Porsche Eboost Junior Program.
Program Overview
Porsche has a long tradition of not only developing winning racecars but also cultivating successful drivers who reach the pinnacle of the sport. The Porsche Motorsport Pyramid began as an informal pathway for drivers to refine their craft from novice laps to standing on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Over time, this evolved into a structured development system in Europe with the introduction of the Porsche Junior Shootout, conducted annually, with the winner securing the Porsche Junior title for the upcoming season.
In North America, young drivers now have a similar opportunity through the Porsche Junior Program and the Porsche Selected Driver Program. Each initiative provides financial support and specialized education, all with the singular focus of developing professional race drivers within the North American market.
Porsche Sprint Challenge Junior Program
The Porsche Sprint Challenge Junior Program helps drivers transition from club-level racing to professional motorsports. By expanding the junior program to Sprint Challenge, Porsche creates an essential first step in the development of young talent within North America, accelerating their growth, strengthening their skills, and maximizing performance earlier in their careers.
Selected drivers receive specialized training in key areas such as tire management, chassis dynamics, media relations, and fitness. Additionally, they compete for various prizes, including free entry into the next round and race tire packages, all designed to reward success through financial support. Junior drivers also gain access to guidance from Porsche racing legend Patrick Long and participate in the annual Porsche Junior Workshop. This two-day event provides comprehensive training in fitness, mental performance, media engagement, and sponsorship development, featuring insights from experienced athletes.
BENEFITS OF THE PORSCHE SPRINT CHALLENGE JUNIOR PROGRAM:
- The right to use the designation Official Porsche Junior Driver of Porsche Motorsport North America
- The opportunity to win a set of race tires for the junior driver who earns the most points each race weekend
- The opportunity to win free entry into the next round for the highest-scoring junior driver each race weekend
- Access to the annual Porsche Junior Workshop for education on becoming a professional race car driver
The junior driver with the highest points at the end of the season is crowned Porsche Sprint Challenge Junior Champion and earns free entry into the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series
Porsche Carrera Cup Junior Program
The Porsche Junior Program serves as a bridge between one-make racing and factory driver status, offering exceptional talent the opportunity to train with Porsche to reach peak performance at the factory level. Introduced in North America in 2021, the Carrera Cup Junior Program has continued to expand, providing increasing levels of education and financial support.
Drivers selected for the program receive training in areas such as tire management, chassis dynamics, media relations, and fitness. They also compete for financial incentives, including free entry into the next round and race tires. In addition to personal career guidance from Porsche factory drivers Patrick Long & Richard Westbrook, participants attend exclusive season-long workshops at both the racetrack and remotely, while also receiving an invitation to the annual Junior Workshop where they receive specialized instruction on fitness, mental performance, media training, sponsorships, and professional development from experienced athletes.
The selected winner of the Carrera Cup Junior Program earns the opportunity to compete in the global Porsche Junior Selection Process, where they compete against top young talent from Carrera Cup series worldwide. The ultimate prize is official Porsche Junior status, with financial backing to compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Europe the following season.
BENEFITS OF THE PORSCHE CARRERA CUP JUNIOR PROGRAM:
- The right to use the designation Official Porsche Junior Driver of Porsche Motorsport North America
- The opportunity to win a set of race tires for the highest-scoring junior driver each race weekend
- The opportunity to win free entry into the next round for the highest-scoring junior driver each race weekend
- Multiple exclusive Porsche Junior Workshops which take place throughout the Carrera Cup season, including an emphasis on training in mind performance, media, car set-up, fitness, etc.
- Access to the annual Porsche Junior Workshop for education on becoming a professional race car driver
- The winner of the Global Porsche Junior Selection secures official Porsche Junior status and financial support from Porsche AG to compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
The Junior driver who is nominated to attend the Global Porsche Junior Selection will receive a range of support from PMNA to prepare them for the Porsche Junior Selection process.
GLOBAL PORSCHE JUNIOR SELECTION
For over 25 years, Porsche’s junior program has been among the most successful in motorsports, paving the way for talented young drivers to become professional works racers. Many world champions and Le Mans winners have emerged from this system. The pinnacle of this pathway is the Global Porsche Junior Selection, where top candidates—aged 24 or younger and finishing in the top five of one of over 30 Porsche one-make cup series worldwide—compete for the prestigious title of Porsche Junior.
Judges evaluate more than just lap times; they also assess drivers’ interactions with race engineers, technical knowledge, media skills, and mental and physical fitness. The selected driver earns the title of Porsche Junior and a sponsorship package for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Beyond financial support, the program offers mentorship from former Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen, as well as sports medicine, mental training, media seminars, and marketing development.
PORSCHE SELECTED DRIVER PROGRAM
The Porsche Selected Driver Program highlights standout talent within the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America system, providing assistance to help them advance in their careers. These drivers are neither official Porsche factory drivers nor Porsche Juniors, but they receive support as they compete in open competition categories such as IMSA and SRO.
Selected drivers receive one-on-one mentorship from Patrick Long & Richard Westbrook throughout the season to help them maximize their performance. They also receive financial support and assistance in securing a seat with a Porsche customer race team at the next level. As part of their recognition, drivers carry the Porsche Selected Driver Program North America insignia on their helmet and uniform.
The ultimate goal of the program is to assist drivers in securing a seat in top-tier endurance racing, such as the Porsche 963 GTP & LMDh programs.
Past Success
Since 1997, Porsche’s Junior Program has propelled the careers of countless drivers, including Porsche brand ambassadors Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb, and Earl Bamber, all of whom won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship titles.
North America has also developed exceptional talent through its system. Patrick Long, a longtime Porsche factory driver, emerged from Porsche’s one-make championships and now serves as a consultant to Porsche Motorsport North America. Other program graduates include Carrera Cup champions Seb Priaulx and Parker Thompson, as well as IMSA and SRO race winners such as Zacharie Robichon, Max Root, Roman De Angelis, Madison Snow, and many others. These drivers exemplify the success of Porsche’s structured pathway for developing top-tier racing talent.
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