Porsche Sprint Challenge GB enters its fourth season in 2023 with a revised package and the busiest grid yet. The one-make championship for the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport delivers 18 races with national television coverage. It now joins the TOCA package on six weekends, where it runs in support of the British Touring Car Championship and alongside Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
Evolving the format successfully introduced in 2020, a grid of around 20 drivers will compete in two categories (Pro and Am). This season they will contest a full calendar of six meetings, each featuring three rounds per weekend giving 18 rounds in total. In conjunction with Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the championship will form Porsche Motorsport GB’s biggest presence to date during visits to Donington Park, Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
In the same year that Porsche celebrates 75 years of sports cars, 60 years of the iconic 911 and a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the 100th anniversary of the endurance classic, Sprint Challenge GB is poised to underline its important position as a key part of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid. The championship gets underway at the opening weekend at Donington Park on 22 and 23 April 2023, covered live on ITV television.
2023 calendar
22 / 23 April – Donington Park (National) – Rounds 1, 2 & 3
20 / 21 May – Snetterton (300) – Rounds 4, 5 & 6
29 / 30 July – Croft – Rounds 7, 8 & 9
26 / 27 August – Donington Park (GP) – Rounds 10, 11 & 12
23 / 24 September – Silverstone (National) – Rounds 13, 14, & 15
7 / 8 October – Brands Hatch (GP) – Rounds 16, 17 & 18
Pro category
The Pro category sees a return of three proven front-runners. Steve Roberts (Redline Racing) was a regular challenger for race wins last season. The Cambridgeshire driver secured a maiden victory at the championship finalé at Donington Park last October and will look to carry that momentum into 2023. Matthew Armstrong (Team Parker Racing) is another former race-winner, now entering his third season with the championship equipped to battle the best. Toby Trice (Redline Racing) also returns – a previous podium finisher, Trice remains hungry for his breakthrough win.
Numerous Pro category newcomers are well placed to upset the established order. Ethan Hammerton (Graves Motorsport) is a familiar name in the TOCA paddock, the 22-year-old arriving from MINI Challenge along with teammate Max Coates – another name with the speed and experience to feature prominently. Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) is yet another proven driver, moving over from the Ginetta GT4 Supercup Championship. Joe Warhurst (Team Parker Racing) arrives from the Ginetta Junior Championship.
Completing the Pro category roster come two rookies looking to establish themselves in British motorsport. Irish racer Robert Cronin (Team Parker Racing) might not have the experience of his peers, but he follows in a line of racing Cronins, while William Jenkins (Century Motorsport) was Ginetta GT5 vice-champion in 2022 having cut his teeth in Ginetta Juniors.
Am category
The Am category features an almost even split of familiar names and welcome newcomers. Reigning Am category vice-champion Rupert Laslett (Raceway Motorsport) is back, this time hoping to go one better than his result from last season. Callum Davis (CCK Motorsport) is a previous Am category podium finisher looking to continue his progress in 2023, while John White (Team Parker) has also tasted the podium champagne in the past – he enters his third season with the championship. Finally, Matthew Kyle-Henney (SW Engineering) starts his first full season. The son of the most successful Am category driver in Carrera Cup GB history enjoyed a successful introduction to motorsport with Porsche Club GB, racing a ‘Type 986’ Boxster.
Graeme Mundy (Toro Verde GT) rejoins the Porsche paddock. The 54-year-old last competed in Carrera Cup GB in 2017 and enjoys a long history with the marque. Four further newcomers hope to make their presence felt. Neil Tofts (Redline Racing) is a former single seater star who could spring a surprise. Marc Warren (Raceway Motorsport) is fresh from Ginetta GT Academy success in 2022, while Danny Dwyer (Xentek Motorsport) graduates from the same championship. Dimitris Melas (LFP Motorsport) has a background in Caterham racing while, finally, Edward Stanton (Toro Verde GT) completes an intriguing category line up.
11 teams
Reigning Teams champions Team Parker Racing are back to defend their 2022 crown, one of several teams operating in both Sprint Challenge GB and Carrera Cup GB paddocks in 2023. Also making a welcome return are Redline Racing and Raceway Motorsport – all three returnees have been keen supporters of the championship.
New arrivals include Century Motorsport, Toro Verde GT and CCK Motorsport, all three squads operating dual campaigns in both of Porsche Motorsport GB’s championships. Meanwhile, Graves Motorsport, LFP Motorsport, SW Engineering Breakell Racing and Xentek Motorsport are further new arrivals fielding drivers in 2023.
Driver progression
Porsche Sprint Challenge GB occupies an important position as part of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid. Underlining its importance, all three overall champions from 2020 (James Dorlin), 2021 (Theo Edgerton) and 2022 (Harry Foster) have gone on to develop their careers competing in Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
Edgerton has tasted the winner’s champagne in Carrera Cup GB and returns to mount a championship challenge in 2023. Joining him on the grid is reigning Sprint Challenge GB champion Foster, who makes his step up the Pyramid this season.
In addition, 2021 Am category champion Ian Humphris, 2021 runner-up in the Pro category Jack Bartholomew and Am racer Nigel Rice have all progressed to race as part of the Carrera Cup GB grid. Meanwhile, 2021 Am category vice champion Alex Malykhin made the move into GT3 level competition in 2022.
2023 regulations
To foster consistency and promote close racing, the championship rules and points structure established in 2020 across both categories (Pro and Am) remains unchanged. One additional point is awarded in each category – Pro and Am – for the fastest lap during qualifying, and one additional point will be awarded in each category – Pro and Am – for the fastest lap during the race. Three championship awards will be made at the end of the season: Pro, Am and Teams. An overall points table calculated on the same basis as in 2022 will determine the Teams championship.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
The championship continues to use the 425 PS Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, offering both amateur and professional drivers adjustable ABS, traction control and stability control. Though it has a close relationship to its road-going counterpart via a high percentage of carry-over parts, the Clubsport is optimised for racing. The GT4 Clubsport’s ‘zero hours’ engine and gearbox rebuild schedule ensures lower running costs for competitors.
Following a successful trial in 2022, new for 2023 is the use of Hiperflo R20 fuel. Featuring 20 per cent renewable components (15 per cent second generation ethanol, and five per cent renewable hydrocarbons), the new fuel affords a reduction in greenhouse gasses of approximately 18 per cent compared to pump fuel, significantly lowering the championship’s environmental impact.
Source. Porsche
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