Regan Scoullar will step up into the newer Porsche 992 machinery this season when the GT New Zealand Championship gets underway this weekend at Hampton Downs.
The 19-year-old from Wellington, a two-time NZ Porsche Championship winner, has made fleeting appearances in the GT New Zealand Championship over the past couple of seasons, scoring podium results despite often being up against faster machinery on track.
Scoullar steps into the ex-Rick Armstrong Porsche 992 Cup Car that took Armstrong to two Championship wins, Scoullar saying that to be more competitive, he needs to be in equal machinery.
“We realised that if we wanted to be up the front and challenging for wins and podiums on a more regular basis, we had to be in the same equipment,” said Scoullar.
“The 991 was a great car, but when you are up against a bunch of the new 992 cars, it’s kind of like taking a knife to a gun fight.”
“When Rick’s car from the last couple of seasons became available, it was the perfect opportunity to step up into something more competitive.”
With some testing miles already under his belt prior to the season opener this weekend, Scoullar says that the difference between the two-generation cars is quite noticeable.
“The 992 has about 25hp more than the 991.2 car, which I’ve driven previously, but it’s also got bigger tyres, more aero and grip. On track, the car has improved stability at higher corner speeds, more grip in fast sweepers, better traction out of corners, and higher “entry speed” potential to corners.”
“For instance, at Hampton Downs, into turn one, I’m braking 20-40 metres later than the previous generation Porsche cup car.”
Scoullar will run his entry this season with the successful Action Motorsport team.
“Action Motorsport have been a massive part of integrating into the new car. Especially since we have started using data to try to focus on things like brake traces to try to squeeze every tenth out of the car. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do together this season.”
With a full season in the Summerset GT New Zealand Championship ahead of him and like every other young Kiwi driver, Scoullar has his eye on some overseas racing ambitions for the future.
“Like everyone else my age, I want to go overseas and follow the pathway of what guys like Ayrton Hodson have done. Whether that is over to Australia or looking further afield and going straight to Europe and doing some Porsche racing there.”
“But in the meantime, looking forward to this coming season here and seeing how we go.”
The first round of the GT New Zealand Championship gets underway this weekend at Hampton Downs.
Header Image: Supplied
