At the start of the 2024 motorsport season, Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) is gearing up to compete with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in three Porsche single-make series this year.
Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia kicks off the calendar, with Marco Giltrap debuting in the series in the opening round at the Melbourne Grand Prix this weekend.
Giltrap is graduating from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia series, where he took out the championship title in 2023. In the off-season, he has been competing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe Championship where he finished 8th in the Pro Class.
The 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season will also see Giltrap compete on home turf, with the Australian series crossing the ditch for the first time, competing at the ITM Taupo Super400 in April.
“I’m super excited to be continuing my racing journey with Porsche New Zealand and EBM, we have already achieved a lot and I am looking forward to keeping our momentum going. Both the team and myself have been working hard in preparation for the season so I’m keen to get stuck in” said Giltrap.
TPNZ will be returning to Porsche Carrera Cup Asia with scholarship driver Zac Stichbury pivoting his 2024 plans to kick off his Carrera Cup career at a variety of iconic Asian tracks.
“The team had a very successful 2023 season, taking out the championship titles in both Australian Porsche series, with Marco Giltrap in Sprint Challenge and Callum Hedge in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia,” said Greg Clarke, General Manager for Porsche New Zealand.
“By expanding into Carrera Cup Asia, we have opened the opportunity for our team to take out three championships this year, whilst also developing our drivers on new tracks.“
The team started its scholarship program in the Asian Carrera Cup series in 2019 but shifted the focus to Australia in 2021. Stichbury will be sharing the season with teammate Marco Giltrap in a TPNZ team car that will allow both drivers to grow their experience outside the Australian market.
The championship kicks off at the Shanghai Grand Prix from 18th – 21st April, with Stichbury confirmed to race the first two weekends of the calendar. The remaining schedule will be announced in due course.
“It’s exciting to still have the full support from Porsche NZ and Earl Bamber Motorsport for this season,” said Stichbury.
“It’s a new opportunity that I can’t wait to jump into and learn with a new group of people and develop my skills in the new car. Together with the team, I’m confident we can achieve great success and have an enjoyable year.”
The team’s newest scholarship recipient, Brock Gilchrist, will debut his Porsche racing career in the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series. The series is the feeder for the Porsche Carrera Cup and has proven popular for drivers to master the 911 GT3 Cup Car before taking on the Carrera Cup series.
The 20-year-old won the 2023 Toyota 86 championship and recently took out the GT4 title in the 2024 GT New Zealand Championship.
“I am really looking forward to starting the season in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with Team Porsche New Zealand,” said Gilchrist.
“Testing has been positive, and I have built a decent pace as I get more comfortable with the car. We will be looking to bring that same momentum into round 1. I can’t wait to have a good crack at the season ahead.”
Earl Bamber Motorsport owner Earl Bamber adds, “This year we see a three-series effort from Team Porsche New Zealand as we continue to develop drivers and see them progress in their careers. It’s exciting to kick off the season, first in Carrera Cup Australia with Marco Giltrap, followed by Brock in Sprint Challenge Australia.
“Now we also have the chance to see Zac develop his Carrera as he makes the change to move into Carrera Cup Asia.
“We are also proud to see Matthew Payne and Ryan Wood, graduates of the scholarship program, return recently for some races with Earl Bamber Motorsport.”
All three Team Porsche New Zealand/EBM drivers were also recently announced as receiving contracts for the 2024 Porsche Michelin Junior Program, where the top-placed Carrera Cup Australia driver will receive Australia’s nomination to contest the Porsche Junior Shootout in Europe at the end of the season.
