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| Tania Mann |
The Essex-based Australian has unveiled plans to contest the Pro-Am2 category with Sibsport Performance as the Gateshead-based team joins the Carrera Cup for the first time. Mann only started racing last season when she competed in a Lotus Elise, but has already shown encouraging pace and was fourth fastest in Pro-Am2 during the pre-season test day at Silverstone on Tuesday (13 March).
"I'm following a huge dream,” said Mann. “I want to learn as much as I can from the people around me. I’m a competitive person and it's important to me that I progress. I'm still in awe of these cars: they are unbelievable. I don’t know the car or many of the circuits, so it will be a steep learning curve.”
Mann, who works in project management in the investment banking industry, has a long-time love of Porsches and has driven cars on track days. She only started racing a year ago and is now making a massive leap up the racing ladder. However, she is taking a sensible approach and has enlisted coaching support from Tim Harvey ahead of the opening two races of the season at Brands Hatch on 31 March/1 April.
The only other female driver to score points in the Carrera Cup GB to date was the un-related Pippa Mann, who contested a limited programme of races in 2008.
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Irish team to contest Porsche GT3 Cup
Challenge
Dublin-based ASK Racing will be competing in this year’s Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, entering at least two cars and possibly three is as many of the 12 races as possible.
Lead driver for the team will be Tom Hallissey from Co Wicklow, who has 20 years of racing experience behind him. He won the Irish Porsche title in 2005 and has more recently raced in GT Cup. He will campaign a 996-model 911GT3 Cup car in Class Two this season with backing from Monsoon Estate Coffee.
Hallissey will be joined in the squad by Pat O’Sullivan and team boss Alan Kessie is hoping to attract a third driver from Ireland. “It is a big commitment for us to travel to all the rounds,” said Kessie. “We attended the pre-season test and media day and were impressed with the GT3 Cup Challenge. I’m hoping to tempt a third driver from Ireland to join the team.”
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is open to all 911 GT3 Cup cars from the 2009 model year or earlier, and starts with a double-header at Snetterton over the Easter weekend (7/8 April). Subsequent races will run at Rockingham, Thruxton, Croft and Donington Park, with the final two races at Silverstone running alongside the Carrera Cup GB during the BTCC weekend on 6/7 October.
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Butcher targets Pro-Am1 title in Carrera Cup GB
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| Rory Butcher is hoping to take home lots of silverware this season |
“I finished second last year so the aim has to be to win Pro-Am1,” said Butcher, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday. “But I also want to be as competitive as we can in overall terms. I got very close to an overall podium at the Nurburgring last year and I want to see if I can do it this year.”
In his first full season in the Carrera Cup GB, Butcher won Pro-Am1 four times and also finished fourth overall among the Carrera Cup GB racers within the Porsche Carrera World Cup at the Nurburgring. His Pro-Am1 rivals include fellow Scots Derek Pierce and Oly Mortimer as well as Ahmad Al Harthy, who finished just eight points down on Butcher last year.
Butcher will continue to race with the Montrose-based Celtic Speed team, which is managed by former racer Alan Keith. Joining the squad this season in an engineering role will be Paul Leach.
“I’m really excited about the new season,” said Butcher. “I feel good about our complete package and I would like to say a huge thank you to Tommy Dreelan for his support.”
Backing for Butcher’s programme comes from Celtic Speed, William Waugh Ltd and William Johnston and Company Ltd, as well as a number of valuable partners.
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Exciting TV package for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
An exciting new TV package, taking advantage of changing viewing trends and the power of the internet, has been unveiled for the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB.Each of the season’s six events will be filmed and magazine programmes will be broadcast on both Porsche’s massively popular YouTube channel and on the Porsche Origin website. Using Porsche’s very well established social media access, each race-highlights video will get an instant potential exposure of up to 49,000 Porsche YouTube subscribers. For specialist videos broadcast on the Porsche Facebook page, there is a potential exposure of up to 3.5 million enthusiasts, giving a total package that compares very favourably with audiences on traditional motorsport-based television channels.
The filming will be done by the expert team at Circuit Pro and their film of the GT3 Cup Challenge test and media day at Silverstone last week can be seen here
Each race programme will include on-track action, in-car footage and the story behind the race from the drivers’ perspective. The films will be available on-line within a few days of each event, thus keeping the coverage very fresh and up to date.
In addition to the race reports, Circuit Pro will provide competitors in the GT3 Cup Challenge GB with a unique service across the course of the season. Teams and drivers can have a bespoke promotional film produced for them to support their sponsorship arrangements. The tailored film will focus on the individual team and driver and is an unparalleled service within national motor racing. Teams and drivers will also have the facility to further develop films to suit their own regional media, including regional TV.
“This new media arrangement really encapsulates the spirit of GT3 Cup Challenge; giving teams and drivers unprecedented value and support to go racing and enjoy their race weekends,” said Marion Barnaby, Porsche Motorsport Manager.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge season starts at Snetterton over the Easter weekend (7/8 April).
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Protyre backs Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Protyre Motorsport has been confirmed as the official tyre partner for the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. Protyre will be the series tyre service provider at all races, supporting the teams and drivers with Michelin tyres, a full fitting service and technical back-up.Managed by Porsche Cars GB, the GT3 Cup Challenge will have a six-weekend, 12-race season starting at Snetterton over the Easter Weekend and culminating with a high-profile date alongside the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at the Silverstone BTCC meeting on 6/7 October. The GT3 Cup Challenge is open to any 911 GT3 Cup car from the 2009 model year or earlier and the cars will run on the same tyres as used in the Carrera Cup GB.
“This is another boost for the GT3 Cup Challenge,” said Marion Barnaby, motorsport manager at Porsche Cars GB. “It is great to extend our relationship with Protyre Motorsport and I am very pleased that they will be supporting the GT3 Cup Challenge. I know that our teams will receive an excellent tyre service.”
“Protyre Motorsport is very proud to work with and support both the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and the Carrera Cup GB. We have a long-standing relationship with Porsche,” said retail director Simon Hiorns.
Protyre Motorsport is the largest provider of track day and championship tyres and support services in the UK and runs a fleet of four fully specified motor sport trailers.
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