Callum Hedge Joins Team Porsche New Zealand For 2022
Dec 22, 2021
In its debut 2021 Australian season, Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) has already had success in achieving its purpose – winning & creating a pathway for young New Zealand talent to advance in motorsport. Team Porsche New Zealand opened applications to the public from September until October to apply for the annual Scholarship, we had many fantastic applications to choose from and were overwhelmed by the quality of the drivers who applied. The 2022 also sees the introduction of the brand new Porsche 992 generation GT3 Cup Car to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series.
We are pleased to announce that the Scholarship driver for the 2022 season is Callum Hedge. Callum has graduated from competing in the 2021 Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge through the Team Porsche New Zealand program, to the Team Porsche New Zealand main car for the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series.
We are also pleased to announce that Ryan Wood will be competing for Team Porsche New Zealand next year in Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge.
Wood has been racing South Island endurance championship 2021, where he remained unbeaten. He previously raced in the Best Bars Toyota Championship and is set to compete in the Toyota 86 Championship which starts later this month.
"We have been really pleased with the performance of Team Porsche New Zealand and what has been achieved in such a short space of time. We are now very much looking forward to the 2022 season and what it has in store for us."
Earl Bamber: "2021 for Porsche Team New Zealand has been a fantastic season, to get our first wins in both Carrera Cup Australia and Sprint Challenge with our young drivers has been something really exciting to see, and to see how they have grown as drivers through the course of the season has been phenomenal. Obviously it's great to see Matt Payne heading on to big bright things in his future in motor racing, now to be able to promote Callum into Carrera Cup and to have Ryan Wood join us in Sprint Challenge, we are very very excited for the next steps of what 2022 will bring for Team Porsche New Zealand.
Callum Hedge: "To be selected by Porsche New Zealand and EBM to be the recipient of the Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship is a huge privilege. I am extremely thankful to have been given their trust in representing their names and brand. Without their support, racing Carrera Cup in 2022 would not be possible. I am very excited heading into the season having learned a lot in 2021 and now having a clean start in the 992 Cup Car for 2022. I can't wait to get into the season and hope I can deliver some results for the team again this year!"
Ryan Wood: "I am really excited and very privileged to be chosen to represent Porsche New Zealand and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport next year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, I look forward to seeing what results we can achieve as a New Zealand based team. My goals for next year are to win the championship and have podiums at every round. I am looking forward to learning from Earl, from a driving perspective, on a personal level, and mental skills. I am looking forward to working closely with Earl and the team to see what we can do for the future."
Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019. The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM. Two-time Le Mans 24-hour winner Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) and the North American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association).
Each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent achieving a drive in the Carrera Cup Australia. With the combination of Bamber's international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience, this scholarship provides a unique opportunity to develop upcoming New Zealand drivers' skills for international success.
Matthew Payne was the 2021 Team Porsche New Zealand Scholarship driver, in a Covid-19 effected season he achieved two pole positions and a race win. Mathew has now joined Grove Racing as their inaugural inductee into their Grove Junior Team, and it has just been announced he will compete in the full season of Super2 in 2022.
Marketing Manager
Porsche New Zealand
Stefanie McCallum
Phone: +64 27 313 1456
E-mail: smccallum@porsche.co.nz