Porsche looking to grow Kiwi relationship

After a successful maiden Porsche Carrera Cup Australia round in New Zealand, both sides of the Tasman are looking to build a stronger relationship going forward.

A total of 19 Type 992 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars flew across the Tasman to take part in the historic round at the recent Taupo Super400.

The Aussies were joined by two locals and later on Kiwis Sam Fillmore and Rick Armstrong will join the Australian series later this year.

Both Australian and NZ Porsche Motorsport Management have said they are looking to strengthen their connection.

“We’re really pleased with the results of our New Zealand adventure,” Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager Barry Hay said.

“Once we were there, everyone approached it in the right way and had a fantastic weekend. The racing was high quality and we put on a great show for the New Zealand fans which was a key objective.

“We will complete a full review of the event and see what the future entails. I think it is something we can do again, whether it’s next year or after a year or two is a question for later once the reviews are complete and we have all the feedback from our stakeholders. But there’s no doubting it was very a worthwhile exercise.

“The fact that the two Kiwi boys are keen to come and play in Australia later this year is testament to how well the weekend worked. They had a fantastic time, really raised their own personal level and competed wheel to wheel with the best Pro-Am operators we have.

“The beauty of Porsche Motorsport is they can come and do that on our side of the ditch driving the same cars the same way. It’s been a great outcome, and we can’t wait to see them in Australia later this year.

“We are working closer than ever with Nathan (Pilcher, Porsche Motorsport NZ Coordinator), Porsche Motorsport New Zealand and their team to build the relationship. It’s good for us, it’s good for New Zealand and it’s good for the sport, so we all want to grow it much bigger than it already is.”

Porsche Motorsport New Zealand Coordinator Nathan Pilcher echoed Hay’s thoughts.

“The Taupo weekend was a huge success and great for the brand on both sides of the Tasman,” he said.

“First and foremost, Rick and Sam had a fantastic weekend and showed that our top guys in Porsche competition in New Zealand can absolutely compete head-to-head with the best in Carrera Cup.

“They’re well advanced in planning to come and compete in several Aussie rounds later this year.

“Porsche Motorsport has a huge and important history in New Zealand and having Carrera Cup on our shores was a key element in our plans to build it to a level where we know it can be.

“There’s already huge involvement by Kiwi’s in Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge and we want to build that, while having a really strong base at home for them to use as a launching pad to Australia and beyond, or just as a great place to race a Cup Car or GT3 car.

“We’ve all got some great ideas about how we can grow the brand here in collaboration with what our Aussie cousins are doing, and this weekend was a huge and vital part of that.”

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