Inaugural season of Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA WEST kicks off this weekend

April 28, 2012

Competent Motorsport LLC, in conjunction with Pirelli Tire North America and Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), have worked to create a new PMNA-sanctioned racing series called the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA West. Although 2012 will be the inaugural season for the series, Competent Motorsport has been operating the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA racing series since 2006.

“This announcement represents the evolving process of creating a racing series for Porsche 996/997 GT3 Cup cars that through professional coaching and competitive seat time gives our drivers a spring board to develop their race craft skills and if they chose be ready for the next level of sports car racing,” said Greg Franz, president of Competent Motorsport LLC and founder of the series. Over the past five years the drivers, series partners, and staff have all contributed to make this happen in raising the bar in presenting a specification series that allows drivers to race knowing that their success is based on the one variable – the driver.

“We are pleased to take our partnership with Porsche Motorsport North America to a new level and look forward to their technical and professional support. We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Jens Walther, CEO and president of Porsche Motorsport North America and his staff over the past five years, and we are committed in presenting the best motorsport events with quality track time for our drivers," Franz expressed.

“Since its inception, the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA has been home and an important stepping stone for many Porsche race drivers. We appreciate this series to step up to a true one-make Cup and welcome the teams and drivers in the international Porsche one- make Cup family,” said Walther.

“We are proud of what the series partners have been able to accomplish in bringing about the new PMNA sanctioned series,” said Rafael Navarro, vice president of public relations and communications for Pirelli Tire North America. “The Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA West is another in a series of premium partnerships that Pirelli has added to its portfolio to help reinforce the premium positioning of our partners and fitments."

The Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA West series in 2012 will be comprised of seven events and 14 races at some of North America’s most challenging racing venues. The first event will be held at Miller Motorsports Park as part of the Utah Grand Prix on April 27-29. Other venues for the 2012 season include Thunderhill Raceway Park, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (two events), Portland International Raceway for the Rose Cup Races and Infineon Raceway. The final event/venue of the inaugural season will be announced in March.

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Ga., Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets. “Like” us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.