The Single-Make Series Will Complement IMSA, F1 and NASCAR Events; Deluxe Corp. Named Title Sponsor
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Porsche Carrera Cup North America, the single-make series sanctioned by IMSA, is expanding its reach into new race markets and adding a series entitlement sponsor for the 2023 season, as announced today by Porsche Motorsport North America.
The series has been renamed the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America while also expanding its stage in 2023. In addition to racing on four IMSA event weekends beginning next month at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Porsche Carrera Cup will also be on the schedule at two Formula 1 weekends and one NASCAR event. Highlighting the 2023 calendar will be the championship’s appearance at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion VII. Each of the eight race weekends will feature a pair of 40-minute races for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. All races will stream live on IMSA.com/TVLive.
An official preseason test will take place March 6-7 at Sebring International Raceway ahead of the season-opening doubleheader at the same Florida track on March 15-16 as part of the Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend. A month later, the three-class Carrera Cup championship (Pro, Pro-Am and Am) will travel to the west coast for the first of two California rounds, joining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and IndyCar Series at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 14-16.
Late spring and summer ushers in a string of firsts and landmark events. For the first time in its history, Carrera Cup North America will support the pinnacle of open-wheel racing, Formula 1. The Miami Grand Prix will present the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car race as its top support series.
Following stops at historic U.S. road courses Watkins Glen International and Road America (in support of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race), Carrera Cup North America will compete for a third time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 2021 and ‘22, the Porsche series raced as part of the marque’s Sports Car Together Fest. For the new season, the series joins the WeatherTech Championship’s return to Indy for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, Sept. 15-17.
Rennsport is the German word for “race sport.” This fall, Porsche will put on a full display of its commitment to motorsport by making Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America its headline racing event at Porsche Rennsport Reunion VII from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna.
The season will conclude at a new course for the series, Circuit of The Americas. Marking its second appearance of the season with F1, this time at the United States Grand Prix, Carrera Cup North America will crown its three class and team champions Oct. 20-22 in Austin, Texas.
Deluxe Secures Naming Rights to Carrera Cup North America
After being introduced as a premier partner and team sponsor at the start of the 2022 season, Deluxe Corporation will expand its connection with Porsche, securing naming rights to Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2023. Deluxe Corporation will have branding on every car in several prominent locations. The Minneapolis-based payments and data company will also hold naming rights of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Drivers Lounge at the track and the annual Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Celebration of Champions to be presented at the season-closing event. In addition, the Porsche 911 Turbo S that paces the field will be known as the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Safety Car, providing a further branding showcase for Deluxe throughout the season both on and off the track.
Providing Deluxe touch points across the entire Porsche network, it extends the relationship to include official partnership with Porsche Cars North America as well as the Porsche Experiences Centers in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Volker Holzmeyer, president and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America: “Porsche Carrera Cup debuted with a very high standard in North America in 2021. Each year since, we have continued to focus on taking the product to the next level. With the addition of (supporting events for) F1 and NASCAR, we perfectly complement the events we offer with our traditional partners IMSA and IndyCar. This brings us very close to the mix we feel provides the best stage for our drivers, teams and partners on which to display what they do so well. This is the mix we have been striving for.
“This is shown in the journey Deluxe is taking with us. Deluxe was introduced as a premier partner in 2022, and after one year have stepped up to take a crucial role within our motorsport program within North America. Deluxe has proven to be an exceptional partner to our motorsport community through a range of bespoke products and services they have delivered to our sport, teams and partners. They have supported our entire business to ensure that the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup championship continues to deliver the bespoke program to market. We are looking forward to continue to work with Deluxe in 2023 and have our best year yet.”
Barry McCarthy, CEO, Deluxe Corporation: “Porsche and Deluxe are two of the most respected and trusted brands. Expanding our relationship to become the title sponsor of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup is a natural next step of this relationship. Coupled with our broader business relationship, this sponsorship is mutually beneficial, driving value for all.”
2023 Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America Schedule
March 15-16 Sebring International Raceway
April 14-16 Long Beach Street Course
May 5-7 Miami International Autodrome
June 22-25 Watkins Glen International
July 27-29 Road America
Sept. 15-17 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Oct. 20-22 Circuit of The Americas