Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns to its roots this week.
After two race weekends supporting the Formula 1 World Championship, first at Miami and then at Montreal, the premier one-make series returns to its role supporting IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's Six Hours of The Glen.
Watkins Glen International will host rounds seven and eight of the 16-race 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Challenge North America calendar. The June 20 - 22 weekend will feature 35 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars across the three classes.
The 3.4-mile, 11-turn traditional road course in the Finger Lakes region of New York state will host the two, 40-minute races. Practice begins on Thursday morning, June 20, with a second session that afternoon.
A 30-minute qualifying session for all cars comes on Friday morning with the first of the two rounds to take the green flag at 4:20 p.m. ET on the afternoon of Friday, June 21. The second race, round eight and midpoint of the season, will run at 11:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 22.
Watkins Glen International has hosted two rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America each season since the series debut in 2021. But Watkins Glen has a much longer tradition of hosting Porsche one-make racing. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama celebrated its 100th series race at 'The Glen' in 2013.
Hometown heroes.
Two New York-based drivers are entered in this weekend's Porsche Carrera Cup North America rounds at Watkins Glen International. Included is Yves Balatas. Balatas, who earned his first career Pro class victory in race one at Montreal, lives in New York City. Veteran driver Michael Cooper calls Huntington, New York home.
Legacy track.
Watkins Glen International is a 'Legacy Track' on the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup schedule. The track joins Sebring International Raceway, Road America, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as tracks that hosted the premier one-make race series in 2021 debut season of the series. 'The Glen' joins only Sebring and Indianapolis as having hosted Carrera Cup every season.
ANDIAL Cup.
Debuting in 2024, the ANDIAL Cup is a championship within the championship awarded to participants at the most iconic road courses in North America. The ANDIAL Cup, named for the legendary Porsche race and road prep company provides competitors an additional award for competing at the most iconic road courses on the continent.
All full season competitors receive automatic entry for the ANDIAL Cup, while those interested in running only at the more storied tracks can compete for a championship. ANDIAL Cup tracks include Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Road America, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
All in the name.
Second-year driver Sabre Cook has made a name for herself in the series. However, it is often a name that people get wrong when they pronounce it. The Colorado native, now living in Indianapolis, took the time to create a tongue-in-cheek video to help solve the pronunciation issues. Learn exactly how to say 'Hi' to the driver of the No. 37 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car on Instagram by clicking here.
142 passengers.
As Alzheimer's Awareness Month draws to a close, MDK Motorsports will carry 142 names on the No. 43 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car driven by Mark Kvamme (Columbus, Ohio). To date, Racing to End Alzheimer's has raised over $1 million for its two beneficiaries, the Nantz National Alzheimer's Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. 2023 saw the program raise a record $254,000 and Racing to End Alzheimer's looks to exceed that effort this year. The 142 names on the car represent people from all walks of life who have suffered from dementia or Alzheimer's.
Mobil 1 Female Driver Program.
Longtime Porsche Motorsport partner Mobil 1, in conjunction with Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), announced support of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America on June 11. In 2023, PMNA began the program to help support aspiring female drivers compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. In the autumn of last year, the program was extended across all one-make race series on its Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America including not only Carrera Cup but also Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama and, in 2024, Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.
The program includes: Financial Support. 50% of the season entry fee for each female driver will be covered to ensure access to race the full racing season.
Performance Incentives. Complimentary sets of Yokohama race tires to top-performing female drivers.
Training. Specialized workshops for female drivers will provide valuable training and networking opportunities to advance their careers - including mentoring from legendary Porsche driver Patrick Long.
2024 participants include Sabre Cook and Madeline Stewart in Porsche Carrera Cup North America as well as Paige Morales, Caroline Candas, Loni Unser, Ashley Freiberg and Therese Lahlouh in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama
To the point.
With more race victories than any other Pro class competitor, three, Loek Hartog (Netherlands) sits atop the overall standings. The first-year driver has 110 points in the No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. He holds a 23-point margin lead in the Pro class championship over Michael Cooper (Huntington, New York). Cooper sits five points up on Alex Sedgwick (United Kingdom). The battle is far tighter in the Pro-Am category where two-time class winner Moisey Uretsky (Miami, Florida) with 103 markers, is a single point ahead of Marco Cirone (Canada). Jordan Wallace (Annapolis, Maryland) is in third place with 80 points. Matt Halcome, with 138 points, leads the Masters class. The Dallas, Georgia driver has a 38-point gap over Chris Bellomo (Portola Valley, California).
A victory pays 25 points, second place 20 and third place is awarded with 17 points. A pole position is worth two points while a fastest race lap will add an additional point to the total of a driver in each class.
PORSCHE AUTOMOBIL HOLDING SE 
