It’s past midnight here at Pan Pacific KLIA and i’m having trouble falling asleep because i just took a power nap, sheesh.

Anyway, am here for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2010 season launch as well as official testing. This weekend the drivers will be at Sepang testing the cars and i’m here to witness that as well as get to speak to the race organisers and the drivers.

There are 23 drivers competing this year, of which only two are Singaporeans – Ringo Chong and Yuey Tan.

In case these names are not familiar to you, let me try to remind you. Ringo Chong was the Singaporean man that won the Aston Martin Asia Cup round in Singapore last year, being the first local to win at the Marina Bay circuit. Yuey Tan was the guy who raced the jet and beat the jet at Changi Airport Terminal 3, at an event that i wasn’t granted access to unfortunately .

Mok Weng Sun, a Malaysian-born Singapore-based driver, is racing for Team PCS (Porsche Club Singapore) Racing again. Other familiar names in the series include 2008 PCCA champion Christian Menzel, Rodolfo Avila, Darryl O’ Young, Craig Baird and Philip Ma.

Names that are missing include Tim Sugden, the one who was fighting neck to neck with Menzel for the championship title (Class A) and eventually lost by one point. Would have loved to see him back this season! Singaporean Melvin Choo is also not participating this year, choosing to focus instead on a full season of Super GT.

I’ll be back tmr with more information on the new Cup car as well as photos from the testing session. Meanwhile, scroll down for the provisional entry list, press release on the launch of the season as well as the dates of the races.

For the provisional entry list, download it here: 2010 PCCA Provisional Entry List.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE: Record Entry for Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Malaysia, 12 March 2010 – The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, the region’s premier sportscar championship, today announced a record entry for the 2010 season, which gets underway in April as part of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

23 of the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars will line up on the grid, with an exciting field of Asian and European GT professionals and keen amateur racing drivers contesting the 11- round season.

As well as the new, stronger, wider and quicker Cup car, for the first time based on the street-legal 2010 GT3 RS version, in 2010 the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is open to private teams for the first time. Combined with its well-deserved reputation as the pinnacle of GT racing in the region, these new innovations have resulted in arguably the strongest field ever assembled in Asia.

Reigning champion Christian Menzel of Germany returns to defend his title with his Chinese Team StarChase. Joining him in the Class A category for professional drivers is exciting youngster Rodolfo Avila of Macau, 4th overall in his debut season last year, who has recently been confirmed as the new Team Jebsen driver. Team Jebsen won the title twice, in 2006 and 2008, with Hong Kong driver Darryl O’Young, and is keen to nurture the exciting new talent Avila.

O’Young is back with the series and will contest selected rounds along with a full season in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. For the remaining races, driving duties will be filled by LKM Racing team mate Alan Siu Yuk Lung competing in Class B, while for the Shanghai opener, his brother Siu Tit Lung will take the wheel.

Former Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion, and runner-up in the Asian series in Singapore last year, New Zealand’s Craig Baird will contest his first full season in the region. Competing with Triple X Motorsport, Baird will be a force to be reckoned with despite being a newcomer to several of the circuits on the 2010 calendar.

Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee makes a welcome return to the series in 2010. Lee, who has also competed in single seaters and touring cars, finished 5th overall in 2008, his first full season in sportscar racing.

Returning to Class A is Jeffrey Lee of Chinese Taipei, back for a third Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season having made the transition from single seater to sports cars in 2008.

The bumper entry in Class B sees the return of reigning champion Philip Ma with Jacob & Co Racing Team. Ma has contested every season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia since its inception in 2003, and is one of Asia’s most experienced drivers. Joining Ma is young Singaporean hotshot Yuey Tan, 3rd overall after his first full season with the series last year, and will compete with new team Wimobilize McElrea Racing Team.

Upping the ante in the category, Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong and Team Porsche Club Singapore Racing’s Mok Weng Sun are both entered in Class B this season.

Popular Hong Kong driver Mak Hing Tak of OMAK Team returns, while Philip Briandet, who made his debut with the series for a one-off race in Malaysia last year, has entered for a full season.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia welcomes a host of Class B newcomers this year.

Racing for Dyna Ten Motorsport are Kenneth Lau and Michael Choi of Hong Kong. Lau has 20 years of motorsport experience having competed in both touring and single seater racing across Asia, as well has having raced at several European tracks such as Monza, the Nürburgring and Le Mans. Team mate Choi, meanwhile, has been racing for more than a decade, in both single seater and sports cars.

Open Road Racing is fielding three cars for brothers Marcel and Francis Tjia and Christian Chia, while brothers Wayne and John Shen are racing for Modena Motorsports.

