PCCF | Karen Gaillard Junior Porsche Carrera Cup France 2025 !
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The 2024 season barely over, the Porsche Carrera Cup France was already looking ahead to 2025 with the Junior Programme selection. From November 9 to 11, eight drivers, selected based on their applications, gathered in the Var region to follow in the footsteps of Paul Cauhaupé, Mathys Jaubert, Alessandro Ghiretti, and many others.
At Le Castellet, the contenders were hoping to shape their destinies. Mathys Cappuccio (FEED Racing finalist), Karen Gaillard (Michelin Le Mans Cup), Paul Jouffreau (EuroNascar Pro), Joran Leneutre (Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe), Arthur Rogeon (GB3), Charles Roussanne (Alpine Elf Cup Series), Jérémy Siffert (Sprint Cup by Funyo), and Matteo Spirgel (FIA European KZ2 Championship) all arrived with the same ambition: to become the Porsche Carrera Cup France Junior of 2025!
The selection began with a day of physical and cognitive tests, media training, and individual interviews. The following day, the drivers headed to the Paul Ricard Circuit, where Porsche 991 GT3 Cup Type 992 cars awaited them for several driving sessions. After two days of intense competition, the programme officials gathered to decide between the competitors—a particularly challenging decision given the very high level of all the drivers.
In the end, Karen Gaillard was chosen as the winner.
The driver’s career began in karting. Karen Gaillard quickly transitioned to cars, testing her skills in Caterham, Cupra TCR, Vortex 1.0, Mitjet 2L, and Nova NP02 prototypes. Last winter, she joined the Iron Dames programme to compete in the Michelin Le Mans Cup season, driving a Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
Following a 2024 season filled with learning, featuring a dual Michelin Le Mans Cup/Ultimate Cup European Series programme, Karen Gaillard’s future is now set in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. The first female Junior will benefit from personalized support with the championship’s official driver coach, Patrick Pilet. She will receive a €40,000 grant (excluding VAT), a set of Michelin tires, and support from a partner Porsche Center. Her journey will begin in Barcelona during the pre-season tests on March 4 and 5, 2025.
Karen Gaillard, Porsche Carrera Cup France Junior 2025 “I’m very happy. I’d like to thank the entire Porsche Carrera Cup France team for giving me this opportunity. It’s an amazing step for my career, but it’s just the beginning of the work. I’m entering a championship filled with specialists, and now I have to give everything to have a great season. I’d like to congratulate all the other participants because the selection level was extremely high. I also want to thank all my partners who have supported me over the years. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to race in so many seasons and get to where I am today. I want to express my gratitude to the DIMAB Motorsport by ANS team, from whom I’ve learned so much, and of course, the Iron Dames.”
The Porsche Carrera Cup France concluded the 34th edition of its history on the atypical Portimão track. A year after becoming Junior Porsche Motorsport in the Algarve, Alessandro Ghiretti returned to Portuguese soil to claim the title. The Schumacher CLRT driver forced the issue in qualifying. By winning both pole positions, he secured the points he needed to be crowned champion. But his work was not yet done. Never satisfied, Alessandro Ghiretti wanted to finish in style: by winning. In Race 1, the poleman set off perfectly to take the lead. Marcus Amand (Schumacher CLRT) got off to a more difficult start after a magnificent qualifying session, but was passed by Louis Perrot (Schumacher CLRT). The latter stuck to the leader’s heels, hoping to win his first race in the championship. Alessandro Ghiretti, however, was imperious. Together, the three finished on the podium to give Schumacher CLRT a hat-trick of wins. Mathys Jaubert (Martinet by Alméras) and Paul Cauhaupé (Schumacher CLRT) completed the top-5. In the rookie class, Marcus Amand’s victory took him a big step closer to the title. Paul Cauhaupé finished second, Victor Bernier (Martinet by Alméras) third.
On Saturday morning, Alessandro Ghiretti took to the starting grid in a new all-gold livery. During the night, the Schumacher CLRT team had swapped the usual black color of the N°11 car to celebrate the title. The PCCF 2021 junior was determined to shine and take his car to the top step of the podium. Once again, he got off to a very good start and held on to the lead. The battle was intense just behind between the same two leaders of the previous day: Marcus Amand and Louis Perrot. Positions were exchanged several times, with a few small contacts, but the former simracer still got the better of his young team-mate. This new hat-trick confirmed Schumacher CLRT’s superiority and led Côme Ledogar’s team to the Teams title. Third again in Race 2, Marcus Amand finished just short of the overall podium. The Franco-Finnish driver was nonetheless savoring the acquisition of the Rookie championship after a sixth victory in the last six races.
