Applications for the 2023 Team Porsche New Zealand Scholarship Open

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) is opening the application process for its Scholarship programme to support a young Kiwi talent to drive in the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series.

TPNZ has already had success in achieving its purpose – winning & creating a pathway for young New Zealand talent to advance in motorsport. In its debut Australian season, the 2021 scholarship recipient Matthew Payne achieved two pole positions and a race win in the Carrera Cup Australia. Payne has since signed with Grove Racing as the inaugural inductee into their Grove Junior Team, debuting in the Dunlop Super2 Series this year.

In 2022, Callum Hedge has been competing for Team Porsche New Zealand in the Carrera Cup Australia scholarship seat and after his maiden win in Townsville, Hedge is currently sitting in 4th place with 379 points in the Michelin Junior Drivers’ standings. In his first year with Team Porsche NZ, Ryan Wood is currently ranked second in the 2022 Michelin Sprint Challenge, the feeder series for the top-tier Carrera Cup Championship. Halfway through the race season, motorsport expert Greg Rust recently sat down with Callum and Ryan, to chat about the highs and lows of their season so far and what the future has in store: Click here to watch the interview.

Applications for the 2023 scholarship are now being accepted online and will be closing on the 13th of September: Apply Here. A short list of candidates will then be chosen for interviews and assessments before a final selection will be made.

Earl Bamber: “Our recipients of the 2022 scholarship have done an incredible job this year. Callum Hedge achieved our first ever round win for a scholarship winner, and Ryan Wood has had a fantastic season so far, also grabbing a round win and pole positions in Sprint Challenge. It’s amazing to see their progression, and now we are looking forward to choosing a new recipient for the Team Porsche scholarship in 2023.”

Porsche New Zealand General Manager, Greg Clarke: “It’s great to see ongoing success come out of the scholarship programme and it has been a pleasure following Matthew’s development after being signed with Grove racing this year. We hope to see a similar success story with Callum at the end of the Carrera Cup season as he has had great success so far in the brand new 992 GT3 Cup Car. This programme in conjunction with our support of the local Pirelli Porsche NZ Championship & Super GT New Zealand Motor Racing Series are key in our support of New Zealand Motorsport and talent.”

Porsche Cars Australia’s Motorsport Manager, Barry Hay: “It has been fantastic to witness the success the Team Porsche New Zealand drivers have had with the Earl Bamber Motorsport Team since entering both Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia and our feeder series, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia. It’s been equally rewarding to see the high regard New Zealand teams and drivers have for both our Championships, as they continue to provide the most proven pathway for young Australasian drivers to reach the highest levels of the sport both locally and internationally.”

About Team Porsche New Zealand: Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019 to provide young New Zealand talent the opportunity and pathway to advance their motorsport career in Australia. The scholarship program sees drivers competing in the Carrera Cup Australia which is a key component in the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and the feeder series, the Porsche Sprint Challenge.

The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM, whose principals are brothers Earl & Will Bamber. Two times Le Mans 24 hour winner Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Super Cup and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) & the North American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association).

It is intended that each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent achieving a drive in the Carrera Cup Australia, and a second driver in the Sprint Challenge Australia. The combination of the Bamber’s international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience provide a unique opportunity to develop their skills and succeed.