Canadian Motorsports Expo staff announced on January 9th that Porsche Canada would be on hand at the 2014 Canadian Motorsports Expo to talk about the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.
The series launched in 2011 has grown into one of the most competitive and entertaining, single-marque racing divisions in Canada. This will mark the series’ first appearance at the CME as they look to branch out to new drivers, teams and spectators.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing what we believe is a great racing program,” Patrick Saint-Pierre, Public Relations Director for Porsche Cars Canada Ltd,s said. “But the point we’d like to get across about the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is that we’re not talking about pro drivers in this series, it’s more about driver development. This series is all about learning and being an ideal place for young drivers to race once they’ve graduated from karting.”
“I think that there are several things that have contributed to the success of this series. Not only are the drivers familiar with the Porsche brand and its rich racing heritage, but they also have the benefit of being able to rely on the support of Porsche Motorsport North America at every race. And the appeal goes beyond the race track; many people are surprised at the camaraderie that exists in this series. It’s a family-friendly atmosphere that we are very proud to be a part of.”
Last year, the series raced ten times over five weekends on four of the country’s most historic circuits – Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, and the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières before concluding the campaign at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
“We have yet to finalize our schedule for 2014, but of course we’d like to return to those venues,” Saint-Pierre says. “We’re very open to suggestions from the drivers about where they’d like to run. We will try to accommodate them and find an event that will work for everyone, from the drivers and teams to the fans.”
In the 2013 championship, Maple, Ontario’s David Ostella edged Quebec’s Chris Green by six points to claim the Platinum crown. The Gold class championship chase was even tighter, as just four points separated runner-up Tim Sanderson from champion Carlos de Quesada.
“That is a true demonstration of the competitiveness of this series,” said Saint-Pierre. “And I expect that we will see more of the same in 2014.”
“We don’t have a confirmed entry list yet, but our appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo will bring further exposure and may draw more interest,” he adds. “We have a new vehicle – the 991 – coming to the market, and I know the demand has been high for that car. The 991 is in limited supply for this year, but I think we will see more than a few of them make it onto the track for the 2014 season.”
Porsche Canada will have a 2014 Gold Class car on display, courtesy of Woodbridge, Ontario’s Pfaff Motors. Showgoers will have the opportunity to meet and chat with several competitors.
“We’ve enjoyed a lot of local support from the Toronto-based teams and drivers,” Saint-Pierre said. “Their response, as well as the one from the dedicated fans has been tremendous… We are eager to see what the new season has in store as it promises to be the best yet.”
Speaking on behalf of the CME, show co-promoter David Weber said, “We are honoured that Porsche Cars Canada will be coming to the show to promote the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Challenge Canada series. The CME attracts a diverse mix of racers and fans – from across the motorsports spectrum – the vast majority of whom will be very interested in learning about what this growing Canadian series has to offer.”
The 2014 Canadian Motorsports Expo takes place from February 7th to 9th in Hall 5 at Toronto’s International Centre. The event marks the start of the Canadian racing season and will feature Ryan Newman on Saturday February 8th. More information can be found at http://www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com
