MOTORSPORT – BAHRAIN is set to host two rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East (PCCME) in its 2025-26 season.
Organisers of the region’s most prestigious one-make motor racing series announced yesterday the calendar for the new championship, which is scheduled to flag off in the kingdom in November with the first of six meetings, which are to continue until April of next year. The campaign will feature 12 races in all, two apiece in each of the weekends, three of which will be held in support of Formula One grands prix.
Drivers will compete across Pro, Pro-Am, Masters, and GCC categories in Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup cars, which will feature anti-locking brake systems and traction control.
The season-opener scheduled for November 6 to 8 will be held in support of the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, the final round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), set to take place at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
Round two will then be held November 28 to 30 supporting the Formula One Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 at Lusail International Circuit. That will be the PCCME’s last event of the calendar year.
Action resumes in 2026 with round three at Dubai Autodrome in the UAE on January 24 and 25. The series will remain in the Emirates for round four, set to take place January 31 and February 1 at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The fifth and penultimate meeting will then be back in Sakhir from April 10 to 12 in support of the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026. The curtain will then come down on the PCCME season at Jeddah Corniche Street Circuit from April 17 to 19, supporting the Formula One STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
In last season’s PCCME, Germany’s Janne Stiak was crowned the 2024-25 champion. He secured the overall title with three races still to go, making for a dominant run. Bankcy from Japan became the first-ever title winner in the Masters category, which was launched last year. Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al Saud, meanwhile, was crowned champion of both the Pro-Am and GCC classes, while Saudi Racing were the PCCME’s teams’ champions.
The PCCME is well-established as the proven path for regional drivers to accelerate their careers in motor racing.
Launched in 2009, 2025-26 will be its 17th season. Over the years, the PCCME has gained recognition as one of the most professional and successful championships in the Middle East, and in 2023 it was upgraded to the PCCME, making it one of 12 Carrera Cups in the world.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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