Porsche Motorsport North America has joined forces with Sparco, a global leader in motorsport safety and equipment, becoming the official race suit of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
Sparco S.p.A., headquartered in Volpiano near Turin, is an Italian leading manufacturer specialized in auto parts and accessories, with a particular focus on producing top-quality racing equipment including seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear, and helmets.
Each driver contesting the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America will receive a custom-made Porsche-branded Sparco race suit as part of the new collaboration.
The Sparco brand is already a popular suit of choice for Carrera Cup competitors, including 2024 Am-class champion Mark Kvamme.
As part of the partnership, all cars entered in the 2024 championship will feature Sparco branding.
“We are pleased to announce our partnership with Porsche Motorsport North America, a collaboration that merges two leading entities in the world of motorsport and that builds upon innovation,” said Diego Lamura, Sparco Chief Marketing Officer, Global Partnerships and Sparco USA President.
“Together with Billy Deakins, Motorsport Director of Sports Cars for Sparco USA, who will oversee the further development of our collaboration with the Porsche Carrera Cup series, we’re excited to build on the prestigious partnership with Porsche Carrera Cup Italia and other countries.
“We’re excited to partner with PMNA to keep the drivers of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America equipped with the most advance safety gear available. Now Sparco USA and Porsche Motorsport North America will be able to jointly contribute to the success of the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season.”
The 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America schedule will be contested over 16 rounds on eight race weekends, including major IMSA events and three weekends in conjunction with the Formula 1 World Championship – Miami, Montreal, and Circuit of the Americas.
“We have worked closely with Sparco in the past and are thrilled to have them as one of our Carrera Cup partners in 2024,” said Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America.
“At Porsche, we place as much emphasis on safety as we do on performance, so partnering with such an outstanding motorsport safety innovator like Sparco is a great fit for our championship.”
The pre-season test for this year’s Carrera Cup championship is scheduled for March 4 and 5 at Sebring International Raceway with the opening two championship rounds at the same venue from March 13-15.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America racers over the age of 50 will compete in the newly renamed “Masters” class in 2024 – beginning with the upcoming round at Sebring International Raceway on March 13-15.
Previously known as the “Am” class – the new name better reflects the intense level of competition amongst the older competitors in the championship.
The category last year produced one of the most dramatic championship battles with MDK Motorsports drivers Mark Kvamme and Scott Noble fighting it out until the season’s final race.
“The “Masters” name is a much better description for these racers. They are really just professional drivers who began their racing career at a much later age. There is nothing amateur about how they tackle the Carrera Cup championship,” Porsche Motorsport North America President, and CEO Volker Holzmeyer said.
“Each and every one of these drivers are all highly successful in their day-to-day business activities, and they bring that same hunger for success into Porsche Carrera Cup North America.”
Entrants for the Masters class are beginning to be revealed, with GMG Racing today confirming a two-car team in the class, alongside team owner James Sofronas, who is contesting the Pro-Am class.
Sofronas hopes to turn his debut success at Circuit of the Americas last year into continued success in the Pro-Am class. Teammate Kyle Washington is another series returnee to lead GMG’s Masters assault.
Series newcomer Ofir Levy is planning to make his series debut in round two of the championship at the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix. He is part of GMG Racing’s driver development program based at The Thermal Club in California.
Washington delivered GMG’s first major podium finish of the season with a third-place showing in the opening race in Miami.
“I’m totally stoked to be able to race some of the Porsche Carrera Cup venues this year in completely sold-out fields,” Washington said.
“I firmly believe that there is no higher-end spec racing than Carrera Cup. Being a Canadian citizen, I’m really looking forward to the Montreal F1 race. Those French-Canadian people are wild and some of the world’s best race fans! If you’ve never been, make sure you hit that one.”
Despite years of experience in Porsche machinery, team owner Sofronas had not raced in Carrera Cup previously before debuting and taking two wins in the final round of 2023 in Pro-Am.
“Carrera Cup is important for GMG because it is the highest level of Porsche single-make series in North America,” Sofronas said.
