Porsche Cars Australia is well placed to ensure the continued smooth operation of Carrera Cup racing in Australia in 2009 and beyond following the decision by Iain Sherrin to cease ownership of the Category Management Agreement (CMA) at the end of the 2008 season.
Sherrin took on the Carrera Cup CMA in Australia in 2007 when he purchased ‘Cup Car Australia’ which held the management rights.
Notwithstanding Sherrin’s decision, Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) managing director, Michael Winkler, says the company’s support of Porsche motorsport activities in Australia – Carrera Cup in particular – is unwavering.
“PCA will take this opportunity to build on the success of Carrera Cup racing in Australia. We have a healthy grid of cars and top-level racing.
“It is the Porsche way to keep building on our own success so we can keep Carrera Cup as an aspirational and professionally managed category that delivers excellent benefits to our customers, sponsors and key business partners.
“Our commitment extends from Porsche Motorsport in Germany all the way to PCA with administrative support and then at local dealer level with the supply of race parts and technical support.
“We will work with Iain to have an arrangement in place by the end of this season to ensure a seamless and smooth transition into 2009. Until then it is racing and business as usual!”
Iain Sherrin said his decision to cease category management was not an easy one.
“After owning both a category and a multiple car race team in the same category for the last two years I think it’s time to concentrate on one or the other, and I think this is the right decision to make,” said Sherrin.
“As a team owner and major stakeholder in Carrera Cup it is also in my best interests to ensure the management of the category is in the right hands in the years ahead.”
Sherrin will continue to hold the Carrera Cup CMA for the remaining five rounds in this year’s nine-round National Championship run by the existing Cup Car Australia team led by Theo Psaros.
This year’s Championship is shaping up as arguably the best ever since the category’s inception in 2003, with a new generation of drivers winning races and challenging for the title.