Pancione steps up to Carrera Cup Australia full-time in 2022
Pancione will drive the #76 VCM Performance/HP Tuners Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992 race car prepared by the championship-winning McElrea Racing team. The 20-year-old took part in a three-day technical handover and test session hosted by Porsche Cars Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park in late January. Pancione has since tested the new 992 at Queensland Raceway, revealing the his new VCM Performance/HP Tuners livery this week.
Pancione moves up from the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, where he recorded race-wins and was a strong title contender before the pandemic cut last season short, finishing on the podium at the first round at Phillip Island before winning the Sydney Motorsport Park round with two race wins and a second.
“It was a tight battle between Ryan Suhle, myself and Callum Hedge, but I was confident I had a as strong a shot at winning the title as the others,” Pancione said.
“It was disappointing the season was cut short after just two rounds, but we’ve all got the same story to tell.”
Pancione also contested five Carrera Cup Australia rounds last year in a part-time learning campaign in preparation for a full-time move up in 2022, finishing ninth in series points in a significantly positive experience.
“The step up in competition was noticeable; it was far more intense racing with the top 10 all within 2/10ths of each other, so it was a lot closer and a whole lot easier to dent panels,” the Victorian driver said.
“Racing with guys like Craig Lowndes and David Wall, experienced guys who don’t back down and make you earn your spot, was a great experience.
“If I got to go back to the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge last season as planned, it would’ve helped massively. That didn’t happen, but the experience has helped me be better prepared to step up full-time this year, and I’m looking forward to it.”
The first round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship is at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park on 7-10 April.