At a glance
- Up-and-coming racing talents aged between 18 and 22 taking part
- Competition in Cologne and at the Autódromo Internacional Algarve
- Simracing professionals Job and Collins in a separate selection process
By receiving an invitation to the selection process, the candidates have reached an important milestone in their motorsport careers: the door to a professional career stands open for a Porsche Junior. They can look forward to comprehensive support from Porsche Motorsport, covering all relevant aspects of a professional career. In addition, they will receive financial support for the 2027 season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Ideally, the new Porsche Junior will also compete in one of the regional Porsche Carrera Cups.
The candidates are aged between 18 and 22. Each was nominated by one of the twelve national Carrera Cups. The selection process took place at two venues. At the Porsche Esports Performance Centre (PEPC) in Cologne, the programme included medical checks to assess physical fitness, reaction times and concentration. In in-depth interviews – some of which were filmed – the judges assessed the participants’ fundamental character traits. Extensive sim-racing sessions rounded off the two days. For professional racing drivers, training in the simulator has long been part of their daily routine.
At the Portuguese Formula 1 circuit near Portimão, the Junior contenders were treated to many of the elements of a Carrera Cup weekend: free practice sessions, a qualifying and a race distance. Once again this year, they impressed with their high standard of driving skill. All participants took to the track with identical equipment and under comparable conditions. The competition featured Porsche 911 Cup race cars.
“For us, it’s all about ensuring the greatest possible equality of opportunity: it’s the participants who should make the difference, not external conditions,” emphasises Junior Coach Sascha Maassen. The former Porsche factory driver looks after the Juniors before, during and after the race weekends. Maassen is also a member of the selection jury. “We fulfil this responsibility with great care, for example by offsetting weight advantages and disadvantages as far as possible. Naturally, fast lap times and a flawless performance in the 911 Cup play an important role. However, we also look at how the candidates behave off the track: what feedback they give on the car, how they work with the engineers, whether they are capable of learning and can motivate a team. As a representative of the brand, a Porsche Junior must also be able to handle media duties. Ultimately, it’s the overall package that the talented drivers offer us that counts.”
In total, the drivers completed 571 laps on the 4.653-kilometre Autódromo Internacional Algarve. Over the two days on track, they covered a total of 2,656.9 kilometres. Despite changeable conditions at the start, there were no incidents of note.
“For one of our twelve participants, this could mark the start of a very special journey with Porsche Motorsport. Through the five-day shoot-out programme, we aim to identify who possesses not only the speed but also the personality, the right attitude and the potential to become the next Porsche Junior at the start of the 2027 season,” explains Jasmin Steidle-Faas, Porsche Motorsport Team Management Junior Programme. “A strong network of experts will work with the talent across a wide range of areas. Our aim is for the Porsche Junior to get the very best out of themselves, both as a racing driver and as a professional.”
Porsche Esports Supercup: From digital to real-life racing driver
Since the 2026 season, the Porsche Esports Supercup has been following a new development programme. It paves the way for the winner to move from the sim-racing rig into the cockpit of a real racing car. Prior to this, five of the 32 finalists in the global sim-racing one-make cup had qualified for a separate assessment. Porsche utilised the infrastructure of its Junior programme for this. After the start in Cologne, the top two candidates travelled to Portugal alongside the Junior contenders. Sim-racing professionals Sebastian Job and Charlie Collins made the cut. At the Algarve circuit, the two Britons had to prove themselves at the wheel of a Porsche 911 Challenge.
An overview of the Porsche Junior candidates
Antonella Bassani (Brazil, 20 years) – Porsche C6 Bank Carrera Cup Brasil
Macéo Capietto (France, 20 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup France
Pietro Delli Guanti (Italy, 22 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup Italia
Matheus Ferreira (Brazil, 19 years) – Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland
Marco Giltrap (New Zealand, 22 years) – Porsche ARbox Carrera Cup Asia
Milan Marczak (Poland, 18 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux
Tyler Maxson (USA, 22 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Clay Osborne (New Zealand, 21 years) – Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia
William Siverholm (Sweden, 21 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia
Caleb Sumich (Australia, 20 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East
Callum Voisin (Great Britain, 20 years) – Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain
Taichi Watarai (Japan, 22 years) – Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
