2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Series - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

gaijin · 11-14-2005

EXPANDED SCHEDULE, NEW PORSCHE 997 CUP CAR ALL PART OF SECOND YEAR OF IMSA GT3 CUP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MICHELIN

Braselton, Ga. - Building on the tremendous successes from its first year of competition, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin has announced a seven-race schedule for the 2006 season.

The series, which pits semi-professional and gentleman drivers against one another in equally prepared Porsche Cup cars, will compete at some of North America's finest tracks in conjunction with the American Le Mans Series. New stops will include the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

"This expanded schedule is appropriate for a series that is growing like the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin, while at the same time controlling costs," said Tim Mayer, COO of IMSA. "With a new 997 Cup car being introduced by Porsche for next year, and Michelin's continued partnership, the 2006 season is setting up to be one to definitely watch."

The purpose-built race cars, based on the Porsche 996 and new Porsche 997 body style, will have sealed engines and transmissions, providing for close racing where the driver's talents are exemplified. PMNA will provide technical support for the series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the track.

The 2002-05 models will run in one class, and the 2006 edition will compete in the other class during the 45-minute races.

Uwe Brettel, president of Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), is pleased this series has been accepted in such a short period of time. He also credits IMSA for its administration in a series where rules enforcement is a priority to keep competition equal.

"It has been our experience that it takes several years for a series like this to catch on, and IMSA has already expanded this series from five to seven races, and it looks like we'll have 30-40 cars at each event," said Brettel, whose experience as head of the Porsche Michelin Supercup series before he came to the U.S, has helped IMSA handle any start-up problems.

The first event at Road Atlanta attracted more than 30 competitors, with many Porsche race car preparers, including TRG, Farnbacher-Loles, Orbit Racing, Kelly-Moss, Vici Racing, AASCO Motorsports and Alex Job Racing preparing Cup cars for the amateur racers. Former Porsche Carrera Cup competitor Alfred Renauer (Germany) won the first event, having entered for Vici Racing to help the younger drivers, but could not score points as IMSA considered him a professional driver. Brent Martini (USA), a former Grand-Am champion, earned the 20 points for first.

Several racers who did well in the early events earned rides in the SPEED World Challenge Series before the year was out. Among them were college student Lawson Aschenbach (USA), who won at Mid-Ohio and scored a podium finish three months later at the SPEED GT race in Denver, and Ricardo Imery (Venezuela), who scored second-place points in the first two Cup races, and entered two SPEED GT events.

The one of the stars of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series turned out to be Jay Policastro (USA), who won in the Orbit Racing Porsche Cup at Portland, and finished four of the five races on the podium to win the points title. Policastro finished second at Road America and Mid-Ohio, and was third at Road Atlanta.

The other star was Kevin Roush (USA), a Porsche tuner and Porsche club racer who earned the pole at all three races he entered, and won the final two events at Road America and Laguna Seca. Nathan Swartzbaugh (USA), a student, finished third in points with two podium finishes. Paul Orwicz, Tom Pank, Shawn Price, Chris Wally, Phil DeAngelis, Mark Hapfer, Warren Chang and Joe Kunz, all from the U.S., scored podium finishes, as well.

The 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car

With its predecessor based on the "996" series â€“ a high performance and competitive sports car which not only competes in the makes cups but has won various Gran Turismo championships â€“ the new model marks a clear step towards a thoroughbred racing car. The 2006 GT3 Cup features a sequential gearbox with a power shift system. The suspension underwent modifications for higher precision and further improved driving dynamics. More information is available here.

2006 IMSA GT3 CUP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MICHELIN SCHEDULE

March 17, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
May 20, American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
July 15, Grand Prix of Utah, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
Aug. 20, Generac 500 at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sept. 2, Grand Prix of Mosport, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Sept. 29, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
Oct. 22, Monterey Sports Car Championships, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.

All races will be contested at American Le Mans Series events.

