American Porsche Junior, Female Drivers Get Tools to Grow Careers

Porsche’s next generation of racing stars took some time off the track to improve their career trajectories last month.

Drivers from the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program and the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program – two initiatives that represent the backbone of Porsche’s North American talent development pipeline – are armed with new lessons to carry into the remainder of their 2025 campaigns and beyond after gathering for the annual development workshop at Porsche Penske Motorsport and PitFit.

The workshop blended technical insight, physical training, and professional mentorship.

Participants in this year’s workshop came from Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, and Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama.

Among them were Carrera Cup racers Zachary Vanier, Sabre Cook, Tyler Maxson, Madeline Stewart, Yves Baltas, and Paul Bocuse, as well as Sprint Challenge competitors Cole Kleck, Therese Lahlouh, Loni Unser, Anna Cecchi, and Erika Hoffmann.

Day 1: Porsche Penske Motorsport

The first day took place at the state-of-the-art Team Penske facility in Mooresville, N.C.—home to the Porsche 963 that races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Drivers were treated to a series of guest speakers throughout the day. Porsche Cars North America training curriculum development manager James Kim presented a sweeping overview of Porsche motorsport history, while Ben Atkins and Chance Stewart offered behind-the-scenes insight into day-to-day operations at Team Penske.

Team Penske nutritionist Pam Brown explained the importance of correctly “fueling the driver,” and renowned NBC pit lane reporter Matt Yocum provided media training to the young drivers to prepare them for television interviews.

The young drivers also got a close look at the cutting-edge technology behind the GTP machine and participated in hands-on pit stop drills, including live bodywork changes and even NASCAR tire change pit stops.

“I’ve really enjoyed the day at Penske,” Yokohama front-runner Erika Hoffmann said. “It was amazing to see the facility as part of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program workshop. It’s been so fun to be with the other participants, build that bond, and work together.

Hoffmann, along with fellow podium regulars Loni Unser and Anna Cecchi, has been a standout in the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver program this season.

“I feel super fortunate and grateful to be part of this program,” she said. “Mobil 1 is such an iconic brand, and I remember looking at this program in years past, seeing the girls run it last year, and thinking, ‘I really want to be part of that.’ So now, to be a member is amazing.”

The opening day of the workshop culminated in a team dinner with former Porsche factory driver and program mentor Patrick Long.

Attendees heard valuable career advice as Long shared lessons from his own journey through the Porsche development ladder including strategies to stand out both on and off the track.

Day 2: PitFit Performance Testing

The second day of the workshop shifted gears from education to driver performance, as the drivers went through physical and cognitive testing at PitFit Training. Known for its work with top-level motorsport professionals, PitFit is a cornerstone of modern motorsport preparation.

The drivers underwent rigorous physical and cognitive assessments, which helped them understand their current performance baselines and create personalized training targets.

Zachary Vanier, a third-year member of the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program and current Carrera Cup competitor, also found the physical component of the workshop eye-opening.

“This was my third opportunity to take part in the annual workshop, and this was absolutely the best yet,” Vanier said. “It was a great couple of days here in Charlotte with everyone in the program. The physical fitness testing was especially eye-opening for me. It gave me a clear picture of where I stand compared to last year’s results and showed me exactly where I need to focus moving forward.

Vanier echoed the broader sentiment shared by many of his peers: that the EBOOST Junior Program is helping him compete at a higher level.

“When you’re racing in a single-make series, you’re constantly trying to find those small advantages over the competition. Being part of a program that includes such a select group of drivers gives me that edge,” he said.

“Utilizing the resources and everything we’ve taken from the workshop, I’m confident I can implement that into my approach going forward. It’s been an honor to be part of this program, and I’ve learned a lot that I’ll definitely carry with me.”

Don’t miss the final three rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season.

Two run in conjunction with IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta, with the Carrera Cup finale in conjunction with the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin at Circuit of the Americas.

All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races can be seen live and on demand on its YouTube channel.