Talented youngsters pursue a professional motor racing career

26/09/2017

Nine drivers have just one goal: to become professional racers – and preferably with Porsche. The main objective of the two-day test for prospective Porsche Juniors at the Lausitzring was to select the most promising drivers to become the recipient of a scholarship for a Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign.

The international candidates, who were nominated by the Porsche one-make series of their respective countries, took part in a selection process involving various driving modules in the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In addition to their driving skills, their ability to work with the Porsche engineers played a decisive role.

Julien Andlauer (Porsche Carrera Cup France), Will Bamber (Porsche Carrera Cup Asia), Rodrigo Baptista (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil), Charlie Eastwood (Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain), Jake Eidson (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA), Philip Morin (Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia), Dylan O’Keeffe (Porsche Carrera Cup Australia), Riccardo Pera and Alessio Rovera (both Porsche Carrera Cup Italia) are this year’s aspirants for a spot in the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme. The new Porsche Junior will be announced in a few weeks after extensive evaluation of all data and factors from the Lausitzring. He can look forward to an attractive support package. The new Porsche Junior receives 225,000 Euro towards a season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. In addition to this funding, the successful candidate will receive support in the fields of driver mentoring, fitness, psychological training and media relations as well as integration into public relations activities.

Flying the flag for Italy is the young 18-year-old Riccardo Pera from Lucca and 22-year-old Alessio Rovera from Varese. With two race weekends left on the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia calendar, the pair currently ranks first and second respectively. Porsche Carrera Cup Australia has nominated Dylan O’Keeffe. The 19-year-old from Down Under sits fifth in the championship and travelled from his home in Melbourne to take part in the shootout on the Lausitzring. Philip Morin is 21 years old and comes from the Swedish town of Lulea. He represents Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia in which he currently ranks fifth. Jake Eidson contests this year’s Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA and at the moment holds the lead. The 22-year-old American lives in Littleton/Colorado.

Jennifer Biela-Moll: “Once again we have a very talented driver line-up this year”

Charlie Eastwood was put forward by Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, where he ranks first in the overall classification. Eastwood is 22 years old and was born in Ireland. Nominated by Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil, Rodrigo Baptista received an invitation to attend the shootout. The 21-year-old Brazilian has one race weekend left in his series and currently lies in second place. The New Zealander Will Bamber studied product design and decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Earl. Earl Bamber won the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2014 and has scored two victories at Le Mans. His 23-year-old brother lives in Kuala Lumpur and contests the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. With three rounds to contest, Will Bamber is sitting in third place. At 18 years of age, Julien Andlauer is the youngest participant in the shootout. He lives in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon and is the current leader of the Porsche Carrera Cup France after clinching five wins from seven races.

“Once again we have a very talented driver line-up this year. I’m impressed at how local markets are playing an active role in the one-make race series and are sending top-quality drivers from their national youth development programmes to take part in our junior shootout,” says Jennifer Biela-Moll, head of the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme.