At a glance
- Since 1997, the Porsche Junior Programme has been paving the way into international professional racing
- Porsche will support the winner during the 2027 motorsport season
- Integrated for the first time: sim-racing drivers compete for a separate support package
The new Porsche Junior will compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2027. As the pinnacle of the sports car manufacturer’s one-make cup ecosystem, the international series takes place as part of eight European Grand Prix events. Added to this is comprehensive support from Porsche Motorsport: the development package includes coaching in the areas of driving dynamics, mental strength, nutrition, fitness and media relations.
Four-day selection programme in Germany and Portugal
As in the previous year, the Porsche Junior selection process will once again take place at two locations in 2026. For interviews, tests, simulator sessions and various assessments, candidates will visit the Porsche Esports Performance Centre (PEPC) in Cologne. The home of the Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team offers the ideal conditions for this.
Participants will then demonstrate their driving skills on the Formula 1 circuit in Portimão. The competition car will be the 992.2-generation Porsche 911 Cup. The 382 kW (520 PS) racing car was already in use in 2026 in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and selected Carrera Cups.
New: the Porsche Esports Supercup Talent Shoot-Out
From the digital world to a real-life racing driver: the Porsche Esports Supercup has been following a new development programme since this season. Five of the 32 finalists in the global sim-racing one-make cup qualified through a multi-stage selection process. This separate talent scouting programme utilises the infrastructure of the Porsche Junior shoot-out system and also gets underway in Cologne. The best candidates will travel alongside the Junior candidates to the 4.563-kilometre-long Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. There, they must prove themselves at the wheel of a Porsche 911 Challenge. The winner can look forward to support for a real-life racing season: they will compete in one of the national Porsche one-make series.
Twelve Porsche Junior candidates across five continents
They are aged between 18 and 22 and were each nominated by a national Carrera Cup: The Porsche Junior shoot-out is once again delighted to welcome an international field of participants in 2026.
This year, the line-up also includes a young female racing driver, Antonella Bassani from Brazil. She had already won her home country’s Porsche Sprint Challenge in 2023. In the current season, the 20-year-old finished fifth in the Porsche C6 Bank Carrera Cup Brasil. Bassani will be up against a fellow Brazilian in Cologne and Portimão: Matheus Ferreira finished his debut season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup as the fourth-best rookie. The 19-year-old was selected by the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, where Ferreira finished fifth in the championship in the 2026 season.
The youngest contender is Milan Marczak from Poland. The 18-year-old has made a name for himself by winning the title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. At almost 23, Pietro Delli Guanti is the oldest participant in the trials. The Italian is listed as runner-up in the Carrera Cup Italia, although this result has not yet been confirmed.
The Carrera Cup France is sending Macéo Capietto into the competition. The 20-year-old Frenchman impressed in the one-make cup by finishing third overall. Capietto also already has two LMP2 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his name. Callum Voisin, who is the same age, is travelling from the UK. He also holds a Swiss passport and has won the Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain. William Siverholm, champion of the Carrera Cup Scandinavia, is also part of the line-up. The 21-year-old Swede has one advantage: he knows his way to Cologne – Siverholm previously took part in the Junior selection event in 2025.
The Oceania region is fielding a strong contingent this year. The 22-year-old New Zealander Marco Giltrap claimed victory in the Porsche ARbox Carrera Cup Asia. His compatriot Clay Osborne finished as runner-up in the Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia. Caleb Sumich hails from Australia. The 20-year-old also gained experience this season in the Mobil 1 Supercup and the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland. However, Sumich qualified for the Junior Selection by finishing second in the Carrera Cup Middle East.
Taichi Watarai is representing Japan. The 22-year-old triumphed in his home country’s Carrera Cup, as well as in the Carrera Cup Middle East. US boy Tyler Maxson, meanwhile, is competing in the Carrera Cup North America, which the 22-year-old finished as champion.
From Porsche Juniors to world champions, Le Mans winners and DTM titles
The history of the Junior Programme dates back to the 1997 season. Since then, the programme has supported the careers of 34 racing drivers. Notable figures include current Porsche Brand Ambassador Timo Bernhard (Porsche Junior from 2000 to 2001), Marc Lieb (2000 to 2002) and Earl Bamber (2014): all three went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and were crowned FIA World Endurance Champions. Thomas Preining (2017 to 2018) clinched his second DTM title in 2026. The Austrian thus succeeded Ayhancan Güven (2020 to 2021) from Turkey as champion. Both drove a 911 GT3 R for the Porsche customer team Manthey. Laurin Heinrich (2022) claimed the GTD Pro title in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in 2024. Driving the 963 hybrid prototype, the German triumphed at the IMSA endurance classics in Daytona and Sebring in 2026. He shared the driving duties with Frenchman Julien Andlauer (Porsche Junior from 2018 to 2019) and Felipe Nasr. Bastian Buus (2023) won this year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps alongside Thomas Preining and Ricardo Feller. Together with his DTM-mate Feller, the Dane was also crowned Sprint Cup champion in the GT World Challenge Europe.
An overview of the Porsche Junior candidates
Antonella Bassani (Brazil, aged 20) – Porsche C6 Bank Carrera Cup Brasil
Macéo Capietto (France, aged 20) – Porsche Carrera Cup France
Pietro Delli Guanti (Italy, aged 22) – Porsche Carrera Cup Italia
Matheus Ferreira (Brazil, aged 19) – Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland
Marco Giltrap (New Zealand, aged 22) – Porsche ARbox Carrera Cup Asia
Milan Marczak (Poland, aged 18) – Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux
Tyler Maxson (USA, aged 22) – Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Clay Osborne (New Zealand, aged 21) – Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia
William Siverholm (Sweden, aged 21) – Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia
Caleb Sumich (Australia, aged 20) – Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East
Callum Voisin (Great Britain, aged 20) – Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain
Taichi Watarai (Japan, aged 22) – Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
