Posted : 06/02/2009

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Press release:

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) today announced the withdrawal of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship for 2009.

The regrettable decision results from the inability of teams to commit fully to this season’s entire championship.

Despite securing the best racing calendar and television package, full commitment from series sponsors and added incentives for teams in what was to be seventh Year of the country’s premier support category to the V8 Supercars, the harsh economic conditions has made it difficult for many existing and new competitors to secure funding to commit to the eight rounds of this year’s championship.

“Every effort has been made by Porsche and the Category Managers QMedia Events to offer what would have been the best year of Carrera Cup racing,” says PCA
managing director Michael Winkler.

“However, to enter the season without a robust grid of cars is simply not viable for all the major stakeholders.

“Motorsport is an integral part of Porsche’s activities in Australia so this decision is not taken lightly.

“We have already spoken with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) as the governing body of Australian motorsport and will proactively work with them to ensure existing owners of 997 GT3 Cup Cars are given the opportunity to race in other categories.”

CAMS CEO Graham Fountain has indicated his desire to achieve this outcome.

Winkler praised the efforts of new Carrera Cup Category Managers, QMedia Events:

“We could not have had a better partner going in to this season than QMedia. Glenn (Ridge) and Doug (Willersdorf-greene) have worked tirelessly and introduced benefits and incentives to secure the maximum number of competitors.

“It is not through a lack of effort or innovation from both QMedia and PCA that we have found ourselves in this situation.

“To have started the season with fingers crossed hoping that the grid size would somehow grow would have been unfair and unprofessional towards the teams,
sponsors, circuit promoters, the sport’s administrators and the motor racing public.”

PCA and QMedia Events stated earlier in the week that both parties were committed to the 2009 season, however a failure to secure sufficient entries left no choice but to cease the championship.

“This result is bitterly disappointing for all concerned, especially for the teams that had committed to 2009,” said Ridge. “We wish all teams the best of luck with their
endeavours in other series.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia has been a landmark category since its inception in 2003. The one-make series of thoroughbred Porsche 911 race cars has provided fierce racing and been the stepping stone to successful careers for drivers such as Alex Davison, Craig Baird, David Reynolds and Jonathan Webb; while also providing an arena for privateers to enjoy cut-and-thrust racing on a national stage.

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