It’s official, The Carrera Cup is set to return to Australia’s racetracks for 2011. In a media release issued late this afternoon, Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) announced that they would seek dates for a series, hopefully next year.

The announcement means that PCA can now enter formal discussions with all key stake-holders for a possible return to the V8 Supercar calendar from as early as next year.

Carrera Cup was introduced to Australia in 2003 and ran up to and including 2009

through a third party service provider.

The reintroduction of Carrera Cup would this time be exclusively managed and operated in-house by PCA.

“We have the chance for a fresh start, with an all-new race car and an all-new

approach for Porsche Carrera Cup Australia,” says PCA Managing Director Michael

Winkler.

“Motorsport is an important part of our brand and our business in Australia. We have

been busy working behind the scenes on a sustainable and viable long term

motorsport plan that places Carrera Cup at the forefront of our domestic racing.”

Mr Winkler said that the company would now engage organisers, promoters, broadcasters, sponsors and of course potential teams in order to provide a full grid of cars for the start of 2011.

The series will run the new GT3 Cup Car, recently seen at Sandown in the hands of Jim Richards.

The new car which is currently being used in several similar overseas series will be faster and more powerful than before. Engine capacity is increased from 3.6 litres to 3.8 litres with a corresponding rise in power from 420 hp (309 kW) to 450 hp (331

kW).

The 2011 racer also features upgraded suspension, aggressive rear wing and improved aerodynamics front and rear. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox with the racer coming ex-factory with full roll cage and MoTec instrumentation.