Last year’s runner-up, Marc Guillot, is the new holder of the Pro-Am crown. The ABM driver had to finish the races to secure the title. Having finished second on two occasions, the Dijon-born driver took the points needed for his triumph. His duel with Jérôme Boullery once again livened up the PCCF field. Defeated for the first time since 2021, the Racing Technology resident finished on a high note, winning the last two races. On his return to competition, Sylvain Noël (Racing Technology) was twice on the podium.
Nevertheless, the Racing Technology team won a title. In Am, Cyril Caillo won one of the best races of his career. The N°44 driver had made things easy for himself before the final. He perfected his success by winning two more races, taking his total to ten victories for the year as a whole. Eric Debard (Debard Automobiles by Racetivity) and Jordan Boisson (TFT Racing) tasted the joys of podium finishes at this final meeting. The class has been the scene of some great battles throughout the year between a number of protagonists, such as these three drivers and their counterparts this weekend, Jean-Philippe Gambaro (Schumacher CLRT), third in the final class standings, and Patrick Charlaix (TFT Racing).
The Porsche Carrera Cup France leaves the track at the end of this final round of the 2025 season. The 35th edition will open in Barcelona for winter testing on March 4 and 5, 2025, before the season kicks off on the same Catalan circuit from April 4 to 6.
Eleven years later, the Porsche Carrera Cup France made its way to the Mugello track in Tuscany. The penultimate round of the 2024 season began with a sensation. For the first time all year, Alessandro Ghiretti was beaten in qualifying. The Schumacher CLRT driver suffered a technical problem that kept him out of action for much of the session. Mathys Jaubert, a Martinet by Alméras resident, put in an excellent session to take the first two poles of his career in the championship. On the front row, alongside Florian Latorre (ABM), the PCCF 2023 junior kept his advantage at the start. Sixth on the grid, Alessandro Ghiretti immediately began his comeback. By mid-race, the Junior Porsche Motorsport 2024 had closed the gap on the leader. For 15 minutes, he exerted constant pressure on his overall runner-up. Mathys Jaubert defended fiercely to claim his second victory of the season. His last came in Race 2 at Paul Ricard in May. Second under the chequered flag, Alessandro Ghiretti picked up important championship points. Third place went to Louis Perrot on the final lap. Attacking Marcus Amand (Schumacher CLRT), the CLRT Schumacher driver took advantage of his young team-mate’s missed brake to climb onto the podium.The former single-seater resident could console himself with success in the Rookies. Junior PCCF 2024 Paul Cauhaupé (CLRT Schumacher) and Victor Bernier (Martinet by Alméras) finished in the top-3. Florian Latorre (ABM) was fifth overall.
In the morning mist, Mathys Jaubert took the highest place on the grid for Race 2. To his left, Marcus Amand discovered the front row. In view of the cold track conditions and reduced visibility, the start was made under Safety Car. After a lap behind the Taycan Turbo Sport Turismo, the Martinet by Alméras driver held off his rival under braking. Just behind, Paul Cauhaupé locked his wheels and touched Louis Perrot. At the next turn, the Schumacher CLRT driver took the inside of his teammate. He hit him and spun, while the former simracer ended his weekend in the gravel trap. The safety car reappeared. When the green flag was waved again, Alessandro Ghiretti got rid of Marcus Amand to regain second place. Unlike the day before, the championship leader was only able to attack Mathys Jaubert once, on the final lap. As serene as ever, the winner of Race 1 was at it again in Race 2. Although he was unable to clinch the title this weekend, Alessandro Ghiretti will be just a few points away from the crown in Portimão. The podium was completed by Marcus Amand. In addition to an overall top-3 finish, he added a fifth Rookies success. Fourth under the chequered flag, Victor Bernier finished second in his class. Despite his incident, Paul Cauhaupé was able to finish third.
Marc Guillot (Pro-Am) continued his fine form from Dijon at Mugello. The ABM driver beat Jérôme Boullery (Racing Technology) on both races. The N°21 rider won for the fourth time in a row. Am 2023 champion Sébastien Poisson was third in Pro-Am. In the Am class, Cyril Caillo won for the eighth time this year. However, the Racing Technology driver was challenged. Beaten in qualifying by Jean-Philippe Gambaro (Schumacher CLRT), the class leader had to battle with the poleman in Race 1. The following day, he deprived Jordan Boisson (TFT Racing) of his first race win in the class. Eric Debard (Debard Automobiles by Racetivity) took both podiums.
The grand finale of the Porsche Carrera Cup France will take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão from October 17 to 19.
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On the eve of the final sprint of the 2024 season, the Porsche Carrera Cup France unveils its 2025 calendar. The new 2025 season will give championship drivers the opportunity to shine on famous French and European tracks that have already contributed to the championship’s reputation.
It promises to be an historic reunion. As winter will draw to a close, the entire paddock will head to Catalonia for two days of testing at the Barcelona circuit on 4 and 5 March.
