Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) has announced the 2022 scholarship winners after a successful 2021 Porshe Carrera Cup season, creating pathways for upcoming Kiwi talent.
TPNZ has announced that Callum Hedge is the recipient of the 2022 scholarship drive, for the inaugural season for the new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car.
Hegde competed in the 2021 Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge series securing a number of podium results as well as a race win at Phillip Island.
“To be selected by Porsche New Zealand and EBM to be the recipient of the Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship is a huge privilege,” Hedge said.
“I am extremely thankful to have been given their trust in representing their names and brand. Without their support, racing Carrera Cup in 2022 would not be possible.
“I am very excited heading into the season having learned a lot in 2021 and now having a clean start in the 992 Cup Car for 2022. I can’t wait to get into the season and hope I can deliver some results for the team again this year!”
Ryan Wood will also be stepping up into the Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge for TPNZ,
Wood competed in the 2021 South Island Endurance Championship where he finished the season unbeaten, as well as finishing third in the 2021 Best Bars Toyota 86 series. Wood will also compete in the upcoming season of the Toyota 86 series, kicking off in January.
“I am really excited and very privileged to be chosen to represent Porsche New Zealand and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport next year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, I look forward to seeing what results we can achieve as a New Zealand based team,” Wood said.
“My goals for next year are to win the championship and have podiums at every round. I am looking forward to learning from Earl, from a driving perspective, on a personal level, and mental skills. I am looking forward to working closely with Earl and the team to see what we can do for the future.”
TPNZ was formed in 2019 as a collaboration between Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport, Bamber has previously raced in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) and the North American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association).
“2021 for Porsche Team New Zealand has been a fantastic season, to get our first wins in both Carrera Cup Australia and Sprint Challenge with our young drivers has been something really exciting to see, and to see how they have grown as drivers through the course of the season has been phenomenal,” Bamber said.
Matthew Payne was the 2021 scholarship winner, going on to race in the final two Super2 rounds this season, with a recent announcement that the Kiwi will take part in the full 2022 Super2 season.
“Obviously it’s great to see Matt Payne heading on to big bright things in his future in motor racing, now to be able to promote Callum into Carrera Cup and to have Ryan Wood join us in Sprint Challenge, we are very very excited for the next steps of what 2022 will bring for Team Porsche New Zealand.