Twenty-eight Porsches ranging from Boxters right through to a 991.2 GT3 Cup are in for a hectic weekend at Highlands as they compete in Super Sprint Motorsport New Zealand Championship’s opening round.
The Pirelli Porsche Race Series will feature four times over the weekend with three 10 lap races preceding a 30-minute enduro.
The Porsches will definitely be a spectacle with such a diverse range of cars on display in what’s expected to be a tightly fought round of racing.
They race in support of Formula Regional Oceania’s opening round with Toyota 86 and GT New Zealand the other categories featured.
Practice begins the weekend on Friday before a 15 minute qualifying session at 10.10am on Saturday. Two 10-lap runs take place at 11.40am and 1.40pm respectively ahead of a third on Sunday morning at 10.35.
Sunday afternoon’s 30 minute enduro concludes the weekend at 1.55pm.
Despite being the opening round of Super Sprint, Porsche Race Series has already got two rounds of this season under their belt with Manfeild’s opener in October followed by Hampton Downs a month later.
The larger Boxter class has thrilled in both those events with defending champion Noel Simpson setting the benchmark early with two out of three wins at both venues.
It isn’t being made easy for the #1 however, Chris Taylor the other driver to taste success twice this season to keep the pressure on at the top.
Whilst other classes are smaller in size it doesn’t mean competition is lacking.
Class C is another to watch, Cam McCormack’s (996 Cup) unbeaten start to the campaign finally ending last race after Daniel Angus (996 Cup) got the better of him.
Things are similar in Class B, Regan Scouller (997.2 Cup) and Tony Austin (997.2 Cup) trading wins between them with Struan Robertson (997.1 Cup) never far behind.
There’ll also be a few special runners in the field, Mike Baker driving a 1990 964 Cup replica whilst Guy Stewart will be competing in a 1973 911 Iroc Rep.
The entire round will be shown live on Sky Sport and CRC Motorsport will have free-to-air coverage on TV3 from 1pm Sunday.
The Pirelli Porsche Race Series will then make the trip north to Christchurch for Round 4 of their season at Ruapuna next weekend.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