“In our street car performance tuning business, we really like to take advantage of the data transfer and gain some knowledge on that chassis as it parlays into the 992 GT3 and RS Porsches we offer.
“Kyle closed last year’s Carrera Cup season strong at COTA in a stacked field with a pair of top-five finishes, and I think the ‘respect the bumps’ nature of Sebring will suit his driving style. He is looking forward to turning his first laps at Sebring.”
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.
Teams competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship will have additional opportunities to prepare and test for the 2024 season, thanks to a new partnership between Porsche Motorsport North America and Apex Driving Events.
Apex Driving Events is the new official testing partner for Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The team at Apex has run the annual Carrera Cup pre-season test at Sebring International Raceway for the past three years, and the new partnership formally extends that relationship for not only the upcoming 2024 test, but other events throughout the season.
Founded in 2014, Apex provides racers and race teams with the opportunity to test at major circuits throughout the US. In addition to circuit availability, Apex events also provide hospitality and catering, live timing, physiotherapy services, photography and video, as well as track marshals and safety services.
The 2024 pre-season test for the fourth season of Porsche Motorsport North America will be held at Sebring from March 4-5 – just after the opening round of the 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, which will be run at the same venue from March 1-3.
“Our partnership with Porsche Carrera Cup North America presents an exciting opportunity for us to be involved with an amazing brand that has an unbelievable pedigree in motorsport,” said Dan Bloom – one of the founders of Apex Driving Events with Calvin Connors.
“Porsche Carrera Cup is one of the most exciting single-make championships in North America, but has a global pedigree that allows racers to compete in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars all over the world.
“Apex has been involved with Carrera Cup and the annual pre-season test for the past three years, and we’re very excited to take our relationship to the next level.”
Throughout the 2024 season, Apex Driving Events will have additional test opportunities for teams to complete valuable testing miles at major circuits, including Watkins Glen, Road America, Road Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas.
“When we started ten years ago we were looking to create an opportunity for the motorsport enthusiasts to get on the racetrack and to drive their car in a structured environment with professional coaching,” Bloom said.
“And we’ve effectively grown over the years to better facilitate that experience for our clients – many of whom have gone on to race in Sprint Challenge and Carrera Cup.
“We also have an invite-only policy, so you need to request an entry to an event, and we make sure that the circuit is not overcrowded. We also ensure the cars that any competitor is on track with are either exactly the same or a similar speed.”
The 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season looms as the most competitive seen yet in the championship, with capacity fields of Porsches competing over three classes at major circuits like Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, Indianapolis, and Road Atlanta as well as three Formula 1 support events in Miami, Montreal, and Austin.
“The team at Apex Driving Events has done an exceptional job for us in the past with the Carrera Cup pre-season test, and we are delighted to extend that relationship into a more formal partnership,” said Volker Holzmeyer, Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO.
“As our official test day partner, Apex will provide opportunities for our customers in Carrera Cup to be exceptionally well prepared for major races throughout the season.
“These test events will make it far simpler for our teams who don’t have to go to the trouble of renting a circuit, feeding their team, or physically caring for their drivers. These are important logistics which can now be handled in their entirety by the team at Apex.”
Jordan Wallace is set to become the first African American racer to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup North America when he lines up for Kellymoss in the 2024 championship starting next month.
With backing from Vision Motorsports, Wallace will drive the No. 23 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the hotly-contested Pro-am class – hitting the track for the first time at the Carrera Cup pre-season test at Sebring International Raceway on March 4-5.
Wallace made a name for himself in karting first – competing at the highest levels and earning distinction as an elite driving instructor. He successfully transitioned to sportscar racing in 2021 with impressive results – two wins and four podiums – making history as the first African American to win a Porsche Sprint Challenge race – taking a pair of wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Following this performance, Wallace completed successful seasons in Europe, racing in both DTM Trophy and the SRO GT4 series. During his time overseas, Wallace continued to collect podiums and points in an ultra-competitive racing environment.
