TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/12/15 -- The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) unveiled Feb. 12 a four-venue, 10-event schedule for the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, one of 20 global Porsche 911 GT3 Cup one-make championships that provide thrilling action and groom drivers for future TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competition in North America or professional GT racing worldwide.
The fifth season of the championship starts May 15-17 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and ends Aug. 28-30 at the same venue. Competition also will take place on the streets of Toronto, at Calabogie Motorsports Park, and at Grand Prix Trois-Rivieres, with two 45-minute rounds at every series event.
"This schedule provides a great platform for continued strength for the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin in its fifth season," said Randy Hembrey, senior series manager, Development and Single-Make Series for IMSA. "The constant increase in competition and professionalism from our drivers and teams will create even more excitement for the incredibly loyal, passionate Canadian motorsport fans. Everyone in the championship also appreciates the strong, valuable support of Porsche, Michelin and Ultra 94."
Drivers and teams from Canada and the United States will compete on event weekends that also include action from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Verizon IndyCar Series, among others.
The fifth Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin season gets underway May 15-17 with the traditional Victoria Day Weekend opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, ON.
Teams and drivers then will head to Canada's largest city for two rounds June 12-14 on the iconic street circuit at the Honda Indy Toronto, an event taking place a month earlier than usual due to the Pan Am Games taking place in mid-July in Toronto.
The series will stay in Ontario for two rounds July 4-5 at scenic Calabogie Motorsports Park in Calabogie, ON. The challenging, 20-turn, 3.05-mile (5.05 km) circuit is the longest in Canada.
Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin drivers and teams then head July 31-Aug. 2 to the popular Grand Prix Trois-Rivieres (GP3R) for two rounds on the street circuit in Trois-Rivieres, QC. Competitors will race for the prestigious, historical Mayor's Cup, which originated at the inaugural GP3R event in 1967 to reward the driver of the winning production-based race car. Legendary drivers, such as George Follmer, Dick Brown and Mo Carter, have won the Mayor's Cup.
The series returns to Ontario for its traditional season-ending event Aug. 28-30 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, running in conjunction with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
"Racing represents a cornerstone of the brand," said Alexander Pollich, President & CEO, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. "Such a rich history is built on the passion and dedication of the people who build and drive the cars. These elements are what we celebrate at Porsche, and this series is a perfect example of their successful culmination."
The IMSA Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin enters its fifth season in 2015 ready to produce more intense, exciting competition for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers in the world's most produced and iconic race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The series is the perfect platform for aspiring drivers to ascend to the highest levels of GT competition.
Racing is divided into two classes - Platinum Cup, featuring the 2014 and 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which is based on the seventh, and current, generation of the street car; and Gold Cup, which is comprised of the previous iteration (model years 2010-2013) of the race car. A Masters Championship also is conducted in the Platinum class. Each class is awarded with its own podium at the end of every race and individual champion at the end of every season. Points are awarded by finish in class.
For updates on the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, follow @IMSA on Twitter with the hashtag GT3CAN and on Facebook. The latest news can be found by visiting IMSA.com.
2015 Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin Schedule Date Venue May 15-17 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON June 12-14 Honda Indy Toronto, Toronto, ON July 4-5 Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON July 31-Aug. 2 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, QC Aug. 28-30 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON
Contacts:
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Suncor Energy
Nicole Fisher
403-296-4000
media@suncor.com
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
Patrick Saint-Pierre
647 531 2992 cell
patrick.saint-pierre@porsche.ca
