Giltrap to Drive for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023
Feb 17, 2023
Under the guidance of two-time Le Mans winner Earl Bamber, Marco Giltrap joins what promises to be a rock-solid kiwi line up in the Aussie series with rising stars Zac Stichbury, Ronan Murphy and Callum Hedge also competing,
Giltrap has wasted no time preparing for his Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge series debut, spending this week testing at Tallum Bend in South Australia. He says,
"I'm excited to say I'll be joining Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport to race in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia; it's an absolute privilege to drive for Earl Bamber and work alongside his team. After racing a Porsche in New Zealand for almost a year, I believe with the help of Earl Bamber Motorsport and Team Porsche New Zealand, we can have some great success in 2023."
With a strong background in the Toyota 86 (GR86) racing series, Giltrap was the rookie of the year in the 2021 championship. This was followed up with a third place overall in the 2022 championship.
Later that year, he transitioned from GR86 to a Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car and was immediately successful, claiming a double-class victory in the New Zealand Endurance Championship 1-hour race (Class 2 and 3). Giltrap then teamed up with Simon Evans to win the 3-Hour GT4 class crown in a Porsche 718 GT4.
That success was enough to impress Bamber, "We are really excited to have Marco Giltrap join the team under the Team Porsche New Zealand banner. He has done a great job in Toyota 86, and we have followed what he has done closely in the New Zealand Endurance Championship in a Porsche. I think it's only a natural progression for Marco, and so far he has impressed us in testing. He and Zac will be a great combination and team together this year for the Sprint Challenge, hopefully getting a lot of podiums and race wins for Team Porsche New Zealand."
In just a couple of seasons, Team Porsche New Zealand has established itself as a gold-plated opportunity for young kiwi racers looking to make it in tin-top racing.
"It's great to see a growing pool of young kiwi drivers competing in Porsche racing in Australia", says Greg Clarke, General Manager of Porsche New Zealand, "We're looking forward to seeing both Marco and Zac go head-to-head this season."
Matthew Payne, the first Team Porsche NZ driver, will make his top-level Australian Supercar debut next month.
