Porsche’s next generation of racing stars are armed with new lessons to carry into the remainder of their 2025 campaigns and beyond after gathering for the annual development workshop at Porsche Penske Motorsport and PitFit – blending technical insight, physical training, and professional mentorship.
The workshop brought together drivers from the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program and the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program—two initiatives that represent the backbone of Porsche’s North American talent development pipeline.
Participants included Porsche Carrera Cup North America racers Zachary Vanier, Sabre Cook, Tyler Maxson, Madeline Stewart, Yves Baltas, and Paul Bocuse, as well as Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama competitors Cole Kleck, Therese Lahlouh, Loni Unser, Anna Cecchi, and Erika Hoffman.
Day 1: Porsche Penske Motorsport
The first day was held at the state-of-the-art Team Penske / Porsche Penske Motorsport facility in Mooresville, North Carolina—home to the Porsche 963 hybrid prototype that races in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The young drivers got an up-close look at the cutting-edge technology behind the GTP machine and participated in hands-on pit stop drills, including live bodywork changes and even NASCAR tire change pit stops.
“It was amazing,” said Carrera Cup driver Tyler Maxson. “It’s an honor to have Porsche and Penske invite us out to the facility and give us all the information they did.
“It was super cool to see the level of detail a team like Team Penske operates with. I think it opened up a whole new perspective for me on what a truly top-level team looks like.”
“You always hear about ‘Penske Perfect,’ but seeing it in person is just a whole other level. I’m super grateful for the opportunity Porsche and Penske gave us to attend this workshop.”
Drivers were treated to a series of guest speakers throughout the day. Porsche Cars North America’s James Kim presented a sweeping overview of Porsche’s motorsport history, while Ben Atkins and Chance Stewart offered behind-the-scenes insight into Team Penske’s day-to-day operations.
The importance of correctly “fueling the driver” was tackled by Team Penske nutritionist Pam Brown while renowned NBC pit lane reporter Matt Yocum rounded out the lineup, speaking about the media’s role in racing and how drivers can better prepare for television interviews.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama front-runner Erika Hoffman found the day at Penske equally impactful.
“I’ve really enjoyed the day at Penske,” Hoffman said.
“It was amazing to see the facility as part of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program workshop. It’s been so fun to be with the other participants, build that bond, and work together.
“What made the workshop so cool is getting to see behind the scenes of such a successful team—and the level of excellence in everything they do.
“I’ve always heard about the lore of Penske, how clean and beautiful it is, and seeing it firsthand has been incredible.”
Hoffman, along with fellow podium regulars Loni Unser and Anna Cecchi, has been a standout in the Mobil 1 program this season.
“I feel super fortunate and grateful to be part of this program,” she said. “Mobil 1 is such an iconic brand, and I remember looking at this program in years past, seeing the girls run it last year, and thinking, ‘I really want to be part of that.’ So now, to be a member is amazing.”
The opening day of the workshop culminated in a team dinner, where former Porsche factory driver and program mentor Pat Long provided attendees with valuable career advice, sharing lessons from his own journey through the Porsche development ladder and offering insights on how to stand out both on and off the track.
Day 2: PitFit Performance Testing
The second day of the workshop shifted gears from education to driver performance, as Porsche’s junior and female development drivers were put through physical and cognitive testing at PitFit Training. Known for its work with top-level motorsport professionals, PitFit is a cornerstone of modern motorsport preparation.
The drivers underwent rigorous physical and cognitive assessments, which helped them understand their current performance baselines and create personalized training targets.
“Being here at PitFit with the Mobil 1 Porsche Female Driver Development Program has been amazing,” said Unser.
“It’s helped me so much as a driver. I treat it just like I treat a race weekend—looking at data from last year, figuring out where I need to improve this year, and then executing on that.”
“I’ve taken what I learned last year and applied it throughout this season, and I’ve seen my scores improve. That’s always exciting, and I’m really grateful for this program. It pushes me to develop more than I would push myself.”
For Unser, the workshop also reinforced just how valuable the Mobil 1 program has been in her development.
“Being part of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Development Program is absolutely invaluable,” she said. “It gives me the resources I need to grow and improve. Hearing from incredible people like Pat Long has been so important to my career—and beyond that, it’s helped me build an incredible network.”
“Getting to see Team Penske and how they operate is incredibly inspiring. They do everything to such a level of perfection, and it motivates me to bring that same philosophy into my daily life.”
Zachary Vanier, a third-year member of the EBOOST Junior Program and current Carrera Cup competitor, also found the physical component of the workshop eye-opening.
“This was my third opportunity to take part in the annual workshop, and this was absolutely the best yet,” Vanier said.
“It was a great couple of days here in Charlotte with everyone in the program. The physical fitness testing was especially eye-opening for me. It gave me a clear picture of where I stand compared to last year’s results and showed me exactly where I need to focus moving forward.
“I think the design of this program really gives us the tools and information to improve—it’s just a matter of applying it now.”
Vanier echoed the broader sentiment shared by many of his peers: that the EBOOST Junior Program is helping him compete at a higher level.
“The Porsche EBOOST Junior Program has been incredibly beneficial,” he said.
“When you’re racing in a single-make series, you’re constantly trying to find those small advantages over the competition. Being part of a program that includes such a select group of drivers gives me that edge.”
“Utilizing the resources and everything we’ve taken from the workshop, I’m confident I can implement that into my approach going forward. It’s been an honor to be part of this program, and I’ve learned a lot that I’ll definitely carry with me.”
