dOPPIO » FERDINAND CUP - PRESS RELEASE - FRANCO 2019

PRESS RELEASE - 31.07.2019

The Ferdinand Cup makes a dash for Francorchamps as curtain raiser for the European Le Mans Series!

Porsche enjoys renewed success at the Total 24 Hours of Spa, while on the greatest circuit in the world the GT2 RS Clubsport vie with the new 935, the Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Endurance Trophy championships are in full swing, and lap records at the wheel of one of Stuttgart’s models are dropping like leaves! And yet …

And yet, it is also at the wheel of the Classics and Youngtimers that the Zuffenhausen name continues to leave its mark. In this respect the Ferdinand Cup is a perfect showcase.

The Ferdinand Cup is a French championship offering circuit races for Porsche Classic machines, reserved for novice Gentlemen-Drivers and upheld amateurs. It offers the opportunity to race with a Porsche, at some great meetings and on the most beautiful circuits.

Registration per meeting is kept to a highly reduced tariff. Notwithstanding that each round of the Ferdinand Cup is comprised out of free practice and qualifying sessions, and two races of 40 to 50 minutes.

Legendary circuits …

The Ferdinand Cup is held on mythical circuits: Magny-Cours, Circuit Paul Ricard, Pau, Dijon-Prenois, Le Mans-Bugatti.

And for the first time this competition will be leaving France to turn up at …. Spa-Francorchamps! The meeting will take place on the 20th, 21st and 22nd September 2019 as curtain raiser of the European Le Mans Series, of international renown.

Simple technical regulations

Each Porsche model produced before 1995 needs only to be fitted with safety elements, homologated for the current year, and essential for circuit racing. In a nutshell, 1 Porsche + 1 (or 2) drivers + roll bar + bucket seat + harness + fire extinguisher + circuit breaker.

Tyres are of the ‘Track Days’ type to guarantee the best possible price-quality ratio and allow drivers to race in full safety on dry or wet surfaces (in other words no slicks!).

Great cars, a well-managed and accessible budget, mythical circuits, simple regulations, a wealth of driving sessions, and in a relaxed atmosphere! This is undoubtedly the recipe for a success about to appear on our horizon.

The opportunity is too good to miss for the Belgian Porsche drivers, allowing them to measure up against their French neighbours, and on their home ground. The Raidillon will decide who, out of the drivers from Gaul, is the bravest …

A Belgian promoter for the Spa-Francorchamps visit

In order to bring the Ardennes round of the Ferdinand Cup 2019 to fruition, Philippe Thissen will be the event’s Belgian promoter. “Initially in contact with the organisers with a view to competing in one of their races, I was so seduced by the DNA of the Ferdinand Cup that I promptly proposed to be their Belgian promoter, Philippe Thissen explained. My initial contact with the Belgian Gentlemen Drivers reinforced this choice: many are enticed by the formula, offering the possibility to enjoy renewed competition fun at a more gentlemanly pace and budget!”

And the grand final in … Florida!

Worth noting that the final round of the Ferdinand Cup 2019 is scheduled to be held in the United States, on the occasion of the 500 Miles of Miami, a 4 hours race on 30th November and 1st December at the Homestead Miami track, where a fortnight earlier the final round of the NASCAR will take place!

Photos :

Information :

Philippe THISSEN
+32 473 744 585
pht@doppio.be