THE Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia Championship heads towards a massive 21^st anniversary season this year, just one week out from the opening round at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix.

Corresponding with the launch of Porsche Cars Australia’s 75^th birthday celebrations, the annual visit to Albert Park is set to provide a strong kicking off point for the seven round, 18-race championship this year.

The milestone 2026 season will kick off with a capacity 30-car grid in Melbourne, comprised of the maximum allowed 28-car regular season field, plus two guest drivers.

24 cars have lodged full season entries for what doubles as the final season for the current Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car in Carrera Cup trim.

With the exception of ‘wildcard’ entries – accepted on a case-by-case basis – grids this year are capped at 28 entries to correspond with the number of the next generation 911 Cup cars that will enter the county in advance of their 2027 season debut.

This year’s field – which will be announced in full next week – will include a broad mix of cars competing in the Pro and Pro-Am classes, ensuring deep competition in both categories.

Headlining the Grand Prix grid will be guest driver Marcus Amand, who will return for TekworkX for the Melbourne event.

The French / Finnish driver was a race winner in several part-time Aussie appearances last season before going on to be crowned joint winner of the Porsche Junior Shootout late last year.

The two most recent champions will both compete this year, the first time since 2015 that has occurred in Carrera Cup Australia.

Defending champion Dylan O’Keeffe has confirmed his return in for GWR Australia and RAM Motorsport, while runner-up Harri Jones will switch back to the team with whom he won his first of two titles, McElrea Racing, this season.

The championship will continue to feature Porsche’s in-house development pathway, with at least two of the frontrunners from last year’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia stepping up this year.

Winner Jake Santalucia, who last year became the second youngest one-make Porsche champion in Australian history, will tackle the full season with Wall Racing.

Tom Bewley, who finished third in the Sprint Challenge series, will step into Carrera Cup this year continuing his relationship with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport, with more names graduating to be confirmed.

The full grid for the Australian Grand Prix event will be announced early next week.

“We’re very pleased with the grid assembled this year,” Porsche Cars Australia Senior Motorsport Manager Craig Nayda said.

“It bucks a previous trend that has sometimes seen the final year of a Carrera Cup model traditionally being one where grids drop off. It shows that, with our revised calendar and race formats in place this year, the value proposition of Carrera Cup remains strong, as does the desire of teams and drivers to be at the front of the queue when the (992.2) 911 CUP comes to market later this year.

“Our mixture of Pro and Pro-Am competitors will be much broader this season with a balance of numbers across both categories, which at this early stage each look to be extremely competitive.

“And the continued progression of drivers through the Porsche Motorsport pathway here in Australia is pleasing to see – the young talent getting an opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level is the goal.

“It’s going to be exciting for our teams and drivers to launch the year at the Australian Grand Prix and showcase what is going to be another fantastic season of Carrera Cup racing in Australia.”