“Not only are we pleased to welcome Jordan to our team because of his promising racing track record, collaborative team spirit, and incredible drive to perform and grow, we are thrilled to lead once again with important first steps in one of our foundational Porsche racing series,” said Victoria Thomas, CFO and co-owner, Kellymoss.
“At Kellymoss, a critical component of our mission is to generate growth in motorsports. We know that expanding diversity, enhancing accessibility, and creating opportunity for all – drivers, teams, sponsors, and fans – is key to the future of this vibrant and robust industry. Seeing more minority participation in high-level racing series is an important step in the right direction.”
Alongside its pair of Pro-class championship Carrera Cup wins, Kellymoss has also been the Pro-Am champion in the past two seasons, with Alan Metni triumphant in 2022 and Efrin Castro successful last year.
“It’s a dream come true! I am so grateful to Vision Motorsports, Kellymoss, and my sponsors for enabling me to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America,” Wallace said.
“I’m honored by their belief in my dream and talent and their commitment to helping break down barriers to entry, making the sport more accessible for all.”
After the pre-season test, the Porsche Carrera Cup teams will return to Sebring International Raceway for the opening round of the championship from March 13-15.
While this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona features two former Porsche Carrera Cup North America champions on pole in both the GTD Pro and GTD classes – the entire field also is full of former cup stars from around the world.
Inaugural Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion Seb Priaulx put his AO Racing Porsche on pole last weekend in the team’s debut in the GTD Pro class – a popular result for the legion of fans of “Rexy” – their dinosaur livery.
The No.77 car is full of former cup aces. German ace Lauren Heinrich – a former Porsche junior – is making his debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship alongside Priaulx.
The German racer is a former German Carrera Cup champion, a two-time Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race winner, and even has a pole and race victory to his credit at Road Atlanta in Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
These two will be joined by factory driver Michael Christensen. The Dane will return to Porsche Penske Motorsport for the FIA WEC this year, but he initially kicked off his career in the Porsche ladder system – collecting wins in both Supercup and the German series.
The GTD class for the Rolex 24 at Daytona features another North American champion on the pole – 2022 series winner Parker Thompson.
While the Porsche family is thrilled to see our champions progress with the brand – other manufacturers look to Carrera Cup to find new talent as well. Thompson’s 2022 success put him on the radar for Lexus. He was part of their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s endurance roster last year and has graduated to a full-time seat in 2024.
Parker Thompson
But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to former Carrera Cup aces contesting this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 GTP squad is full of former Carrera Cup alum. Nick Tandy (2011 German champion and Supercup series runner-up); Mathieu Jaminet (2016 French champion and Supercup racer); Matt Campbell (2016 Australian champion and Supercup racer winner) and Kevin Estre (2011 French and 2013 German champion. Supercup series runner-up) all used Carrera Cup competition to launch their careers.
The complete list is extensive. Former champions competing this weekend in Porsche machinery includes:
- Factory ace and FIA WEC Porsche 963 racer Fred Makowiecki (2008 and 2010 French champion) – racing for Wright Motorsport at the Rolex 24
- Richard Westbrook (2-time Supercup champion) – JDC Motorsport
- Larry ten Voorde (Multiple Supercup, German, and Italian champion) – MDK Motorsport
- Julien Andlauer (former French and German champion) – Kellymoss
- Thomas Preining (2018 German champion) – Andretti Motorsport
- Klaus Bachler – who recorded the fastest GTD class time in qualifying for MDK Motorsports is another racer with a Carrera Cup pedigree.
Additionally, two-time Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen will be in action for BGB Motorsport in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition today.
Clockwise from top: Richard Westbrook, Mathieu Jaminet, Kevin Estre, Nick Tanker, Fred Makoweicki, Matt Campbell
Other Cup notables and champions may have “left the nest,” – but we still look back on their time in Porsche Carrera Cup competition with pride, including Rene Rast, Philipp Eng, Earl Bamber, Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly, Connor De Phillippi and Dennis Olsen.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is renowned as the ultimate in Carrera competition, and its list of past competitions includes a few surprises. Kellymoss racer Alec Udell also has a Supercup start in 2016, while Roman De Angelis, MDK Motorsports team owner Mark Kvamme, and even Madison Snow’s mom – Melanie Snow (2011) have raced in the series.
