Queensland youngster Matt Campbell will graduate to the Porsche Supercup next season after being selected as the winner of the marque’s Junior Program Shootout.
The 21-year-old from Warwick was deemed the best prospect from a group of nine youngsters who tested at the Lausitzring, Germany, on September 26-27.
The prize consists of 200,000 Euros towards a Supercup seat, as well as training and mentorship from the program’s driver coach and former Porsche champion, Sascha Maassen.
Campbell told Speedcafe.com that he has raised the backing to top up the budget for a drive, ensuring his place on the grid with a yet-to-be-confirmed team.
“It’s hard to fathom really,” he told Speedcafe.com of winning the scholarship.
“It’s a massive, massive thing for myself being part of the Porsche family and moving my career forward.
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“It’s a tremendous opportunity and a real once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“I’m looking forward to the future for what it holds, but at the same time I’m a little bit nervous.”
Campbell will travel to Germany later this week to attend the Porsche Night of Champions awards ceremony and firm up his 2017 plans.
Porsche’s flagship Supercup is a major support category to Formula 1, visiting circuits including Barcelona, Monaco, Hockenheim, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza and the Circuit of the Americas.
“Having only raced in Australia and New Zealand previously, to go and race in places like Spa and Monaco and everywhere like that is real bucket list type stuff,” said Campbell.
“To be able to race at those tracks and in a brand new 991 Cup Car is going to be very surreal.”
Campbell heads to Europe with two seasons of local Carrera Cup racing under his belt, winning this year’s title with McElrea Racing.
This season saw Campbell win 13 of 23 races, score seven out of eight poles and also claim victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia & Australia joint race in Sydney.
Porsche Cars Australia’s Director of Public Relations and Motorsport, Paul Ellis, says that Campbell, who also starred in the GT3 Cup Challenge series, is a shining example of the ‘Porsche Motorsport Pyramid’ at work.
“Matt is a phenomenal talent and we are thrilled, but not surprised, that he won the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout,” said Ellis.
“He has been a stand-out performer in both our GT3 Cup Challenge and Carrera Cup championships over the past three years and we wish him all the best as he begins this new challenge in 2017.”
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