Talent factory

Team Porsche New Zealand’s annual scholarship is now in its second year and its popularity continues to grow. Applications for its 2022 program opened during September and October last year and attracted a sea of applications from talented drivers across the country. 

TPNZ’s scholarship driver for 2022 is 18-year-old Callum Hedge, who has stepped into the Team Porsche New Zealand main car after graduating from the Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge as part of Team Porsche New Zealand’s driver program. 

Young Callum’s debut in the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series coincides with the arrival of the new 992-generation 911 GT3 Cup car. 

Stepping into Callum’s previous ride for 2022 is Ryan Wood, who is competing for Team Porsche New Zealand in this year’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge. The talented 17-year-old driver spent 2021 racing in New Zealand’s South Island endurance championship, where he remained unbeaten. 

Earl Bamber: “2021 for Team Porsche New Zealand has been a fantastic season. To get our first wins in both Carrera Cup Australia and the Sprint Challenge with our young drivers has been something really exciting to see, and to witness how they have grown as drivers through the course of the season has been phenomenal. Obviously, it’s great to see Matt Payne heading on to big bright things in his future in motor racing; and now to be able to promote Callum into Carrera Cup and to have Ryan Wood join us in the Sprint Challenge. We are very, very excited about the next steps and what 2022 will bring for Team Porsche New Zealand.”

Greg Clarke (Porsche New Zealand General Manager): “We have been really pleased with the performance of Team Porsche New Zealand and what has been achieved in such a short space of time. We are now very much looking forward to the 2022 season and what it has in store for us.”

Callum Hedge: “To be selected by Porsche New Zealand and EBM to be the recipient of the Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship is a huge privilege. I am extremely thankful to have been given their trust in representing their names and brand. Without their support, racing Carrera Cup in 2022 would not be possible. I am very excited heading into the season having learned a lot in 2021 and now having a clean start in the 992 Cup car for 2022. I can’t wait to get into the season and hope I can deliver some results for the team again this year!”

Ryan Wood: “I am really excited and very privileged to be chosen to represent Porsche New Zealand and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport this year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge. I look forward to seeing what results we can achieve as a New Zealand-based team. My goals for this year are to win the championship and have podiums at every round. I am looking forward to learning from Earl, from a driving perspective, on a personal level, and in terms of mental skills. I am looking forward to working closely with Earl and the team to see what we can do for the future.”

This scholarship provides a unique opportunity.

Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019. The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM. Two-time Le Mans winner Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) and the North American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) SportsCar Championship.

Each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent, with a season-long drive in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series. With the combination of Bamber’s international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience, this scholarship provides a unique opportunity to develop upcoming New Zealand drivers and their skills for international success.