Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama Unveils 12-Round Schedule for 2018 Season

Latest season to kick-off at the legendary Sebring Raceway

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - A new venue in Sebring, FL, to inaugurate the start of the season, is the leading highlight of the 2018 schedule for the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, announced today by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

The series, one of 20 global Porsche GT3 Cup single-make championships, provides thrilling action and grooms drivers for future IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition or professional GT racing worldwide. Competitors will race at five venues over 12 rounds, including Canada's two largest cities in support of the two most prestigious motorsports events in the country - the Canadian Grand Prix Formula One race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal and the Toronto Indy. The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama also will feature its first race of the season outside of Canada with two rounds at the iconic Sebring International in Sebring, Florida.

Petro-Canada's Ultra 94 returns as the title sponsor for the series, which enters its eight season in 2018.

Once again, this seasons' Platinum category winner will be offered the one-year use of a Porsche 911 as a grand prize, continuing an annual tradition dating back to the 2013 season.

The 2018 season opens on March 14-16 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, and ends August 25-26 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) in Bowmanville, Ontario. The sole joint event weekend of the season between the Canadian and USA series will take place at the opener in Sebring March 14-16, 2018. Teams and drivers then will head to Bowmanville for Round 3 and 4 on May 19-20. For Rounds 5 and 6 on June 9-10, racers will gather along with F1 fans from around the world in Montreal.

The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama then will move to Canada's largest city for Rounds 7 and 8 on July 13-15, supporting the Verizon IndyCar Series for the fourth consecutive year before large, enthusiastic crowds at Toronto Indy.

Teams and drivers will return to Quebec for Rounds 9 and 10 on August 10-12 during the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) street race. The season-ending Rounds 11 and 12 will take place Aug. 25-26 at CTMP.

"By adding a race weekend at the famed race track in Florida fans will get an early jump on the typical Canadian racing season," said Alexander Pollich, president & CEO, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. "For the first time in our one-make series' history racers will start competing before the official beginning of spring."

For updates on the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, follow @IMSA on Twitter with the hashtag #GT3CAN and on Facebook. The latest news can be found by visiting IMSA.com.

    2018 Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by
     Yokohama Schedule

    Date                Venue

    Mar. 14-16           Sebring International Raceway,
                         Sebring, FL *

    May 19-20            Canadian Tire Motorsport Park,
                         Bowmanville, ON

    June 9-10            Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,
                         Montréal, QC

    July 13-15          Toronto Indy, Toronto, ON

    Aug. 10-12           Grand Prix Trois-Rivières,
                         Trois-Rivières, QC

    Aug 25-26            Canadian Tire Motorsport Park,
                         Bowmanville, ON


    * --joint event with Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
     USA by Yokohama

SOURCE Porsche Cars Canada