CARSON, Calif. – Porsche Carrera Cup North America officials have added the Circuit of the Americas to the calendar of its debut season.
The Austin, Texas, track will host rounds three and four of the one-make championship April 30 through May 2. The twin, 45-minute events at COTA come as a result of ongoing COVID-19-related Canadian travel and gathering restrictions.
The first of the two scheduled event weekends in Canada will be substituted by the three-class (Pro, Pro-Am and Pro-Am 991) championship with the Texas rounds.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America joins the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and the SRO America – in which race cars produced by the German marque compete in three championships – at COTA.
The second race weekend of the new championship had been scheduled for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park May 21-23, in support of SRO America, but had to be cancelled due to ongoing mandated restrictions.
Porsche Motorsport North America president and CEO Dr. Daniel Armbruster, Series Manager Brian Blocker and IMSA officials worked closely with SRO management and COTA track representatives to move to the popular Texas facility.
The addition of Porsche Carrera Cup North America to the already top sports car racing card promises one of the most competitive GT weekends of the year.
“We are in challenging times, and the safety and well-being of our customers, the teams as well as racing fans is our highest priority. Like everyone, we have done our best to adapt as changes have arisen,” said Brian Blocker, Series Manager, Porsche Carrera Cup North America. “We were very much looking forward to racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in May, but unfortunately won’t be able to do so as planned. However, working with our partners and stakeholders, we have found a great solution by joining the SRO and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America at COTA April 30 through May 2. While we certainly didn’t want to have to make these changes, we could not have asked for a better alternative than to be racing in Austin.
“Canada remains a key part of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America vision. We are monitoring events in Toronto closely right now with every intention of racing there with IndyCar. We are committed to this being a true North American championship.”
The home of the United States Grand Prix, COTA is a 3.4-mile track best known for its dramatic uphill charge into the first of 20 turns.
Porsche one-make racing has been a part of the fabric of the facility outside of the capital of Texas since 2012, when Porsche Trophy West USA – now known as the Yokohama Drivers Cup USA – ran as support to the inaugural Formula 1 race there.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the pinnacle of the Porsche one-make pyramid worldwide, raced at the track alongside Formula 1 from 2014-’16.
Earl Bamber, the co-owner of Team Hardpoint EBM, which has both Pro and Pro-Am class entries in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, won the pole position at the first Mobil 1 Supercup event at COTA in 2014.
Eventual Porsche factory driver Mathieu Jaminet of France won both races in 2016.
Specific details, including on-track session times and broadcast information, will be communicated as they are formalized.