The Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship has experienced an influx of drivers making the move from Europe to compete in the US. However, for Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup racer Yves Baltas, his 2024 American challenge will be a homecoming.
The 22-year-old New Yorker has signed with MDK Motorsports after an extensive European career, which began at only 14 years of age!
Baltas will drive the No.24 Ease Logistics-sponsored Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Pro class – one of several soon-to-be-announced Pro entries for 2024.
Last year, Baltas drove for Pierre Martinet by Alméras in Supercup competition – doing battle at major Formula 1 events, including Monaco, Silverstone, Spa, and Monza.
His European career began in Formula 4 in 2016. The then 14-year-old drove for Arden International, and did battle against the likes of Oscar Piastri (his Arden teammate) and Logan Sargent.
His open-wheel journey continued in 2018 and 19 in Euro Formula and Formula Renault, but his big break came in 2020 when he was signed to race in Japan’s Super Formula championship by the Honda-backed B-Max team.
His and Japanese dreams were shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Japan closing its doors to international visitors.
He tested in Formula 2 in 2021 before making the leap into Supercup last season.
“I’m beyond excited to be back racing in the US after several years in Europe,” Baltas said.
“To come back to a championship like Porsche Carrera Cup North America is definitely something I’ve wanted to do, and this season, with such an awesome calendar, I definitely made the right decision.
“I am really looking forward to a very competitive and action-filled 2024.”
While team owner Mark Kvamme came away with the Am class championship win in 2023, the MDK squad is looking to return to victory lane in the Pro class for the first time since 2022, when Trenton Estep won three races in Carrera Cup.
Baltas is looking forward to his upcoming MDK Motorsport debut at the Porsche Carrera Cup North America pre-season test on March 4-5.
“Finding such a new team with so much professionalism and ambition to win is hard to find in motorsports. Working with MDK has been a pleasure so far, and I’m feeling a strong season ahead of us,” Baltas said.
