McElrea Racing has announced a five-strong driver line-up to contest the 2021 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.

Ryan Suhle and Christian Pancione will spearhead the squad on the back of runs to fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 2019 series.

The latter will also compete in select rounds of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.

They are joined at McElrea Racing by emerging talent Bayley Hall and Pro-Am racers Michael Hovey and Richard Cowen.

“For the first time in our 13-year history we have the perfect number of customers for our business model,” said team owner Andy McElrea.

“That is four cars in each championship, with businessman Richard Cowen also doing a partial Sprint Challenge Championship and Pancho [Pancione] doing some selected rounds of the Carrera Cup Australia series in preparation for 2021.

“We all realise that we will need to be flexible with plans and logistics for 2021, as some disruptions are inevitable, but we love a challenge and are always prepared to adapt on the run.

“We started testing with our Sprint Challenge drivers already, while our first Carrera Cup test takes place in February.”

Pancione added: “Racing both Porsche series this year is a great opportunity, with a team like McElrea Racing I’m looking for wins and podiums.”

Suhle is aiming similarly high.

“Testing has started really well this year, so I’m really focused on winning my first Porsche championship this season,” he said.

Suhle, Hall, Hovey, Pancione and Cowen will respectively use #7, #28, #72, #76 and #2.