Thrilling Fourth Season of Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB

The eagerly anticipated fourth season of the RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB is set to commence, bringing high-octane excitement to the sim racing community. This virtual championship, designed for professional sim racers, will kick off at a meticulously simulated Silverstone this Sunday, the 14th of January.

Aligned with its real-world counterparts, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the Sprint Challenge GB, this championship is an integral part of Porsche's comprehensive racing programme. This season, it will introduce the Esports Sprint Challenge GB, further expanding its virtual racing landscape.

For this season, the Esports Carrera Cup GB will continue to operate on the iRacing platform, renowned for its authentic racing simulation experience. December 2023 witnessed over 60 contenders participating in open pre-qualification, striving to secure their spot among the top 30 racers for this season's grid.

The championship will visit digital replicas of Britain's premier racing circuits, complementing the Porsche Carrera Cup GB schedule, which is part of the TOCA package supporting the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Notably, the 2024 season includes two 'wild card' races, with the first taking place on 3 March at the digitally rendered Mount Panorama (Bathurst) in Australia, a decision influenced by followers of the Porsche Instagram account.

2024 marks the beginning of a collaboration with RAFA Racing Club, a motorsport enthusiast group founded in Houston, Texas, USA. This partnership underscores the accessible nature of sim racing and its role as a gateway to professional motorsport.

2024 Race Calendar

• 14 January: Silverstone (National) - Rounds 1 & 2
• 28 January: Donington Park (National) - Rounds 3 & 4
• 11 February: Snetterton (200) - Rounds 5 & 6
• 25 February: Oulton Park (Island) - Rounds 7 & 8
• 3 March: Mount Panorama (Bathurst) - Rounds 9 & 10
• 24 March: Knockhill - Rounds 11 &12
• 14 April: Donington Park (GP) - Rounds 13 &14
• 5 May: Brands Hatch (GP) - Rounds 15 &16

The championship retains its dual-category format with 18 racers in the Pro category and 12 in the Am category, offering a competitive platform for both experienced and emerging sim racers. The Pro category features notable racers including Sebastian Job, the first double champion of the series, along with several past season winners and front-runners.

The Am category, featuring 2023 runners-up Gareth Higgins and Luke Pennington, brings together a mix of known names and fresh talent. Oliver Ettridge, the Esports Sprint Challenge GB Am champion, joins the fray, hoping to leverage his experience from the virtual Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR.

Participants will compete in the 'Type 992' Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, praised for its similarity to the real GT3 Cup car. The race weekend format remains consistent, with practice and qualifying sessions setting the stage for two 25-minute races.

Prize money continues to be a significant incentive, with substantial awards for top finishers in each category and end-of-season prizes. The champions are also honoured at the Porsche Night of Motorsport awards ceremony.

The season begins on the 14th of January 2024 at 14:00 GMT. Coverage will feature professional commentary by David Addison, a known figure in the BTCC and a sim racing advocate. Fans can catch the action live on Porsche's Twitch and YouTube channels.

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