Organisers of the Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Australia championship have announced the series’ 2021 calendar, confirming a maiden visit to New Zealand in November.
The series will compete on the support card of the Supercars championship at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint on November 6–7. The circuit set to be used for the event has yet to be determined, although it’s tipped to be between Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and Pukekohe Raceway.
“After the restrictions to our 2020 program, it’s great to announce our 2021 calendar which will see our drivers continue to race at the biggest motorsport events of the year, in front of the biggest crowds, enjoying the best support and television package available,” says Porsche Cars Australia Head of Motorsport Tory Bundy.
“We strive to deliver a premium class experience for all our customers, teams and sponsors and with the support of Porsche New Zealand this year, the New Zealand race promises to be a real highlight.”
While the Carrera Cup Australia series hasn’t formally visited New Zealand in the past, Trans-Tasman showdowns were once common — seeing some of Australia’s leading racers compete as part of New Zealand’s now defunct Carrera Cup series, including the likes of David Reynolds and Jonathon Webb.
The single-make series has always been a popular home for Kiwi racers. Craig Baird, Jim Richards, Andre Heimgartner, Fabian Coulthard, Jaxon Evans, Matt Halliday, Daniel Gaunt, Ant Pedersen, Jonny Reid, and more have competed in the series — Baird, Richards, Coulthard, and Evans among those to claim titles.
Like with the Supercars, the New Zealand round also represents Carrera Cup Australia’s penultimate event. The series will open at Albert Park alongside the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix on March 18–21. It will then travel from there to The Bend (May 8–9), Townsville (July 9–11), and Sydney Motorsport Park (August 20–22).
The series then wraps up with rounds at Barbagallo Raceway (September 11–12), Mount Panorama (October 7–10), the aforementioned New Zealand event, and the Gold Coast street circuit finale (December 3–5).