Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ), in partnership with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM), is thrilled to announce its 2026 driver lineup.
Tom Bewley Steps Up to Carrera Cup Australia
Tom Bewley will step up to be the 2026 Carrera Cup scholarship driver. After a standout season finishing third in the 2025 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge championship, Tom now takes the lead scholarship seat with Team Porsche New Zealand.
He’ll be competing in the 2026 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, the premier one-make Porsche racing series in Australasia.
Bewley is the latest in a long line of New Zealand drivers who have used the scholarship as a springboard for their professional careers, most notably Callum Hedge, who won the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship in 2023 before moving to the US to compete in the Indy NXT Championship.
Bewley’s Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season will kick off at Albert Park, Melbourne, during the Formula 1 weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to being back with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport after a good year in Sprint Challenge. I’m looking forward to being in Carrera Cup and learning new tracks and tougher competition.” – Tom Bewley
Earl Bamber, Owner of Earl Bamber Motorsport, added:
“It’s amazing to see Tom Bewley’s process as a driver. He’s had a strong start racing Porsches and reminds me of a young Matthew Payne – and what he’s gone on to achieve. We’re super excited to see what he can go on to do in the top tier of Porsche one-make racing in Australia.”
Marco Giltrap Confirmed for Carrera Cup Asia
Marco Giltrap is making the move to a full season of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Having raced in Asia for a few rounds over the past few seasons while competing full-time in Carrera Cup Australia, Giltrap enjoyed success this year at Sepang with two podium finishes.
This new challenge will see Giltrap tackle diverse tracks across Asia, and the new 992.2 model will provide valuable experience with the latest Porsche technology.
This will be Marco Giltrap’s fourth season with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport.
“I’m excited to be making the move to Carrera Cup Asia with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport. We’ve had some great success here in the past, and it will be some good competition on track.” – Marco Giltrap.
Now entering its sixth year, the Porsche New Zealand scholarship program has built a reputation for excellence.
Team Porsche New Zealand clinched both championship titles in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in advancing the careers of standout drivers such as Matthew Payne, Ryan Wood, and Callum Hedge.
The program benefits from the mentorship of Earl Bamber, two-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner and former Porsche Factory Driver.
Bamber’s own career highlights include winning the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Championship in his debut season and being chosen as the winner of the prestigious Porsche Motorsport International Cup Scholarship.
The scholarship enabled him to compete in the 2014 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, where he became the first-ever rookie to win the championship while concurrently defending his Carrera Cup Asia title.
Greg Clarke, Porsche New Zealand General Manager, said:
“The Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship programme has proven to be a successful pathway for young Kiwi racing drivers to break through in the international racing market for several years now.
“We are pleased to confirm that we will continue our pursuit in Asia, to complement our existing programme in Australia. Both TPNZ drivers show raw skill and potential on the track, and we look forward to seeing their success throughout the year.”
Header Image: Porsche New Zealand
