Home Race Scheduled for Team Porsche New Zealand.
Le Mans-winner Earl Bamber has joined forces with Official Porsche Centres of New Zealand.
Dec 9, 2020
Le Mans-winner Earl Bamber has joined forces with Official Porsche Centres of New Zealand, including Giltrap Porsche, to launch a kiwi attack on the 2021 Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Australia Series under the 'Team Porsche New Zealand' banner.
The all-black car will be driven by up and coming racer Matthew Payne, who was selected out of a short-list of promising New Zealand racers. The concept championed by Bamber, who himself came through the Giltrap Group-backed A1GP system over a decade ago. Now one of the worlds tops sports-car racers, Bamber - though the EBM team he runs alongside his younger brother Will - is keen to give something back, "We are really excited about the Team Porsche NZ Scholarship. It is something we're proud to offer, and it gives a solid platform for young Kiwi drivers to aspire to from karts and other national championships. It's about providing a path-way to a professional motorsports career."
The scholarship seat will allow the KZ2 Kart Champ to race in front of a home crowd, with Carrera Cup scheduled to race in New Zealand for the first time, at November's Auckland round of the Supercars Championship. But the 18-year old already has his eye on tracks further afield "It's a real privilege and a step toward my ultimate goal of racing GT Endurance cars at famous tracks like Le Mans, Daytona, Bathurst. Nurburgring, and many more. It will be awesome to be mentored by such an accomplished driver and team, and I will take this opportunity with both hands and make them proud."
Two more young New Zealand racers will be assisted in campaigning the Porsche Sprint Challenge. Madeline Stewart and Callum Hedge will also be eligible to apply for the Carrera Cup Scholarship for the 2022 season.