Applications Open for Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship

IMSA is now accepting applications for the IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship, supported by Porsche and Yokohama.

Aspiring racers between the ages of 16 and 25, with no previous full-time Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama experience, are eligible to earn the scholarship.

Successful candidates must have a strong desire to compete in the series, outstanding previous race results and proven on-track potential in junior racing categories, and the ability to build a compelling business plan for securing the remaining funding needed to compete in a full season of the IMSA-sanctioned Single-Make Series.

Last season’s scholarship recipient, Jake Eidson of Littleton, Colo., made the most of his support by securing the 2017 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Platinum Cup Championship.

Eidson was part of long-standing GT3 Cup championship team, Kelly-Moss Road and Race and wrapped up the title at Sonoma Raceway in September, at the penultimate round of the season.

His dominant run in the series paves the way for new, aspiring talent seeking entry into the GT ranks of sports car racing, made possible by the Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship.

The 2018 Scholarship recipient will receive from IMSA, with support from Porsche and Yokohama, these rewards with a combined value in excess of $80,000:

*Full-season Premium Entry into the 2018 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama
*Parts credit from Porsche Motorsport North America
*One set of Yokohama tires for each 2018 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama event
*Tool credit from Sonic Tools
*Complete OMP driver suit and other accessories
*Promotional consideration by RACER Magazine

The scholarship is named after legendary sports car driver Hurley Haywood, one of the most accomplished sports car endurance racers in history. He earned five overall victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and two wins at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring – all in Porsches – during his remarkable driving career, which spanned five decades.

Haywood also was a mainstay of the illustrious Brumos Porsche team as a driver and a leader for more than four decades. He currently serves as the chief driving instructor at the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

“The Hurley Haywood Scholarship has proven to be an excellent addition to the opportunities afforded to young, aspiring drivers in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series,” said Dr. Daniel Armbruster, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America.

“We were thrilled to have such a strong candidate as Jake Eidson serve as our inaugural candidate for the expanded scholarship and feel that he truly represented the spirit of the award and we hope that this program has provided value to his racing efforts.”

“Porsche has a long history of supporting young drivers, and it is something I personally believe in as well,” said Haywood. “Between our recently completed Porsche Young Driver Academy and this IMSA Scholarship, we are rewarding talented young drivers while helping them move ahead with their careers in motorsport.”

The IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship, which was expanded from a program IMSA, Porsche and Yokohama started in 2014. Previous IMSA Scholarship recipients were Victor Gomez IV (2016), Elliott Skeer (2015) and Michael Lewis (2014), all of whom remain active in North American sports car racing.

“We are honored and pleased to continue our support of this scholarship,” said Yokohama Tire Corporation Motorsports Manager Duane Sampson. “Yokohama has a deep commitment to motorsports and developing young racing talent, and through our relationships with Porsche and IMSA, as well as a legend such as Hurley Haywood, we feel that we have a strong program for aspiring talent, and look forward to our potential candidates for 2018.”

Drivers interested can apply here. The deadline for entries is Nov. 17, with the recipient to be announced in early December for the 2018 season.