Young Kiwi driver, Callum Hedge is the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Champion

Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship recipient Callum Hedge has taken out the championship for Porsche Carrera Cup Australia 2023.

The title was earned in the dramatic final race of the season as his main rival Jackson Walls, contacted the fence and retired on the spot, leaving Hedge only needing to finish to wrestle the title lead away.

The 20-year-old from Auckland was formally crowned champion at the annual Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia awards night held Sunday evening in Adelaide. Hedge’s remarkable season saw him crowned champion and Equity-One Professional Class winner, TAG Heuer Pro Pole Award winner, Enduro Cup winner, and the Michelin Junior champion for 2023. In addition, Hedge recently returned from contesting the Porsche Junior Shootout in Europe, with the potential of a Porsche Supercup drive if successful.

Hedge was the Carrera Cup series leader for most of the season, however, he dropped in the standings after missing the 6th round at Bathurst to compete in the Formula Regional America’s championship. Hedge managed to balance the two series and subsequently secured the Formula Regional America’s championship for 2023.

Teammate and first-year TPNZ scholarship recipient, Zac Stichbury will be replacing Callum Hedge in the Carrera Cup scholarship seat for the series next year, as Callum pursues his single-seat career in Indy NXT.

Team Porsche New Zealand also recently claimed victory in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series with driver Marco Giltrap taking out the 2023 championship last month. Marco will also be progressing to Carrera Cup Australia in 2024 with TPNZ and Earl Bamber Motorsport.

“2023 has been such an awesome year for both myself and Team Porsche New Zealand,” said Hedge.

“To wrap up the drivers championships in both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge is an awesome achievement and is a true testament to the coaching and guidance by the team at Earl Bamber Motorsport and Team Porsche New Zealand. I am so proud to have represented this scholarship program for the last 3 years and I am sad that this chapter is ending, but a new one in Indy NXT is now starting and I am looking forward to 2024.

“I will be sure to stay connected to all the team at Porsche New Zealand and continue to help and coach where I can with the future scholarship drivers. I wish Zac the best of luck in Larry in 2024!”

“It was an amazing season for Callum,” said team owner Earl Bamber.

“He matured into such a great racing driver through the years that we had him in the Team Porsche New Zealand programme. We are proud of what he has achieved, and we look forward to watching how he continues his journey into Indy NXT.”