James Wallis: Porsche Carrera Cup GB's Rising Star for 2024-2025

Eighteen-year-old James Wallis from Ledbury has been declared the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. This announcement was made at the prestigious 2023 Porsche 'Night of Motorsport' awards ceremony in Birmingham. Succeeding Adam Smalley, the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion, Wallis received the mantle on the same evening Smalley celebrated his championship triumph.

Wallis joins an illustrious group of former Porsche Carrera Cup GB Juniors, including Harry King, Dan Harper, and Charlie Eastwood, who all achieved championship success before advancing to international racing careers. Wallis comes off a victorious 2022 season in the GT Cup, driving a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, and competed in the GT3 category of British GT in 2023. He was selected as one of four outstanding finalists, chosen from a pool of over 50 applicants, which included Joe Warhurst, Josh Rowledge, and Tom Edgar.

The rigorous selection process involved an assessment day at Silverstone, where the candidates were tested in various areas such as technical skills, media handling, fitness, mental strength, and driving capabilities. The panel comprised experts from Porsche Motorsport GB, broadcasters, and psychometric professionals. Adam Smalley and Charles Rainford, the 2022 Pro-Am category champion, provided guidance during the qualifying and race simulation sessions at the Silverstone International circuit.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior programme is a prestigious opportunity in UK motorsport, aimed at discovering and nurturing young racing talent. The selected Junior receives a comprehensive package of support, including an £85,000 budget per season, technical assistance, media training, and a custom fitness program. The 2024/2025 Junior will compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship and serve as an ambassador for Porsche Cars GB at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The programme has a proven track record of success, with former Juniors like Harry King, Dan Harper, and Charlie Eastwood making significant strides in international racing. King has enjoyed success in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, while Harper and Eastwood have secured factory drives with BMW and Aston Martin, respectively.

James MacNaughton, Manager of Motorsport at Porsche Cars GB, emphasized the programme's significance in developing young racing talent. He noted the challenge in shortlisting four drivers for the shootout, praising their determination and performance. MacNaughton expressed enthusiasm for working with Wallis and confidence in his potential to follow in the footsteps of previous Juniors, achieving success both on and off the track.