A strong contingent of New Zealand Porsche drivers are set to compete in tonight’s inaugural round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Virtual Edition.
With the real-life Carrera Cup on pause amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the one-make championship will return to the track in a virtual eight-race championship.
Kiwi team Earl Bamber Motorsport has secured four entries for the opening round in Shanghai later tonight.
Leading from the front in the Porsche Team New Zealand entry will be 24-year-old Reid Harker.
Harker made a name for himself in the series last year, competing in four races and secured two top-six finishes.
Earlier this year EBM confirmed they had secured the services of the upcoming star for a full-time drive in the 2020 championship.
EBM will also V8 Touring car driver Madeline Stewart, series-regular Graeme Dowsett and Benjamin Albano.
While fellow Kiwi and three-time series champion Chris van der Drift will compete for Team Yonda Shanghai.
Van der Drift’s storied history in the series undoubtedly puts the 34-year-old kiwi driver as a firm favourite for the online competition.
The virtual series will feature four rounds each with a pair of 30-minute races. All competitors will race identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars – the same car that is used in the real-life series.
Races will be held on the Assetto Corsa platform and will see the field visit circuits such as Suzuka, Sepang and Thailand’s Chang International circuit.
Tonight’s round from Shanghai gets underway from 8.40 pm NZT and will be livestreamed via the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Facebook page.
