 3-5, will see the series return to race action through the iconic Corkscrew, which played host to the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in August.

A visit to wine country and Sonoma Raceway on July 1-3 will precede a return to the newly-renamed Utah Motorsports Campus on August 12-14 as part of the traditional Pirelli World Challenge race weekend.

The season finale will see the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA closing out the year on the same track in which it opened the season with two final races of the 2016 season at COTA.