From an initiative by Porsche Italia, the Porsche Taycan Cup was born, the first all-electric single-brand race reserved for the German brand’s cars. Italy is the first country in the world to experiment with such a format, which will use Porsche Taycan Turbo GTs equipped with the Weissach package on the track.
The championship was presented at the Porsche Experience Center Franciacorta in front of a media audience who were able to experience the new format and of course Motorsport.com was present and will delve deeper into the topic soon.
The first edition, which will be held using the spectacular formula of “time attack” style challenges, is scheduled for the 2025 racing season and will join the Carrera Cup Italia, the Italian single-brand Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with which it will share the racing weekends. competition.
“We are excited to demonstrate that electric is not only the future, but can also be incredibly exciting in the present – he comments Pietro InnocentiCEO of Porsche Italia –. The Taycan, with its immediate torque and unprecedented responsiveness, offers breathtaking acceleration. Every curve enhances the connection between the driver and the car. The Taycan Cup represents a unique opportunity to explore these sensations in a competitive environment, where the passion for speed marries perfectly with innovation.”
The Taycan Turbo GT is the most powerful production Porsche ever and, for the challenges of the new single-brand series, it will be equipped with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres, developed specifically and equipped with Pirelli Elect technology specific for electrified cars, as well as presenting Inside the cockpit there is the tested marshaling system, which will facilitate the participants thanks to the real-time transmission of all the indications and communications from the race direction, aimed at respecting the format of the challenges.
In preparation for the 2025 season, Porsche Italia carried out tests on the Vallelunga circuit in Rome which involved several Carrera Cup Italia drivers behind the wheel, including the two-time champions Simone Iaquinta and Gianmarco Quaresmini, the 2021 champion Alberto Cerqui and the vice champion Diego Bertonelli.
Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package was designed specifically for use on the track, a fundamental prerequisite for the motivations of this first all-electric single-make series. The model does away with various equipment, including rear seats, in favor of an even more advantageous weight/power ratio. The car is capable of delivering up to 1,108 horsepower at maximum power with Launch Control.
The driving dynamic standards have been further raised thanks to various solutions to lighten the structure and aerodynamic optimization, with the introduction of various aerodynamic appendages on the front and bottom of the car, in addition to a large fixed rear wing. In the rear trunk, the cargo volume leaves room for a drivetrain unlike anything else in the Taycan range, capable of handling up to 50% more current on the rear axle.
A reference to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is represented by the possibility of activating the Attack Mode. The system is optimized for track driving and works in a similar way to that of the 99X that Porsche uses in the electric championship series: by operating the right lever behind the steering wheel it is possible to activate the function which makes up to 120 kW of additional power available for 10 seconds.
The left lever, still behind the steering wheel rim, activates braking energy recovery. The introduction of levers behind the steering wheel is derived from racing, similar to those of the gearbox in combustion cars, which allow the driver to focus on the track while keeping his hands firmly on the wheel.
The orientation towards the highest performance and the inclination towards track driving are further enhanced by the acceleration that the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package is able to offer, quantifiable in 2.2 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, making the two-seater a tenth of a second faster than the Taycan Turbo GT of equal power.
The maximum speed reached is 305 instead of 290 km/h and the immediate torque available reaches 1,240 Nm, while the elimination of all equipment that is not necessary for driving on the track has made it possible to save around 70 kg compared to the Taycan Turbo GT without the Weissach package.
On February 23, 2024 in California, the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach package won the title of fastest production electric car on the Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit with a time of 1’27”87 set by Lars Kern, Porsche driver and test driver . Not long before, a pre-production version of this same model had set a new class record at the Nürburgring. Again with Kern at the wheel, he lapped the Nordschleife with a time of 7’07”55.
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