PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE Australia Series competitors will receive a boost in national TV exposure when they compete in the opening round of the 2010 series to be held at the ArmorAll Bathurst 12 Hour event in February.

Series organisers have today announced that the action from the opening round of the all-Porsche series will now be broadcast in a one-hour show on the Seven Network around Australia.

Already focussed on value-for-money, GT3 Cup Challenge Australia competitors will now receive even better ‘bang for their buck’ when they compete at the world renowned circuit on February 12 – 13.

The Bathurst event will feature practice and qualifying on Friday before two 30min races on Saturday.

The new package ensures that the GT3 Cup Challenge competitors will receive the most airtime of any support category on the mountain for the annual endurance event, and now offers competitors contesting the full series over three hours of national airtime throughout the year.

More than 30 cars have already entered for the first round of the 2010 season however with entries closing this Friday (January 15th), category manager Jodi Zylstra said that there was still more than enough time for competitors to take advantage of the additional exposure and a chance to race on the Mountain.

“Our field is already looking strong for the first round of our 2010 season at the Armor All 12 Hour, but the decision to upgrade our TV package to a full hour offers those who might still be making up their mind about racing more of an incentive to join the fun,” Zylstra said.

“The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series is all about offering the best value-for-money racing possible for our competitors and we are very pleased to be able to give them double the exposure on Channel 7 without having to raise entry fees or any costs to the competitors for the race meeting.

“We already have a strong field shaping up – including more than 12 Type 997 GT3 Cup Cars and a few new names – but we would love other Porsche competitors to join the fun, get a chance of racing at Bathurst and also some additional exposure on Seven.”

The 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series will for the first time allow the Type 997 GT3 Cup Car as the ‘outright’ vehicle, after the model was introduced to the series for the first time last year in a separate class.

In reaction to the changes, a host of series regulars have stepped up to the later-model Porsche, including 2008 champion Sven Burchartz and regular frontrunners Jeff Bobik, John Trende and Ray Angus, whilst former Porsche 944 series winner John Morriss will also step into a 997 GT3 Cup car.

Reigning champion Matthew Kingsley will return in his 2009 title winning car, in an effort to take back-to-back titles in his Type 996 GT3 in what should prove a competitive battle between the older and newer cars.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series features a class structure that allows essentially any normally-aspirated Porsche model to compete, including cars ranging from a 1973 911 RS, to a 944 Challenge car and the latest MY09 997 GT3 Cup Car.

Competitors interested in entering the first round of the 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series should contact Jodi Zylstra on 1300 855 956