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Porsche Asia interfere with FIA calendar – and deny Baird title shot

Thursday 14 October 2010, 9:40PM

By Triple X Motorsport

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New Zealand's Craig Baird, the leader of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series, is in doubt to sew up the title following the addition of an extra event by organisers that clashes with the start of his New Zealand title defence campaign.
New Zealand's Craig Baird, the leader of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series, is in doubt to sew up the title following the addition of an extra event by organisers that clashes with the start of his New Zealand title defence campaign. Credit: Triple X Motorsport
New Zealand's Craig Baird, the leader of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series, is in doubt to sew up the title following the addition of an extra event by organisers that clashes with the start of his New Zealand title defence campaign.
New Zealand's Craig Baird, the leader of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series, is in doubt to sew up the title following the addition of an extra event by organisers that clashes with the start of his New Zealand title defence campaign. Credit: Triple X Motorsport

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) management has come under fire for altering dates sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) by the series leader Craig Baird and his New Zealand based Triple X Motorsport team.

Their rookie year in the illustrious manufacturer series has seen them fight off intense competition to hold a slender lead after what was calendared to be the penultimate event for the 2010 season. That position is now threatened by a late change to the series by sporting management that would scuttle the 40-year-old Kiwi’s chance of the title.

“In reality I have Hobson’s choice”, a disgruntled Baird revealed to the press today. “When we entered the series the dates were all set out and subsequently confirmed by the FIA. Nothing conflicted with what we were doing in New Zealand for 2010/2011. Now out of the blue and almost at the end of the series the organisers have gone outside the governing body’s approved calendar to slot in a new round.”

Baird has two championship titles to defend in New Zealand, with the 2010/2011 season starting the same weekend as the proposed Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race in China (5-7 November).

“Our team contracted to both series on the basis of there not being any date clashes,” he added.
Team Principal Shane McKillen of Triple X Motorsport says there appears to be little regard for rules in a series that has provided the team with fantastic competition in their inaugural international season.

“Quite simply they have opted to extend the season without regard to the International Sporting Code which governs the running of the series,” he said from his New Zealand base.
“Despite the team’s legal advisers taking this to the organisers, bigger interests seem to be involved in their decision.”

“Ultimately it is the Porsche brand that will be tarnished by their lack of authority to abide by a set calendar – which will effectively deny Baird a fair chance of competing for the title. We entered in good faith and for the chance to win – without breaking or infringing our own contracts.”

Having completed eight races out of the original 10 scheduled for 2010, Baird leads defending champion Christian Menzel (Germany) by a slender four points.

“To date this series has been fantastic in its competitive nature and has run on and been a supporter to Formula One events. However what international team or driver would ever contemplate running in this series in the future if the organisers can add rounds ad hoc to suit themselves and the outcome?”

“Hopefully a successful resolution will be obtained before the team is committed to sending its team to Shanghai for what should be the final round on the 22/23 October,” McKillen said.

Currently the team are in last minute discussions with the local ASN (National Sporting Authority) and the FIA to see whether they will intervene before the event is run as a championship round.
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For further information contact
Shane McKillen Martin Fine
Team Principal Team Legal Counsel
+6421908600 +64 274 957313


2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship points (after round 8 of 10) – top five

1, Craig Baird, NZL, 120
2, Christian Menzel, GER, 116
3, Marchy Lee, HKG, 106
4, Mok Weng Sun, SIN, 96
5, Rodolfo Avila, MAC, 79