Kia and CRM Motorsport have once again joined forces to put up a trophy that promises to liven up motorsport in Portugal, promising competitiveness, fun and a lot of adrenaline at controlled costs. The recipe isn't exactly new. Remember the Honda Logo, Citroen AX, Nissan Micra or Toyota Starlet Trophy? Well, this time the chosen model is a Kia Picanto 1.0 Turbo with 140 hp.
What is the Kia Picanto GT Cup?
The Kia Picanto GT Cup is a single-brand trophy in which Drivers will drive the Kia Picanto with a 1.0 Turbo engine, 140 horsepower, front wheel drive and a five-speed manual gearbox on a calendar with speed races and rallies. Driven by Kia, this competition aims to be the launch pad for new values in Portuguese motorsport and a formula that allows more experienced drivers to continue in activity with controlled costs.João Seabra, general director of Kia Portugal, does not hide the expectation that exists around this new project. “Kia Portugal has a strong tradition of supporting motor sport in Portugal and has always invested in giving Drivers the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. The Kia Picanto GT Cup will be a rock in the pond and a new beginning in the evolution line of all those who want to start in motor sport or for those who leave karting. We will also have a class for those who, no longer being new or new, want to continue having fun at very low cost in motor racing. We're waiting for everyone on the tracks or roads in 2018 at the wheel of the beautiful Kia Picanto GT Cup” , he stated.
If your dream has always been to be a pilot, you can see the cost of participation and the conditions for the Kia Picanto Cup here:
Kia Picanto Cup Conditions
three categories
The Kia Picanto GT Cup is structured into three categories. Junior is the gateway to motorsport. Participants included there can only run if they are over 16 years old (inclusive), less than 27 years old (inclusive) and have never had a FPAK sport license, except for karting. In the Senior category, all Drivers who have already had a motoring sport license can enter (except if they have scored in national championships in the last three years). The third category is the Women's Cup, reserved for women, but which will only be a reality if there is a minimum of three teams.
Provisional calendar
With six races on the provisional calendar, the Kia Picanto GT Cup features races for all tastes. The start is scheduled for May, with the Estoril Delivery Day and ends in November, at the Estoril Racing Festival.In the six races planned, three make up the Kia Picanto GT Cup Speed Cup, while three others make up the Kia Picanto GT Cup Rally Cup. The winner of the Kia Picanto GT Cup Super Cup will be the driver with the highest combined score in the Speed Cup and Rally Cup. In this way, Drivers, who, as a matter of cost, choose to share a car, must each participate in one of the cups: speed or rallies. Thus, they are able to discuss the victory of the Cup in which they participate, but excluded from the Super Cup.
The organization of the Kia Picanto GT Cup will make 30 cars available for the first season of this promising single-brand trophy. Those interested must place the order, through the digital platform located at the following address www.kiapicantogtcup.com, until the 7th of December. The delivery of the cars is scheduled for May 6, 2018, at the Estoril Circuit (Estoril Delivery Day). There will be a raffle for the attribution of each of the 30 copies to the owners.
Concern about the return
Estoril Delivery Day is a training day for youngsters, in which they have practical and theoretical classes, and an opportunity for seniors to have their first contact with the car. The Sponsor Day will also take place at the Estoril Circuit, in September, and will be based on a co-driving action together with the sponsors of each project. Objective? Facilitate fundraising for teams and increase returns.
FPAK award to new values
One of the novelties associated with the Kia Picanto GT Cup is the way in which this competition is seen to launch new values in motor sport. The potential is such that the Portuguese Federation of Automobile and Karting will, in 2019, give one of the winners of the 2018 national karting championship the possibility to do the entire season behind the wheel of a Kia Picanto. The organization is also preparing another set of enticing prizes that it will release shortly.