Twelve highly talented young racing drivers have completed the screening for the new Porsche Junior at Motorland Aragón in Spain. Among other things, the winner can expect a funding package of 225,000 euros for the 2022 season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The international one-make cup with the 375 kW (510 hp) 911 GT3 Cup will be held as part of European Formula 1 races and will again include eight rounds in 2022. Porsche's exemplary junior program has served as a springboard for a professional career in racing for 25 years. To date, it has produced numerous factory drivers, world champions and Le Mans winners. The announcement of the new Porsche Junior will take place shortly.

The candidates, who were no more than 23 years old, had to meet demanding criteria for an invitation to the selection event. This took place on the 5.078-kilometer race track near the Spanish city of Alcañiz. The prerequisites include, for example, a top 5 finish in one of Porsche's more than 20 worldwide one-make cup series. During the three-day sighting, they were able to prove their driving qualities in changeable weather conditions. In addition to pure speed, the selection criteria also include mental and physical fitness tests, an understanding of technique and cooperation with the race engineers as well as interaction with the media. The results will be analysed in detail in the coming days and will provide the basis for the selection of the new Porsche Junior.

The international circle of twelve chosen from eight countries included 21-year-old Huub van Eijndhoven.

The Dutchman was nominated by the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. Swede Hampus Ericsson is 19 years old and raced in the Carrera Cup Scandinavia in 2021. Enzo Elias (19) represented the colours of the Porsche Carrera Cup Brazil. The Carrera Cup Italy sent the 19-year-old Alessandro Giardelli. Lorcan Hanafin caused a stir in the Carrera Cup Great Britain. At 18, the Briton was the youngest driver of the fast dozen. Laurin Heinrich (20) started for the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.

The Würzburger has already won the rookie classification of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup last season and won a race victory in the process. 22-year-old Marvin Klein from France has also been on the road in the Supercup in 2021 and has also won his country's Carrera Cup. Australian Cooper Murray (20) took part in the sighting on the recommendation of his national Carrera Cup, while the new Porsche Carrera Cup North America sent 20-year-old Briton Sebastian Priaulx into the race as champion. The 20-year-old Dutchman Kay von Berlo, Harry King (20) from Great Britain and the 19-year-old Italian Marzio Moretti rounded off the field of participants with a wildcard.

"Fast lap times naturally provide the basis for the selection of the new Porsche Junior. But they are not the only criterion for us. We are also looking for a team player who can motivate the team and represent Porsche," explains Porsche Junior Coach Sascha Maassen. "It's about the overall package that the talents can offer. We took a close look at the twelve candidates from all over the world and took a close look at what they can do on and off the track – how capable they are of learning, how they can develop mentally, how they interact with the engineers and how they behave in front of the camera. Everything is important. There is no question that the twelve boys can drive. Filtering out the one of these dozen, the new Porsche Junior, is a responsible task to which we dedicate ourselves accordingly carefully."

In addition to the financial support for the season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the sports car manufacturer's support programme pursues a holistic approach that encompasses all aspects of a professional career in motorsport. Sascha Maassen plays a central role in this. The former Porsche works driver will advise the young talents before, during and after the race weekends as a junior coach. In addition, there is a sports medicine accompaniment by the University of Potsdam. Mental training and media seminars as well as PR appointments and marketing activities round off the training content. Porsche's junior program dates back to 1997.

To date, it has given the career of 27 racing drivers the decisive momentum. The careers of Timo Bernhard (Porsche Junior from 2000 to 2001), Marc Lieb (2000 to 2002) and Earl Bamber (2014) serve as prime examples: All three were able to win the legendary 24-hour race at Le Mans and titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship at least once with the Porsche 919 Hybrid. In the 2021 season, five of the 15 Porsche works drivers and Porsche Young Professionals have learned their tools as junior drivers. In 2019, Ayhancan Güven from Turkey was accepted into the funding program. In 2020, the sighting was cancelled due to the corona pandemic.