2023 Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion and Michelin Pilot Challenge debutant Riley Dickinson has a Silverstone Supercup start to his credit in 2022. He and fellow Cup ace Michael McCarthy teamed with Brady Golan yesterday to score a Michelin Pilot Challenge victory on debut aboard a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS (pictured below).
With another massive season of Carrera Cup action taking place around the world in 2024 – next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona field is sure to include even more ex-cup racers.
Mathieu Jaminet
Fred Makowiecki
Matt Campbell
Nick Tandy
Porsche Carrera Cup North America continues to stamp itself as a key development stepping stone for stars of the future, with 2023 Cup Pro-class champion Riley Dickinson and his Kellymoss teammate Michael McCarthy set to debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Championship in 2024.
Dickinson and McCarthy will drive the No.91 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS in the series which kicks off at Daytona next week with the four-hour opening round held in conjunction with the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
As with the Kellymoss GTD program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Wisconsin-based Carrera Cup powerhouse will join forces with Riley Motorsports for the campaign.
The Texas-based Dickinson won his first-ever Carrera Cup round in Indianapolis in 2022 and pulled off a record-breaking 11-win season in 2023 to take the championship and be selected to represent Porsche Motorsport North America in the annual Porsche Junior Shootout staged last year in Portugal.
“I’m super excited to be back with Kellymoss for 2024 and to be paired up with Michael for our full-season effort in Michelin Pilot,” Dickinson said.
“We’ve already built a great relationship, being teammates in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. So, I’m quite confident that we will hit the ground running in a few days time at Daytona. I’m very much looking forward to the new challenge ahead of us this year!”
His Carrera Cup teammate McCarthy is also no stranger to success at the wheel of a Porsche. The Florida driver was the inaugural 992 champion for Kellymoss in the 2021 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama.
“I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic team and cannot wait to take on the challenges of the Michelin Pilot Challenge,” said McCarthy.
For the four-hour Daytona endurance event, the duo will be joined by another young star, Brady Golan. Golan is the son of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Cayman Am champion Jason Golan (Kellymoss) and joins the team after completing his first season of USF Juniors in 2023.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s reputation as a vital stepping stone in the Porsche “pyramid” continues with the Dickinson / McCarthy news.
Inaugural series champion Seb Priaulx (Kellymoss) is set to enter his second full season of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition this season with AO Racing.
2022 champion Parker Thompson also will race full-time in WeatherTech in 2024. The Canadian scored a part-time factory drive with Lexus off the back of his Carrera Cup championship success last year and will graduate to a full-time drive this season.
Another Kellymoss Carrera Cup ace, Kay van Berlo, scored his first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD race win last year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (with his Pro-am class championship winning Carrera Cup Kellymoss teammate, Alan Metni).
Van Berlo won a record 13 cup victories in 2021 and 2022.
On the Daytona weekend, the Dutchman will be in action at the Dubai 24-hour alongside fellow Carrera Cup alumni Grant Talkie and Curt Swearingin, GT4 America Porsche racer Richard Edge, and Fanatec GT World Challenge North America Porsche regular Pedro Torres.
The Michelin Pilot Challenge program further expands Kellymoss’ extensive 2024 race program which also will include cars Porsche Carrera Cup North America, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama.
“We are ecstatic to have Michael McCarthy and Riley Dickinson join forces for the 2024 Michelin Pilot Challenge season,” said Andy Kilcoyne, co-owner of Kellymoss.
“Both of these drivers have proven their mettle on the track, and we have every confidence that their combined talents will be a force to be reckoned with. This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering young talent and achieving excellence in motorsports.”
GMG Racing’s James Sofronas is no stranger to success at the wheel of a Porsche, including four Championship Titles in World Challenge competition.
