Michael Christensen will join the Porsche works squad for 2014, having spent two years as a Porsche Junior.
Strong results in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup has payed off, with Porsche now giving the 23-year-old the opportunity to take the next step in his racing career.
“It’s a dream come true. To compete as a Porsche works driver is the chance of a lifetime,” said Christensen. “I’ve learned so much as a Porsche junior thanks to the extensive support I have received, and I’ve developed as a race driver and a man. I will do my very best to continue justifying the immense trust that Porsche has placed in me.”
Christensen started grabbing attention back in 2005, winning the European Karting Championship, before taking the vice-championship title and taking victory at the prestigious Macau Kart Grand Prix in 2006. His karting success allowed him to make the switch to single-seater racing, claiming the Formula BMW Europe Rookies Cup in 2008, taking seven wins in the same championship in 2009.
In the winter of 2011, Christensen took part in the rigorous Porsche youth development selection programme, beating many applicants from around the world and earning a place as a Porsche Junior and a drive in the Carrera Cup Deutschland. A promising debut season in the Carrera Cup was highlighted by victory at the Hockenheimring.
The strong performances in the Carrera Cup saw Christensen promoted to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup for 2013, taking another victory in his debut year, this time at the Nurburgring. Consistent strong finishes secured the title of Best Supercup Newcomer during the 2013 season/
As well as racing in the Carrera Cup and the Supercup, being a Porsche junior has allowed Christensen to race various Porsche 911s at top-level sportscar races, such as the 24 Hours of Daytona, Petit Le Mans and the Nurburgring Long Distance Championship.
“I’m pleased that Michael is another of our Porsche juniors who has managed to make the leap into our works squad,” says Head of Motorsport for Porsche, Hartmut Kristen. “In the last couple of years he has exhibited many positive qualities and shown the personal development that we strive for in our junior programme. He has matured into a real professional both on and off the track.”
