Impressive Porsche rookie Michael Almond will make his Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia debut this weekend when the one-make sports car championship hits the Sydney streets.

The talented South Australian made his car racing debut at the opening round of the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series, placing third in his maiden Porsche appearance.

Almond finished sixth outright in the Porsche series and found success in select Touring Car Masters and Australian GT Championship races throughout the season, including the latter’s past round at the Armor All Gold Coast 600.

Almond will now line up with South Australian outfit Team BRM for the Sydney Olympic Park event.

“I’m very exciting to have the opportunity to race alongside guys like Craig Baird and Daniel Gaunt. It’s going to be a great experience and I just want to enjoy the weekend and get through all three races unscathed,” said Almond.

“I’ve been in the seat of a race car a fair bit over the past six weeks so I’m feeling good in the car. I’ve never actually driven the 2011-model GT3 Cup car but I’ve had a season’s experience in the previous model Porsche in GT3 Cup Challenge. It will be an interesting transition but I’m sure it won’t be too unfamiliar.”

After experiencing his first taste of street circuit racing at October’s Armor All Gold Coast 600 in the Australian GT Championship, Almond knows what to expect at the concrete-lined Sydney street circuit.

“The Gold Coast circuit has similar characteristics to the Sydney Olympic Park circuit; it’s a different layout but both are tight circuits lined with unforgiving concrete barriers. The Gold Coast round was my first time racing on a street circuit; from that experience I learned a lot and feel well prepared for my Carrera Cup debut this weekend.”

The Sydney round of the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia championship is the final round of the 2012 season.