News release, April 05, 2021
For the beginning of the 911 GT3 Cup type 992, this new edition of the Porsche Carrera Cup is a full house, with the presence of many faithful competitors, but also the arrival of several new stars, notably from Italy, and a total of twenty-six entries. The latter will meet at Magny-Cours on 7 and 8 April for two days of the Official Tests.
Florian Latorre (CLRT), Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (BWT Lechner Racing) and Marvin Klein (CLRT) are the favourites. Long in the running for the final victory last season, before finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively in the final standings, the three men will undoubtedly be among the great leaders in the field of fifteen Pro drivers listed for this new edition of the Porsche Carrera Cup France. But Victor Weyrich (Pierre Martinet by Alméras), the outgoing Rookie champion, will also want to get into the fray, as will Victor Blugeon, now spearheading ABM, a new team from Annecy, Evan Spenle (MRT by CLRT) and Richard Wagner (BWT Lechner Racing).
It is up to them to make the most of the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup type 992 with its further refined qualities, the characteristically wide Turbo tracks and the famous naturally-aspirated flat-six now delivering no less than 510 horsepower. Thirty-one years after the first 911 Cup, which was based on the 964, the Porsche engineers have raised the bar even higher, increasing its performance, giving it a more aggressive look and improving its balance and reliability even further. A cocktail that should delight teams and drivers alike, and set the stage for some great new track battles.
A notable change compared to last year is that Marvin Klein has joined Côme Ledogar’s team, but he has been replaced by a major recruit at Martinet by Alméras, in the person of Dorian Boccolacci, who will lead a contingent of six Rookies, also with Ugo Gazil (Pierre Martinet by Alméras), Arthur Mathieu (Spark Motorsport), Thomas Fretin (Ydeo Compétition), Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras), the Junior Porsche Carrera Cup France 2021 and Milan Petelet (ABM), who was also a finalist in the last edition of the Porsche France detection operation. Dorian Boccolacci, who recently switched to GT after a long stint in single-seaters, will certainly be a customer for the 2021 edition of the Porsche Carrera Cup France, which has continued to improve over the years. The presence of Italian teams (Krypton Motorsport, Ombra Racing, EF Racing) this season is proof of this.
Gianmarco Quaresmini (Ombra Racing), winner of the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy in 2018 and returning to France after a first attempt in 2019, will undoubtedly be one to watch, as will his compatriot Enrico Fulgenzi (EF Racing), also a former winner of the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy (2013), whose tenacity has earned him the nickname ‘Dobermann’.
There will also be a great battle in the Pro-Am where Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing), the three-time defending champion, will be challenging for his crown again, this time under the same colours. Facing him will be his toughest opponent, Christophe Lapierre, who has moved to Pierre Martinet by Alméras this year, but also Jérôme Boullery (Ydeo Competition), Luca Pastorelli (Krypton Motorsport), François Lansard (MRT by CLRT), the outgoing Am champion, and a returnee in the shape of Henry Hassid (MRT by CLRT). In the Am category, Franck Leherpeur (CLRT), Maxence Maurice (Imsa Performance) and Tugdual Rabreau (CLRT) will try to capitalise on the experience they gained last season and try to get the best of the newcomers Gabriele Marotta (EF Racing) and Benoit Fretin (Ydeo Competition). One thing is certain for all these drivers: they are all very impatient to be at Magny-Cours on 7 and 8 April in order to discover and push their new 911 GT3 Cup type 992 to its limits!