11-14-2005	#1
gaijin Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Road Atlanta Posts: 371	2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Series EXPANDED SCHEDULE, NEW PORSCHE 997 CUP CAR ALL PART OF SECOND YEAR OF IMSA GT3 CUP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MICHELIN Braselton, Ga. - Building on the tremendous successes from its first year of competition, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin has announced a seven-race schedule for the 2006 season. The series, which pits semi-professional and gentleman drivers against one another in equally prepared Porsche Cup cars, will compete at some of North America's finest tracks in conjunction with the American Le Mans Series. New stops will include the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. "This expanded schedule is appropriate for a series that is growing like the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin, while at the same time controlling costs," said Tim Mayer, COO of IMSA. "With a new 997 Cup car being introduced by Porsche for next year, and Michelin's continued partnership, the 2006 season is setting up to be one to definitely watch." The purpose-built race cars, based on the Porsche 996 and new Porsche 997 body style, will have sealed engines and transmissions, providing for close racing where the driver's talents are exemplified. PMNA will provide technical support for the series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the track. The 2002-05 models will run in one class, and the 2006 edition will compete in the other class during the 45-minute races. Uwe Brettel, president of Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), is pleased this series has been accepted in such a short period of time. He also credits IMSA for its administration in a series where rules enforcement is a priority to keep competition equal. "It has been our experience that it takes several years for a series like this to catch on, and IMSA has already expanded this series from five to seven races, and it looks like we'll have 30-40 cars at each event," said Brettel, whose experience as head of the Porsche Michelin Supercup series before he came to the U.S, has helped IMSA handle any start-up problems. The first event at Road Atlanta attracted more than 30 competitors, with many Porsche race car preparers, including TRG, Farnbacher-Loles, Orbit Racing, Kelly-Moss, Vici Racing, AASCO Motorsports and Alex Job Racing preparing Cup cars for the amateur racers. Former Porsche Carrera Cup competitor Alfred Renauer (Germany) won the first event, having entered for Vici Racing to help the younger drivers, but could not score points as IMSA considered him a professional driver. Brent Martini (USA), a former Grand-Am champion, earned the 20 points for first. Several racers who did well in the early events earned rides in the SPEED World Challenge Series before the year was out. Among them were college student Lawson Aschenbach (USA), who won at Mid-Ohio and scored a podium finish three months later at the SPEED GT race in Denver, and Ricardo Imery (Venezuela), who scored second-place points in the first two Cup races, and entered two SPEED GT events. The one of the stars of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series turned out to be Jay Policastro (USA), who won in the Orbit Racing Porsche Cup at Portland, and finished four of the five races on the podium to win the points title. Policastro finished second at Road America and Mid-Ohio, and was third at Road Atlanta. The other star was Kevin Roush (USA), a Porsche tuner and Porsche club racer who earned the pole at all three races he entered, and won the final two events at Road America and Laguna Seca. Nathan Swartzbaugh (USA), a student, finished third in points with two podium finishes. Paul Orwicz, Tom Pank, Shawn Price, Chris Wally, Phil DeAngelis, Mark Hapfer, Warren Chang and Joe Kunz, all from the U.S., scored podium finishes, as well. The 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car With its predecessor based on the "996" series â€“ a high performance and competitive sports car which not only competes in the makes cups but has won various Gran Turismo championships â€“ the new model marks a clear step towards a thoroughbred racing car. The 2006 GT3 Cup features a sequential gearbox with a power shift system. The suspension underwent modifications for higher precision and further improved driving dynamics. More information is available here. 2006 IMSA GT3 CUP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MICHELIN SCHEDULE March 17, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla. May 20, American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio July 15, Grand Prix of Utah, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah Aug. 20, Generac 500 at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. Sept. 2, Grand Prix of Mosport, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada Sept. 29, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga. Oct. 22, Monterey Sports Car Championships, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. All races will be contested at American Le Mans Series events.