Lydia targeting a new Challenge with Porsche and Graves Motorsport
Professional racing driver, Lydia Walmsley, 22-years-old from Ipswich, will be competing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB within the Clubsport Pro category in 2025.
She is graduating from the MINI CHALLENGE UK having completed four successful seasons in the championship. Like the MINI’s, the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB also races on the TOCA package, supporting the British Touring Car Championship. Lydia has amassed a large fanbase in recent years with her approachable nature in the paddock that draws over 300,000 people during a season. 2025 marks Lydia’s progression to the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, a rear-wheel drive, 3.8 litre rear mounted engine producing 425bhp.
The series starts at Donington Park in April before Lydia’s home round this season at Brands Hatch with the series also ending there at the GP variation of the iconic Kent venue. In between that, the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB visits Oulton Park in Cheshire, Knockhill, near Fife in Scotland and Silverstone, the home of British Motorsport. Lydia’s races will be screened LIVE on ITV4 throughout the season.
Lydia is excited about what’s in store this season, “I absolutely cannot wait for this new challenge that I am taking on this season. It has been a life-long dream to drive something as incredible as this, and whilst the Mini was good fun, I’m imagining the Porsche to be a different level.”
Lydia will be joining local team Graves Motorsport, who have more than proved their worth in a short but extremely successful stint in the Porsche paddock; taking home two drivers category titles last season and ending up as vice-champions as a team and overall.
Lydia added, “I can’t wait to join the Graves team for the next step in my motorsport journey and firmly believe that this is the perfect route for my career. I already work with them as a driver coach for their MINI Cooper team and it is always a lovely atmosphere to be a part of. Having always operated as a family unit in the past, with very little manpower, it now seems like the perfect time to begin having a little more support whilst still maintaining the family values which are really important to me. Graves Motorsport were hugely successful in the Porsche championships last season and it’s definitely the right place to be.”
Karl Graves, Team Owner of Graves Motorsport said, “We are delighted that Lydia has got an additional role in our team and will drive our Porsche 718 Cayman Clubsport GT4 this year. Having made the transition from MINI’s to Porsche ourselves, we know what Lydia will have to learn and have a great support team of engineers and driver coaches to help Lydia do that. She significantly improved her lap times when driving the car at Snetterton late last year and we are sure that progress will continue and see her on the podium during the 2025 season.”
Lydia is still searching for new partners to join her campaign with the significant support from her MINI season’s carrying over to the new Porsche Championship. With some additional funding, she hopes to start testing in late February and March before the Porsche Sprint Challenge championship kicks off at Donington Park on 26/27 April.