Bundy: “More Support” in Porsche Junior Program NA

Photo: Autosport Image

Porsche’s revamped Junior North America Program has been aimed to give up-and-coming drivers “more support” to work their way through the ranks according to Porsche Motorsport North America single-make and GT sports manager Troy Bundy.

Announced earlier this year and formalized this week, four pillars have been established, in the Porsche Talent Identification Program, Porsche Sprint Challenge Junior Program, Porsche Carrera Cup Junior Program and Porsche Selected Driver initiative.

Most recently, a financial support package has been added to drivers in the Carrera Cup Junior Program, alongside a Porsche Junior Workshop for all Sprint Challenge and Carrera Cup Junior program drivers.

A total of 14 juniors were announced on Wednesday, across Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America and Sprint Challenge.

Bundy, who is in his second season overseeing Porsche’s North American single-make series, including Carrera Cup, arrived at PMNA following a five-year stint at Porsche Cars Australia as its head of motorsport.

“It was almost deja-vu for me to a degree,” he told Sportscar365.

“In Australia we had a junior program, which Matt [Campbell] went through, which provided some support but was really focused around sending the leading driver to the global shootout and try and become he official Porsche Junior.

“When Matt was successful in winning the shootout we really saw the value in develop a specific junior program within that market which saw the program triple in size and again we won the global shootout again with Jaxon Evans.

“Last year in North America we where I a similar position and decided to develop a more structured junior program for this market which we [recently] announced the full junior program, which incorporates quite a big addition to that program.

“[Now] there’s much more support, much more structure, really clear pathways, much more education.

“I think there’s a lot of people in all markets that want to become race car drivers. But motorsport is challenging of what’s the right pathway to take.

“If a manufacturer like us can come in and say, ‘Hey, here’s our pathway, follow this journey and here are some examples like Matt, Earl Bamber etc… This actually works. And I think it helps everyone.”

Kay van Berlo and Trenton Estep are at the top level of the Porsche Junior North America program this year, having been named Selected Drivers.

Both drivers, who competed in Carrera Cup North America last year, have graduated to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and SRO America competition, respectively with van Berlo full-time in the GTD class with Kellymoss with Riley and Estep competing in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS in MDK Motorsports’ Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Parker Thompson, who won last year’s Carrera Cup title, was also set to be part of the Selected Driver roster but had a change of plans after signing with GTD team Vasser Sullivan for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.

“At the end of the day, of course we’d want them to graduate with us,” Bundy said.

“We want develop young talent with North America and sometimes they continue their journey with Porsche and sometimes they have other opportunities arise which is also great to see that other manufactures look at our platforms as talent pathways.

“Parker had the opportunity to do that but at the end of the day he got an opportunity from Lexus and we’d never begrudge him of that.

“We’re very friendly and he’s still part of the family and think it’s great for him.

“It’s great that Kay has moved up into a GT3 R and Trenton has also moved up as part of our Selected Driver program, which is great.”

Bundy added: “At the end of the day our job in Carrera Cup is to develop talent. If they move up the pyramid with us, great, if they don’t, they still have started with us.

“I see that in Australia with Carrera Cup developing most of the Supercars field. Sixty percent of the Supercars field have come from Carrera Cup.

“We realize the top of the pyramid is very small and tight and only a few will make it.

“I think that’s something we’re proud of. We want to develop talent and wherever they land, that’s fantastic.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John