Josh Webster has been confirmed at Redline Racing for his debut campaign in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. The winner of the Porsche Scholarship prize for the 2014 and 2015 seasons will be paired with reigning double champion Michael Meadows.
The former GP3 driver and Protyre Formula Renault Championship vice-champion was announced as the winner of the Scholarship at the end of 2013. He has since been working on the budget required to complete his first Porsche campaign having beaten Ignas Gelzinis, Ross Wylie and Ryan Ratcliffe to the prize.
The Scholarship process involved a track test of the outgoing 997 GT3 Cup Porsche racer, fitness challenges at the world renowned Silverstone based Porsche Human Performance Centre and media assignments with ITV’s Louise Goodman. The process concluded with a panel interview involving Porsche works driver Nick Tandy and Webster’s new Redline teammate Meadows.
Backed by the Nine Group, Webster is looking forward to the season ahead. He has linked up with the Carrera Cup GB’s most successful team, the Redline operation headed up by Simon Leonard will be looking to add to their 77 race wins and 5 team’s titles in 2014.
“I think we’ve made a good choice and now I’m really looking forward to getting going” says Webster who follows in the footsteps of Daniel Lloyd and Euan Hankey as a Scholar, both of whom were Carrera Cup GB race winners during their time in the series. “I’m aiming high and to have a double champion and the Scholar in the same team is fantastic. I want to learn as much as I can and I’m really excited about getting out in the new car” he added.
Webster is heading into the Carrera Cup during a period of transition for the series. 2014 sees the introduction of the new Type 991 racer, seen last year in the Formula 1 supporting Porsche Supercup. The manufacturer believes there will be 18 cars lined up for the opener later this month which will feature a radical departure from traditional Porsche Carrera Cup GB protocol. One race will begin with a customary standing start, whilst the other will feature a rolling grid procedure, a first for the championship and unique among the TOCA package. The series commences at Brands Hatch on the 29th and 30th of March.