WEISSACH, Germany (Dec. 12, 2016) – The PCA Club Racing Porsche GT4 Clubsport Trophy East Series capped its successful inaugural season by receiving recognition at the prestigious annual Porsche Night of Champions earlier this month in Germany.
Four members from the series attended the gala on Dec. 2 in Weissach, Germany: Vicki Earnshaw, PCA Club Racing chair, Allen Shirley, PCA Club Racing Porsche GT4 Clubsport Trophy East Series coordinator, Bryan Henderson, club racing co-chair/chief national steward, and Keith Jensen, 2016 champion in the PCA Club Racing Porsche GT4 Clubsport Trophy East Series Championship class.
Porsche paid tribute to the outstanding achievements of teams and drivers from the 2016 season during the event. Champions from numerous Porsche single-make series around the world were guests at the event, along with Porsche’s official factory and junior drivers.
“It was such a privilege for the PCA Club Racing Porsche GT4 Clubsport Trophy East Series to be included in this international event,” Earnshaw said. “The series is continuing to expand following our strong inaugural season, and we hope to continue our presence at the Night of Champions for many years to come.”
Said Jensen: “The Porsche Night of Champions was an unforgettable gala. It was an amazing showcase of Porsche’s long history of racing and their present commitment to making the best race cars on the planet available for the future, and specifically, for the 2017 season.
“My girlfriend and I were delighted by the opportunity to celebrate the evening with and for the people who make the whole series possible through enormous and selfless donations of their time, talent and expertise: Vicki Earnshaw, Bryan Henderson and Allen Shirley.”
Champions from various Porsche single-make series were recognized on stage and on a Wall of Fame at the gala. Many Porsche race cars also were on display, including the 2017 GT4 MR.
“Since the first 356 in 1948, customer racing has always been the backbone of Porsche Motorsport,” said Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. “While our works programs are having success all over the world, as well as here in North America, we have not lost focus on that key point.
“In fact, for 2016 we extended our Motorsport offerings to the club level with the successful introduction of the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. The mid-engine racer allowed us to establish one-make class racing on both the East and West Coast to provide a stepping stone for drivers interested in competing at a professional level. The natural extension was the invitation to the Porsche Night of Champions in Weissach, Germany, for the PCA Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy champion.”
The series traveled to six events in 2016 but will expand to eight events in 2017, including three new tracks for the Clubsport drivers. The second season begins March 31-April 2, 2017 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
Please click here to check out more photos from the event.