Hong Kong brothers Terence and Morris Ku are sharing driving duties. The pair have competed in both sports car and touring car series in Asia, and are entered with Team DAYCRAFT.

Vietnam-based Frenchman Jean-Marc Merlin is entered by Team J2M Racing. Merlin has competed in sprint and endurance races, and began competing in classic and vintage car racing.

Hong Kong driver Jacky Yeung is another newcomer, and began racing in 1995, as is US-based Canadian Shim Ching who makes his series debut with Asia Pacific Motorsports.

Commenting on the sterling line-up, Series Manager Ian Geekie, a motorsport veteran of more than two decades, said: “This is by far the most exciting and talented field ever assembled in Asia. We have the irresistible combination of international professionals, up-and-coming youngsters, and newcomers. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car is nothing short of spectacular, and a great way to mark the true coming of age of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.”

The 11-race, six-meeting calendar sees the series support two rounds of the FIA Formula One World Championship, in Shanghai in April and the 2010 Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore at the Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September, plus a further six races across China during the year and an Asian Festival of Speed weekend at the new F1 track in South Korea in August.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Official Test will be held on March 13-14 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close cooperation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian-based Motorsport Asia Ltd.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is new for the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season?
A: We have a new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for this year, for the first time independent teams are permitted to enter the series, and we will be visiting a new race track – the Formula 1 circuit in South Korea.

Q: What are the main differences between the new Cup car and last season’s model?
A: The new car is stronger, wider and quicker than ever before. For the first time it is based on the street-legal 2010 GT3 RS version, with the weight of the model reduced significantly from the road-going version to 1,200kg. Engine capacity is increased by 0.2 litres to 3.8 litres, producing an extra 30 horsepower. It is the first GT3 Cup to feature the 44mm wider body at the rear, allowing for even larger wheels. The lower front spoiler lip provides significantly more downforce on the front axle, with rear axle downforce also increased by the rear wing.

Q: Why do you believe there is a record entry for this season?
A: The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia provides the level playing field afforded by a makes cup, exceptional reliability in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, international standards of organization, a clear and fair sporting structure, highly-competitive fields for both professional and recreational drivers, impressive media and broadcast coverage, and travels to the best circuits in the region. It is therefore no secret why it has become so popular with teams, drivers and sponsors.

Q: Will the fact that independent teams are now permitted to enter alter the dynamic of the series?
A: Since its launch in 2003, the on-track competition has always been intense and, with a bumper grid for 2010, that will only increase. The spirit of sportsmanship and fair play will also remain strong, and we believe the addition of independent racing teams this year will only add to the stature and credibility of the series amongst the motorsport fraternity.

Q: Why are so many of the races held in China?
A: As the world’s most populous country, and fastest growing economy, the focus of the entire globe is firmly on China. In just a few short years, motorsport has grown exponentially, providing countless opportunities for us to showcase Asia’s premier sports car championship there. That said, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia remains a truly regional series and is scheduled to race at the 2010 Formula 1 SINGTEL Singapore Grand Prix and at the new F1 circuit in South Korea this season.

Q: Why is it important to race on the support card of Formula One?
A: Porsche has an historic link with Formula One, with the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup supporting the European rounds of the championship for many years. For the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, F1 Grands Prix provide an opportunity for our drivers to be a part of some of the most prestigious race meetings in the world.

Q: How many Porsche single make series are there across the globe?
A: Currently we have 19 single make series worldwide and out of the 19 series only 7 are running with the new 911 GT3 Cup car model.

Q: What is the most challenging part of organizing an Asian racing series?
A: There are many challenges, particularly when we insist on providing seamless organization for our drivers, teams and partners. Probably the biggest challenge is ensuring we meet and exceed the standards expected of us in every area and every time.

Q: What sort of services do you provide for your series drivers and teams?
A: We provide an extremely high standard of service whether it be technical – with centralized spare parts, mechanical and engineering support, tyres from our partners Michelin; logistics – packing, shipping, customs formalities and land transportation; or hospitality – hotel accommodation, transfers, track food and beverage, welcome dinners. We are able to provide every single service a driver needs – that is one of the reasons our signature ‘Arrive & Drive’ service is so popular. Drivers need only arrive in the city, get in the fully-prepared car and race!

Q: Given the increasing maturity and diversification of motorsport in the region, how do you believe the series will continue to grow in the future?
A: We never take the success of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for granted, and this year we have the new car and have opened the series to independent teams. Both these new measures have proved extremely successful, as we can see from the bumper entry. We will continue to seek new ways to develop the series while taking care to maintain the high standards of organization and principals of fair play which have made it so successful.

Answers to be credited to Christoph Choi, Manager Motorsport, Porsche Asia Pacific
___________________________________________________________________________________________