Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Competitors To Race For IMSA North American Cup

Subtitle:Drivers From USA, Canadian Series To Compete For New Award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 17, 2016) – A new era of cooperation and competition will begin in 2016 for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, as the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)-sanctioned series will conduct two inaugural joint races and also will introduce new award to reward excellence in both championships.

The first-ever joint events featuring both series will take place June 10-12 during the Canadian Grand Prix Formula One race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal and June 30-July 2 during the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.

A new award – the IMSA North American Cup – will encourage teams from the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama to regularly compete in both series.

“The American and Canadian GT3 Cup series already are among the strongest of Porsche’s 20 global Cup Challenge championships, and new common technical specs have created great opportunities for both series to grow even more in 2016,” said David Pettit, IMSA vice president, marketing. “The inaugural joint events will feature large grids of talented teams and drivers from both sides of the border, with thrilling action from the front to the rear. Teams, drivers and fans also will enjoy the competition for the IMSA North American Cup, which recognizes the very best among both series.”

Platinum Cup and Gold Cup competitors from the USA and Canada series will race simultaneously in two rounds at both Montreal and Watkins Glen, with expected combined entries of approximately 40 cars. The Montreal and Watkins Glen events will be points-paying rounds for the USA and Canada championships, with separate points awarded within each series and class.

“The tandem of the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama running together during this year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend is stellar news for Watkins Glen International fans,” Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup said. “Higher car counts and more competition make this a win-win for everyone involved, and we’re thrilled to be hosting such a great field on our new surface in July.”

The IMSA North American Cup will be awarded to the driver who scores the most points overall in competition in the USA and Canada championships. Drivers from each series must compete in at least half of the non-joint (Montreal and Watkins Glen) races in the other series to be eligible, with points awarded for the participants’ best 20 finishes earned between the USA and Canada championship races.

Both Porsche single-make Cup Challenge championships are competing on an identical tire for the first time in 2016, as the Canadian series enters its sixth season with a switch to Yokohama. The USA series continues on Yokohama tires for its 12th season.

A common tire produces identical specifications for the Platinum Cup and Gold Cup classes in both series, allowing teams and drivers to more easily participate in both championships on a level competitive field.