After also running lots of Porsches in many championships for customers over the years, GMG Racing made the leap last year to enter Porsche Carrera Cup North America with Kyle Washington and Todd Parriott at the wheel in the Rafa Racing Club Pro-Am class.
To finish off the season at Circuit of The Americas, the team brought in another Carrera Cup rookie who immediately made an impact with a pair of Pro-Am victories – none other than team boss James Sofronas!
The result from Sofronas was even more remarkable, considering this was his first full weekend back behind the wheel after suffering a back injury in Fanatec GT World Challenge testing at Road America in August.
“COTA was certainly a tough test for me,” Sofronas said.
“I wouldn’t say my doctors were too pleased with my decision to compete, but I did take into account that it was an F1 weekend, so there were additional safety measures in place.
“I had participated in a very heavy physical therapy program in the months before, and then my doctor finally blessed it.
“I was anxious to get back behind the wheel because that’s the first injury I’ve ever had that’s taken me out of competition.
“It’s pretty fierce out there in Carrera Cup because regardless of what class you’re in, you’ve got 40 identical cars on track. They all accelerate the same, they all stop the same – so racecraft obviously becomes a pretty important component of that.
“I was really picking my battles where I wanted to be aggressive because I got mixed up in some of the Pro category drivers at the end of race two at COTA and managed to pass a few of them because the guys behind me were coming and I wanted a buffer from P2 in my class.”
The fierce competition at the final two rounds of the 2023 championship produced plenty of battle scars, including a very unique bit of contact that left a mark in the rear of Sofronas’ Porsche.
“Early in the race, I got hit pretty hard in the rear by Jake Pedersen (unintentional). It was funny in hindsight as I know him well from other competitions in Porsches and I know his dad as well,” said Sofronas.
“I had a bad start and was making my way back through the field. The next thing I know, I get walloped in turn 19. Luckily, I had the steering wheel mostly straight. If I had some steering angle into it, I would have been spun around 360 degrees. But it was a pretty good hit, and luckily, the Porsche is strong, the seat’s good, and the belts were great.
“It kind of shook me a little because my back was still a little sensitive. So, I managed to catch it and stay on track. I lost a bunch of spots but then managed to get those back.
“After pulling into victory lane, we noticed that Jake’s headlight assembly was still wedged firmly in the rear bumper of my car. I’ve certainly never seen anything like that before.
“Jake and I had a good laugh about it, and he apologized. I knew it wasn’t intentional, and he wasn’t trying to donate some spare parts to our team.”
Having taken GMG to victory lane in Carrera Cup competition in its first season in the championship, Sofronas is keen to return – not only with him behind the wheel but with GMG customers as well.
“Carrera Cup has a storied history as one of the highest-level single-make series in motorsports, and for us being a long committed partner with Porsche – it makes perfect sense for us to be here,” he said.
“I’ve been racing Porsches professionally for nearly 20 years, and Carrera Cup is the ultimate competition where the cars are identical, minimal setup changes can be made, and it’s flat-out sprint racing all the way.
“There’s no saving the car, the tires, or anything – it’s just flat out, wheel to wheel, cutthroat racing, which I personally like, and our like clients that love that type of platform too.
“Porsche does such a great job regulating the cars, making sure they’re identical and the specs and the regulations are very tight. So, it really comes down to driver skill at that point.
“The fact the series has multiple classes for the different age brackets is also really appealing. Some of the older guys are just not going to be able to run with “the kids,” so it’s really nice they get the opportunity to compete against guys in their age bracket.”
GMG Racing is headquartered in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, but the team has exciting plans for the future with a new Motorsport facility based at The Thermal Club – 130 miles inland from Los Angeles near Palm Springs and the Joshua Tree National Park.
“We’re very excited about the new shop. The Thermal Club is really the most prestigious, elegant motorsport facility in the world,” Sofronas said.
“The new facility is more than 28,000 square feet and can house up to 40 race cars. We’ll have access to the pit lane 25 seconds after pulling out of our garage.”
Porsche Carrera Cup North America continues to attract top international talent, with Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race winner Loek Hartog joining Kellymoss for the 2024 championship.