It’s the ideal place to prepare for the launch of the 2025 season, since the first round will also take place on the Barcelona-Catalunya track (4-6 April). As in the 2024 season, the Porsche Carrera Cup France will make its debut on the opening race of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
FFSA GT4 France will once again play host to Dijon-Prenois (May 9-11). However, the category will be coming to Burgundy earlier than in 2024. Located just behind the Catalan meeting, the Dijon track will provide a second glimpse of the forces at play. It’s also an opportunity for French fans to see the drivers on French tarmac.
Spa-Francorchamps will keep the same place in the 2025 calendar. The teams will be heading to Belgium from 20th to 22nd of June as part of the SRO SpeedWeek. With its lively races, sublime videos and unique photos, the track nestling in the Belgian Ardennes is sure to delight all PCCF fans. At the end of this weekend, the first part of the season will be over, but it will not yet be time for a holiday.
Fans, drivers and teams will have to wait until the end of the fourth round to take a rest. From 18th to 20th of July, the second half of the year kicks off in Misano (Italy). The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has not been visited by the championship since 2019. On the shores of the Adriatic Sea, in the summer heat, the 992 GT3 Cup cars will prove their worth on the 4.226-kilometre track.
As in Italy, the Porsche Carrera Cup France will join the GT World Challenge Europe paddock in Valencia (Spain), the scene of the fifth meeting of the 2025 season (September 19-21). The Ricardo Tormo circuit was already on the programme in 2022.
Who will add their name to the list of Porsche Carrera Cup France winners? The answer will be given at the end of the last two races of the season. These will take place at Paul Ricard at the same time as the FFSA GT4 France final (3-5 October). In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the champions will be crowned at the end of a promising year in terms of spectacle and battles on the track.
Porsche Carrera Cup France 2025 Calendar
With the summer break over, the Porsche Carrera Cup France returned to the historic Dijon-Prenois circuit. Six years after its last visit, the championship brought its 992 GT3 Cup cars to the Burgundy circuit for the first time. Although he was new to the track at the wheel of the Porsche, Alessandro Ghiretti was quick to get into the rhythm. In qualifying, the Porsche Motorsport Junior 2024 claimed his seventh and eighth pole positions of the year. Race 1, contested on Saturday afternoon, saw the overall leader triumph once again after 30 minutes in complete control. However, the battle for second place was fierce. It pitted Mathys Jaubert (Martinet by Alméras) against Louis Perrot (CLRT Schumacher). The PCCF 2023 junior and the former simracer kept at it, but the former held the advantage under the chequered flag. Despite a stint in the gravel trap, which kept him out of the fight for the top-3, Marvin Klein (ABM) managed to climb back up to fourth place. The only rookie to have won only once so far, Marcus Amand (Schumacher CLRT) added a second success in the category. The Franco-Finnish driver came out on top after a tough but fair battle with Paul Cauhaupé (CLRT Schumacher). The PCCF 2024 junior had taken pole. Victor Bernier (Martinet by Alméras) was third.
Once again on the highest spot on the grid in Race 2, Alessandro Ghiretti pulled away perfectly.Lap after lap, his pace increased.He finished the job without a moment’s hesitation to claim his seventh victory in eight races.For the third time in four meetings, he took two wins, two poles and two fastest laps.Marvin Klein’s second place made ABM deliriously happy.For the first time in their history, the Haute Savoie-based team placed one of its cars on the overall podium.The two-time champion of the discipline, his team-mates and the members of the team jumped for joy after this collective triumph.It was undoubtedly one of the finest achievements of their career to date.The two rivals from the previous day found themselves in a battle for the last step of the podium.And just as on Saturday, Mathys Jaubert refused to give in to Louis Perrot, who was as aggressive as ever.On braking into the first bend and in the subsequent sequences, the CLRT Schumacher resident was able to close the gap on the driver in front of him several times, without ever gaining a significant advantage.Starting from ninth place, Marcus Amand made up ground on Paul Cauhaupé, who was fifth at the start, in the opening laps.The battle was intense, but the previous day’s winner once again got the better on the rookie battle.With this double win, the N°99 rider gains important points in the Rookie classification.
The Pro-Am category became a duel between Marc Guillot and Jérôme Boullery.On home soil, the ABM driver was determined to shine.Neck and neck throughout the two races, the Dijon-born driver emerged victorious from his battle with the two-time Racing Technology champion.Cyril Caillo (Racing Technology) dominated the Am category from Friday to Sunday.Jean-Philippe Gambaro (CLRT Schumacher) finished twice behind him, while Jordan Boisson (TFT Racing) and Eric Debard (Debard Automobiles by Racetivity) shared third place.
The Porsche Carrera Cup France will be back in just two weeks’ time, at the Mugello circuit on 27-28-29 September.