Press Release October 6, 2015 No. M 184/15

International one-make cups

In ’s footsteps: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup talent search

Stuttgart. As part of a two-day selection process, nine talented young race drivers from around the world showcased their skills at the Lausitzring. Drivers from eight countries had been nominated by the respective international Porsche one-make cups and were invited to the shootout at the race track between Berlin and Dresden. The young hopefuls took part in driving tests in the 460 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and conducted discussions with experts, which will all be evaluated over the next few weeks to determine a winner. The most promising talented young driver receives funding of 200,000 Euro as well as comprehensive support: On the programme are fitness tests with regularly adapted training plans as well as media coaching and sponsor obligations. The winner will contest the 2016 season of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

A prime example of a successful talent promotion within the Porsche motorsport pyr- amid is Earl Bamber. The New Zealander launched his career as a Porsche privateer in the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand and then switched to the Asia, where he secured the title in 2013 and was nominated for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup talent scout initiative. As a Porsche Junior, Bamber won the Su- percup in 2014, defended the title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia that same year and earned himself a contract as a Porsche works driver. In June 2015, he won the world’s most famous long distance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of the 919 Hybrid.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 1 of 3 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport 70435 Stuttgart Oliver Hilger Tel +49 (0) 7 11 9 11 – 2 65 09 e-mail [email protected] Press Release October 6, 2015 No. M 184/15

Now, the hopeful young aspirants at the shootout are eager to follow in his footsteps. “Bamber is a perfect role model. Every race driver dreams of such a career,” was the unanimous sentiment of all participants. These young hotshots know that the Por- sche scholarship might open the door to becoming a works driver. The aspirants in the running for the scholarship are Mathieu Jaminet (20) from Woippy near Metz rep- resenting the Porsche Carrera Cup France. Twenty-one-year-old Riccardo Agostini from Padova was nominated for the selection process by Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. Josh Webster (21) from Stowmarket, England, represents Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen (18) from the Danish town of Struer was sent as a delegate of Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. Yuya Motojima (24) from Nagoya, who has just concluded his season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan, trav- elled as the Japanese champion to the Lausitz. Germany’s Nico Menzel (17), who lives in Kelberg in der Eifel, contested this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and was selected to represent this one-make cup series. Elliott Skeer (21) from Carlsbad in America received an invitation to the shootout after his excellent performances as champion of the GT3 Cup Challenge USA. Nick Foster (23) and Richard Muscat (23) have been elected to represent the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.

“With nine strong drivers it’ll be a tough decision for us. Fast lap times are equally as important as how they conduct themselves away from the race track. The talented youngsters are nominated by countries and regions in which a Porsche one-make cup is contested and who have the potential to be successful at an international level. We will analyse all parameters in order to select the best candidate,” said Andrea Hagenbach, Manager of the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme.

Talent scout initiatives have a long tradition at Porsche Motorsport. Using this path, many scholarship pilots have managed to climb the career ladder into international GT and prototype racing. The Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme gives drivers from the worldwide Porsche one-make cups the chance to earn themselves a season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The Supercup serves as a launching platform into a professional racing career.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 2 of 3 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport 70435 Stuttgart Oliver Hilger Tel +49 (0) 7 11 9 11 – 2 65 09 e-mail [email protected] Press Release October 6, 2015 No. M 184/15

A video from the selection process for the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme can be found using the link https://vimeo.com/141543241.

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Please note: Images from the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup are available for accredited journalists from the Porsche Press Database under the internet address https://presse.porsche.de. On this website you can also activate the Porsche Motorsport SMS Info Service to receive the latest news and infor- mation. The Twitter channel @PorscheRaces provides live updates with the latest information and photos from race tracks around the world. Journalists also have access to the 2015 Porsche Motor- sport Media Guide on https://presse.porsche.de/motorsport. Porsche Communication provides a new service for journalists, bloggers and online multipliers under www.newsroom.porsche.com.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft 3 of 3 Public Relations and Press Porscheplatz 1 Motorsport 70435 Stuttgart Oliver Hilger Tel +49 (0) 7 11 9 11 – 2 65 09 e-mail [email protected]