Inaugural Porsche Endurance Trophy to be decided at GT New Zealand Finale

The first Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand will be decided at the upcoming final round of the Summerset GT New Zealand Championship at Hampton Downs from 15-17 March 2024.

This is the first time that Porsche New Zealand has awarded this trophy, which is a factory-backed initiative to recognise the best performing 991 & 992 GT3 Cup Cars that are competing within the GT New Zealand series. With 5 rounds in total, teams have already competed in Taupo, Manfield, Ruapuna, and Cromwell, with the final round concluding at the Hampton Downs Super Sprint later this month.

“This is the first time we have been able to officially recognise Porsche customer racing in New Zealand and it’s been exciting to see the competitors go head-to-head at the first four rounds,” commented Nathan Pilcher, Motorsport Coordinator, Porsche New Zealand.

“We have seen a different winner at each round so we are expecting a fight to the finish line, and it could be anyone’s trophy for the taking.”

**Porsche’s racing in the GT New Zealand Championship**

There is a total of 225 points up for grabs over 3 races during the weekend, with the top three competitors to be announced at the GT New Zealand prize-giving at the conclusion of the Hampton Downs Super Sprint event. The winner of the Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand will also be invited to be recognised by Porsche Motorsport at the “Night of Champions” awards ceremony in Germany in late 2024.

The final round will see a fight for the title, with the top three competitors all heading into the weekend with the opportunity to take out the Trophy title.
Sam Fillmore is currently leading the Trophy series on 728 points after winning the first round at Taupo in a 992 GT3 Cup Car as well as placing 2nd in the most recent round at Highlands.

Following closely, Luke Manson is in second on 712 points and was the last round winner at Highlands in a 992 GT3 Cup Car. At the upcoming Hampton Downs round, Luke’s 16-year-old son Seb Manson will also be on the track up in a 991.2 GT3 Cup Car for a father and son head-to-head showdown.

In third, Rick Armstrong is also competing in a 992 GT3 Cup Car and is entering the final round with 697 points after finishing 2nd at two of the rounds so far.

Fillmore, Armstrong, Manson, as well as Matt Whittaker, have all been announced to be competing with International Motorsport (IMS) in the upcoming New Zealand round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia which will join the Repco Supercars Championship at the ITM Taupo 400 on April 19-21.