Josh Webster is set to make the switch from single-seaters to sportscar racing next season after winning the 2014/15 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship.
The 19 year old, who is competing in GP3 this season, has won £80,000 towards his budget for each season after beating Renault UK Clio Cup racer Ignas Gelzinis, VW Scirocco Cup star Ross Wylie and British GT4 champion Ryan Ratcliffe.
The contenders were put through their paces with a track test in the current Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car at Siverstone, a fitness assessment in the Porsche Human Performance Centre, a media exercise with ITV presenter Louise Goodman and a panel interview, which included current Porsche stars Nick Tandy and Michael Meadows.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Webster. “I can’t wait to get started and get some more seat time in the Porsche. I know it was a tough call and I want to credit the other finalists, because they pushed really hard and any one of us could have won it.
“Driving the car was absolutely mind-blowing. It is such a big difference from single-seaters, but I think I’m in love. It was a lot more nimble than I expected and it was really responsive.”
The two-time Formula Renault BARC runner-up graduated into GP3 for the first time this season. Running with Status Grand Prix, Webster has had a tough campaign, picking up a best finish of sixteenth so far with just the season finale in Abu Dhabi remaining next weekend.
Webster’s attention will now turn to securing the remaining budget required to compete in the new 991 GT3 Cup car next season. The Stowmarket-based racer follows in the footsteps of former winners Daniel Lloyd, Euan Hankey and Meadows.