Team Parker newcomer in a hurry to reach Le Mans!
youngster Will Newnham will make his debut in the competitive Porsche Sprint Challenge GB for Desford-based Team Parker Racing this season.
Newnham has been racing karts since the age of eight, with success in the Super One British Championship, before competing in the European Karting Championship and Benelux Championship.
In 2019, he made his debut appearance in Mini Challenge, in the JCW class, entering four rounds and quickly becoming a regular in the top-15 despite a lack of seat time compared with his rivals.
He returned in 2020, securing two Graduate Cup podium finishes and a best overall result of eighth, at Silverstone.
As well as racing, the 20-year-old is in his final year at the University of Hertfordshire, studying automotive and motorsport engineering, which will help give him an insight into the mechanical side of the industry.
After a year away from competition, Newnham sampled the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport at last year’s taster day at Silverstone and left feeling confident about his decision to compete in the series this season.
The season gets under way at Silverstone on May 7-8 and finishes at Donington Park, where rounds 13, 14 and 15 will be contested on October 15 and 16.
Newnham said: “Having previously driven in Mini Challenge JCW, that only really leads to the British Touring Car Championship and my ultimate ambition is to race at Le Mans.
“The conversations I had with team boss Stuart Parker illustrated the team’s goal to race there, so everything aligned nicely, and the Sprint Challenge is the best step to get on to the Porsche motorsport pyramid.
“For Team Parker Racing that is the lowest series they race Porsches in, going all the way up to GT3, so our ambitions match.
“I had a successful time at the Porsche taster day in November. It was my first time in a rear engine, rear wheel-drive car, and it was a bit of a wake-up call.
“I thought I was going to come away feeling a bit anxious and nervous about driving the car, but I left with heaps of confidence and itchTALENTED
ing to get out again when the weather gets a bit better.
“I’m not going to be taking it easy – I want to get to Le Mans as quickly as possible.
“Hopefully, this season goes well and then I can look at the Carrera Cup or British GT Championship but still making sure that we’re progressing sensibly and for the right reasons. I also want to thank UBH Group for their continued support of my racing career.”