Oliver Bryant and Kyle Tilley Wins 2L Cup Championship in Estoril

After an exciting five-race season, Kyle Tilley and Oliver Bryant have claimed the Peter Auto 2L Cup championship, securing podium finishes at every round with their No. 60 Era Motorsport Porsche 911 SWB, known as “The Queen of Diamonds.”

The 2L Cup is a one-make series that celebrates the legendary Porsche 911 SWB, powered by the iconic 2.0L flat-six engine.

After competing in select races in late 2023, including a stop at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Era Motorsport entered the 2024 2L Cup in the Elite category, with two-time champion Bryant and Rolex 24 winner Tilley sharing driving duties for the season’s 90-minute races on some of Europe’s most famous circuits.

The pair kicked off the season with two third-place finishes at the Mugello Classic and Spa Classic. They then extended their points lead with back-to-back wins at the Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or at Dijon-Prenois and the Dix Mille Tours at Paul Ricard Circuit.

With podium finishes in the first four rounds, a solid result at the Estoril Classics would secure the championship title. After qualifying second, Tilley started the final race on the front row, leading the first ten laps before engaging in a fierce battle for podium positions with Marino Franchitti and Phil Quaife. At the halfway point, the top drivers handed over their cars after pitting.

Despite falling back after their Elite-class pit stop time minimum, Bryant pushed hard, eventually reclaiming third place on the final lap to secure the podium and clinch the overall championship title for the season.

“I’m thrilled to win the championship with Era Motorsport and our beloved 2-litre 911,” said Bryant. “This is my third overall title in the 2L Cup and Kyle’s first, which makes it even more special. We were on the podium at every race, with three third-place finishes and two wins—it was a tough but rewarding competition.”

“Kyle really came into his own this season,” Bryant continued. “He ended the year with his strongest stint yet, battling for the lead and keeping us in contention. I’m incredibly proud of the entire Era Motorsport team, and I can’t wait to do it again next year!”

Tilley was equally ecstatic to win his first 2L Cup championship. “I’m still in disbelief,” he said. “We came into this season with only a few races under our belts with 'The Queen of Diamonds' and expected to spend more time developing the car. But the team at the UK workshop set up an incredible machine from the start.”

“Olly is a true master of driving these classic 911s, and it’s been an honour to share the car with him,” Tilley added. “A huge thanks to our mechanic, Lee Woodhams, who has fine-tuned this car to perfection. His hard work was key to our five straight podiums, two wins, and ultimately, the championship.”

In addition to their success in the 2L Cup, Era Motorsport brought the famous ex-G-Force Racing “Blue Coral” Porsche 993 GT2R out of retirement for the Peter Auto Endurance Racing Legends series. Tilley and Marino Franchitti shared driving duties, securing a win and a second-place finish in the GT2A class—an impressive feat for the car’s first race since 2008.

Franchitti expressed his excitement, saying, “When Kyle asked me to drive the 993 GT2, I couldn’t say no. It’s a car I’ve always admired but never had the chance to race. Despite some technical challenges, we had a blast and brought home great results.”

Tilley echoed the sentiment, adding, “I’ve had a model of this exact car in my office for years, so to take it out of retirement and win with Marino was a surreal and special moment.”

With the conclusion of the Estoril Classics, Era Motorsport wraps up their 2024 season with Peter Auto, but the team is set to compete in several remaining events, including the final round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Petit Le Mans this weekend, followed by the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Masters Historic Racing at the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.