The all-new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport will make its Intelligent Money British GT Championship debut next season when Team Parker Racing expands its domestic programme with the German manufacturer.
The squad is also expected to remain in GT3 as well as Sprint Challenge GB and Carrera Cup GB but has initially confirmed its GT4 comeback with Seb Hopkins who finished third in this year’s Ginetta Junior standings. His co-driver will be announced in early 2022.
The 15-year-old, who turns 16 on New Year’s Eve, will become one of the youngest drivers in championship history when he debuts at Oulton Park on April 16 & 18. Hopkins will fall short of Tom Canning’s participation record (16 years and 35 days) and Sandy Mitchell’s pole position mark (16 years and 100 days) but can potentially take the fastest lap and race victory accolades also held by Mitchell and undercut Jamie Chadwick’s championship-winning benchmark.
His car racing career began two years ago when he finished third in Ginetta Junior’s rookie standings before notching up 11 podiums in 25 races en route to the same position in the overall championship.
The switch from Ginetta to Porsche will be considerable. Not since 2019 has a Cayman contested British GT4, while Team Parker last ran the previous iteration in 2017. The new model, which makes its worldwide debut next season, is powered by a naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine that delivers close to 500bhp. It also boasts optimised aerodynamics and improved driveability, as well as several safety features that include a GT3-esque escape hatch.
"I'm extremely excited," said Hopkins. "It's a massive opportunity for me and I am very excited to be driving the newly launched Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 RS Clubsport in the British GT Championship. Working with Team Parker Racing we’re going to do as well as we possibly can - it's going to be a big step and I think I'm probably going to be one of the youngest on the grid, but it's something that can hopefully benefit my career.
“Team Parker Racing, I think, is the best team to be with. They're very well established, especially in the Porsche side of it, so I think realistically we can do well and, whilst it will be a learning year, there's no reason why we can't be fighting for wins.
“My driving style definitely suits endurance length races and championships. The aim would be Le Mans like many other people, I'm sure, and I think this is the first step that could bring me to the top of that ladder. I also want to thank 1BR, a leading local used car retailer, and Moneybarn Vehicle Finance for their backing over the past few years.”
Team Parker is expected to confirm its British GT3 plans early in the new year.