NZ Porsche series growing

The growing crossover across the Tasman will be evident when the expanded Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand begins at Taupo this weekend.

The Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand is part of the 2024/25 Summerset GT New Zealand Championship that begins on November 22-24.

After the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia headed to New Zealand for the first time in 2024 at the Supercars Taupo round, the trans-Tasman connections are growing.

The 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia winner and 2024 Carrera Cup rookie Marco Giltrap will go racing against the locals.

The current Carrera Cup champion Harri Jones will also use his expertise support young-gun Hunter Robb.

Jones is there as part of his Jones Motorsport business and Robb has tested with them on a number of occasions.

They are part of a 10-car field for this weekend’s opening round where new generation 992 GT3 Cup cars, as well as both 991.2 and 991.1 GT3 Cup Cars will go racing.

There will also be a GT4 class trophy featuring the Cayman GT4 and GT4RS.

Regular Carrera Cup racer Paul Kelly is also back on track and will race against last season’s Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand winner was Sam Fillmore.

“The success of the racing in last year’s Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand has encouraged more cars to come and have a go this season,” Porsche New Zealand Motorsport Coordinator Nathan Pilcher said. 

“It’s encouraging to see such a great field of Porsche GT3 Cup Cars joining the field. 

“The teams and drivers have been putting in some hard work leading up to this season which will mean the racing is going to be even more intense between the Porsche GT3 Cup Cars.

“There are a handful of drivers that could take the honours this season with some returning for a second year and Sam Fillmore returns to defend his title but this year in a brand new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car.

“The great part is that last season at the final race we still had three competitors that could have taken the crown but I think this season it will be more like six all vying to be the champion come the last race. 

“Consistency will be pivotal in the Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand to win it by seasons end.”

Entry list – Round 1, Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand

2             Rick Armstrong               International Motorsport            Porsche 992

14          Shaun Varney                  Action Motorsport                         Porsche 991.2

26          Paul Southam                  JM Automotive                                Porsche 992

27          Sam Fillmore                   International Motorsport            Porsche 992

66          Marco Giltrap                  Giltrap Group Motorsport           Porsche 992

69          Hunter Robb                    Jones Motorsport                          Porsche 991.2

88          Steve Brooks                    James Marshall Motorsport       Porsche 992

90          Paul Kelly                          Paul Kelly Motorsport                  Porsche 992

222        Luke Manson                   International Motorsport            Porsche 992

911        Sam Cotterill                   International Motorsport            Porsche 992

912        Glenn Cotterill                 International Motorsport            Porsche 992

999        Regan Scoullar                Action Motorsport                         Porsche 991.2

Summerset GT New Zealand Championship dates

Round 1: Taupo November 22-24, 2024

Round 2: Hampton Downs January 17-19, 2025

Round 3: Teretonga 31 Jan-2 Feb, 2025

Round 4: Highlands Feb 7-9, 2025

Round 5: Hampton Downs March 21-23, 2025

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