It ain't over until it's over, as the saying goes. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racing cars based on the outgoing 997 model will continue racing at least until the end of 2013 season, according to an announcement from Porsche Motorsport North America. The car has just started the 2012 racing season by sweeping the podium in the GT category at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Three 911s finished on the podium, beating the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Audi.

"As with previous models of the 911 GT3 Cup cars, it takes some two years for the race car design to be completed based on a new street car, so we anticipate the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (type 997) to be the racing platform through at least the 2013 racing season. Meanwhile, we have a limited number of 2012 Cup cars and will have a limited number of 2013 Cup cars that have no specification changes," said Jens Walther, President of Porsche Motorsports of North America. He also pointed out that the Cup car has remained essentially the same since 2010.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car is the defending Rolex Grand-Am GT champion, as well as the defending SCCA Pirelli World Champion title-holder and the SCCA GT2 Club Racing National Champion. It is the spec car for the American Le Mans Series GT Challenge, the International Motor Sports Association GT3 Challenge by Yokohama, and the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada. Cup cars are also popular in Porsche Owners Club and Porsche Club of America racing. "The whole Porsche family is excited about the new Porsche 911 street car, but there is so much more to be accomplished in 2012 and 2013 with the current 911 GT3 Cup," said Walther.