Porsche Cars GB has entered into a new partnership with RAFA Racing Club, the exclusive group for motorsport enthusiasts. The two-year agreement will see the thriving enthusiast-based community become an official partner of Porsche for 2024 and 2025, supporting the Carrera Cup GB Junior and Young Driver Development Programmes, and adopting the role of title partner for RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB.

RAFA Racing Club was founded in Houston, Texas, USA by Rafael ‘Rafa’ Martinez in 2022. Originally a hub for supercar enthusiasts, it expanded its offering to provide a community for track day and motorsport enthusiasts across the world. The partnership with Porsche Cars GB underlines a growing presence in the UK, where RAFA Racing Club is focused on supporting the development of talented individuals aiming to compete in motorsport at a professional level.

As part of its commitment, RAFA Racing Club will support both the Carrera Cup GB Junior and Young Driver Development Programmes, encouraging young drivers to achieve their racing goals. In addition, RAFA Racing Club and Porsche share a desire to encourage enthusiastic drivers into the world of Esports – sim racing offers one of the most accessible paths into competitive motorsport. RAFA Racing Club will become the title partner of Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB, the virtual championship for professional sim racers.

Following a qualifying process in December 2023, RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB will enter its fourth season in January 2024. The third Porsche championship in Great Britain operates on the iRacing platform, an online subscription-based racing simulation used by racers around the world.

The new season will be formed by a calendar of 16 races across eight weekends, pitting the world’s best sim racers against one another at the wheel of an accurate virtual recreation of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

James MacNaughton, Manager, Motorsport Porsche Cars GB, said: “We are delighted to welcome RAFA Racing Club as a partner in 2024 and 2025. Both the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Programme and the Young Driver Development Programme were created to support and nurture the careers of talented young drivers, a goal that sits in harmony with the aims of RAFA Racing Club, which hopes to encourage a united motorsport community.

“In addition, the RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB is a motorsport discipline in its own right. Sim racing is an exciting growth area, evolving all the time and serving to offer an important grass roots entry into motorsport. I am positive that, together, Porsche Cars GB and RAFA Racing Club will nurture the careers of several future stars.”

Rafael Martinez, RAFA Racing Club, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with Porsche Cars GB, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing future racing talent. We are proud to align with a series that shares our values and supports young drivers. Additionally, we are excited to spotlight Esports as a racing pathway, bridging the gap between virtual and real-world racing.”

There is a clear synergy between the goals of RAFA Racing Club and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Programme, designed to foster young racing talent. The Junior Programme remains one of the most coveted opportunities in UK motorsport; James Wallis (18) was recently announced as the Junior for 2024 / 2025. The Ledbury racer beat three other promising finalists from over 50 applicants to land the prize. He succeeds 2023 Carrera Cup GB champion, Adam Smalley, in the role.

The Junior Programme provides an unprecedented level of support and guidance, including a £85,000 budget contribution per season. Alongside technical support from Porsche Motorsport engineers, the Junior benefits from media training sessions and fitness plans created by Porsche Human Performance professionals.

The Young Driver Development Programme is an evolution of the Rookie Programme, drawing on elements of the successful Junior Programme. It offers eligible drivers under the age of 25 a chance to compete for a £35,000 prize fund and 'Fastest Laps' prize of a Tag Heuer chronograph watch. Participants also receive support from tyre supplier Michelin, and access to the Porsche Human Performance and technical teams.

Sim racers can sign up for open qualifying for the 2024 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB season here: https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/51992/porsche-esports-carrera-cup-gb-season-4