The 21-year-old Dutchman has enjoyed a stellar career already at the wheel of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machinery in Europe. He will now bring his talents to North America with the three-time team series champion squad, Kellymoss.
The Wisconsin team already has two driver’s championships to its credit, with Sebastien Prixaulx taking the Pro title in 2021 and Riley Dickinson completing a record-setting season last year on the way to his championship win in the Kellymoss “Racing for Children’s” entry.
“I am beyond excited to join Kellymoss in 2024 and proud to represent Racing for Children’s,” Hartog said.
“It’s the beginning of an exciting next chapter in my career and, since meeting the team, I feel really at home and am looking forward to finding out what 2024 has in store for us.”
Hartog won the Benelux Carrera Cup Championship (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) in 2020. He debuted in Supercup and scored his first German Carrera Cup podium the following year.
In 2022, he scored four pole positions and earned two podiums in Germany while also taking second place in the Rookie championship (and eighth overall) in the Supercup series, which supports Formula 1 events across the globe.
Last year was Hartog’s best season yet. He scored the fastest at the opening Supercup round in Monaco en route to fourth place and earned his first podium on home soil at Zandvoort in the Netherlands in the first of two races held that weekend.
In race two at Zandvoort, he completed the sweep – pole, fastest lap, and his first race victory.
In addition to his Supercup success, Hartog also finished second in the German championship with five pole positions, four fastest laps, eight podiums, and four victories.
He finished the year at the Porsche Junior Shootout, where he joined Kellymoss’ 2023 North American champion Dickinson as one of the drivers.
“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Loek to the Kellymoss team,” said Victoria Thomas, CFO and co-owner, Kellymoss.
“Not only are we bringing on board a young driver with limitless potential and an incredible work ethic that pairs perfectly with our performance-driven culture at Kellymoss, we’re also pleased to be part of what we see as a shift in the balance of racing achievement in the world of motorsports.
“For years, we’ve seen young drivers in the States believe the necessary next step to leveling up their careers is competing in European racing series. It’s refreshing and a testament to the growth and strength of our US programs to see a driver of Loek’s caliber reverse the paradigm and take a fresh approach.”
Hartog will make his 2024 North American debut at the opening weekend of Carrera Cup competition at Sebring International Raceway in March.
“North America continues to draw talent from around the world. Racing here is a destination, not a second choice,” said Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America.
“Young drivers are seeing they can make a lifelong career here, and Porsche Carrera Cup North America is the best platform to take that step into the arena.
“Having a driver the caliber of Loek make Carrera Cup North America his first choice for the next step in his career is a perfect example of the success the series is enjoying. Combined with Kellymoss, this will be a strong combination from the start of the season.”
Racer, TV commentator, race series director, Champ car team boss, and race team owner – JDX Racing’s Jeremy Dale has built quite the knowledge bank in the 45 years since he first climbed into a race car.
That knowledge is now being passed onto the stars of the future in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, with JDX Racing established as a championship-winning team with a clear focus on developing young talent.
JDX finished third in the inaugural season of Carrera Cup North America in 2021 with Parker Thompson and then – operating as a one-car team in 2022 – took Thompson to championship success with a run of six podiums (including three wins) in seven races to finish the season.
The team led the “British invasion” last year, with Will Martin and Alex Sedgwick finishing third and fourth in the title chase and JDX taking second place in the team’s title.
With further expansion planned for 2024 in Carrera Cup as well as Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, the season ahead looks busy for the Colorado-based squad.
“Our intention is to expand to run four cars in Carrera Cup next year. Last year, we had three guys who were brand new to the series. They had not done a race, not seen most of the tracks, but overall, I think we performed well,” Dale said.
“We’d like to bring all three back again in 2024. We feel we laid a really good foundation with each of them, and they can all be competitive in 2024.
“For JDX, Carrera Cup is all about the Pro class. The guys in the other classes are an important part of our series, but for us, it’s all about young, aspiring drivers – that’s why we’re involved in it to help move these guy’s careers forward.”
Recently announced as a member of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, Dale enjoyed a decorated career behind the wheel, starting with finishing “top of the class” at the Skip Barber and Jim Russell racing schools as well as the famous Winfield school in France.
Seven race wins in the Barber-Saab Pro Series led to a factory drive with Dodge in the IMSA Firehawk series in 1988. Dale continued to climb the steps with Dodge in IMSA GTU, a factory Nissan drive, and then as lead driver for the Brix Racing / Oldsmobile IMSA World Sports Car team.
Numerous IMSA victories, a runner-up position in the championship, and a pair of class wins at Daytona followed until 1995 when Dale’s driving career came to a sudden stop – literally.
He suffered a career-ending injury when he slammed head-on into the side of the spinning and near-stationary Ferrari 333SP WSC car of Fabrizio Barbazza at the last corner of the Road Atlanta course after Barbazza was collected in a related accident between two slower GT cars.
Multiple surgeries, a year in a wheelchair, and a year on crutches followed. He returned to the world of motorsports in 1996 as a TV commentator for ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FOX SportsNet, SpeedVision, and Speed Channel.
After years of working as a driver coach and test driver in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, in 2000, he took his first steps in guiding future young stars as Managing Director of the championship.
“When you look back at Barber Dodge, the list of stars that came through that series is pretty remarkable. Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Hunter Reay, the list is amazing.
“Helping those young guys became near and dear to my heart because people helped me when I was coming up, and it is so important. I don’t care how much money you shower at it. Without good advice and help along the way, you just can’t move forward.
“I had a lot of people help me – with driving, with building relationships in the sport, ideas, direction, and how to help navigate this as a career.
“Back then, it was much less structured than it is now. You have to be in the right place at the right time because everyone is so hyper-focused. This is the great thing about the Porsche system, and why we are involved – back then, there was no Carrera Cup, no Porsche Young Driver’s shootout, no junior programs.”
Allmendinger went on to win a Formula Atlanta championship with the Dale-run RuSPORT team which subsequently turned into a race-winning Champ Car organization from its Colorado base – now the home location for JDX.
Dale now loves seeing his drivers succeed aboard a JDX car, but seeing them progress after they have left the team makes him even prouder.
“After winning the championship with us, the fact that Parker Thompson is now a full season, fully signed, multi-year, factory driver with Lexus – there’s nothing better for us. That’s the most satisfying thing of all.
“The Porsche guys will tell you – ‘Hey, would we love to have them in the family and under the Porsche tent,’ but there is not always an opening available when they ‘cross the bridge’ – that’s the metaphor I like to use.
“When you look at Road Atlanta – it’s actually true. All the young guys in Carrera Cup would like to cross the bridge one day and move from the support paddock over the WeatherTech paddock.
“I think it gives Carrera Cup that much more credibility and that much more legitimacy when that stuff is happening. We need it to happen every year for one of these kids to come out of Cup and get an opportunity – then the new guys look at it and say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s what I need to be.’
“Anyone in the top five in Carrera Cup could step into WeatherTech or SRO and really hold their head up high and be competitive.
“That’s part of the reason why we want to run four Pro drivers because you need to keep the pipeline full. With the level of competition, you are not going to drop into Carrera Cup and dominate – you need to learn the ropes. That is exactly how Riley Dickinson progressed into a championship winner.
“For Elias da la Torre in our team last year, he had very little experience before he started, but by the last race at COTA, he was running in the top seven before he got hit and taken out – completely not his fault. I think you’ll see him make another big step next season.”
Dale and JDX are not just “filling the pipeline” in Carrera Cup, the team will continue to run in Sprint Challenge again in 2024.
“If all our plans come together, we’d like to run a couple of young drivers in Caymans in Sprint Challenge this year and start them on their path,” Dale said.
“Last year, we had Madeline Stewart in Sprint Challenge, where she finished third in the championship in the 992, and we’re working on using that as a springboard for her into 2024.
“That is the great thing about working with Porsche. They have created this amazing development program where they are really supporting young drivers. The junior programs, the female development program – nobody is even close to having what Porsche has, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
