LEUSDEN (November 2, 2021) – The junior driver position at Porsche Motorsport is highly coveted among young ambitious drivers. Who wouldn't want to continue building their own career under the wings of one of the most famous and successful brands in motorsport? To find a new Junior for 2022, Porsche Motorsport is organizing a selection at the Motorland Aragón in Spain at the end of this month. From the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, 21-year-old Huub van Eijndhoven from Oisterwijk in Brabant will participate in the selection. Last season Van Eijndhoven drove for #Team PGZ by JW Raceservice in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux.
Van Eijndhoven was one of the four drivers in the so-called 'Talent Pool' of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux who could qualify for participation in the selection for the Junior program of Porsche Motorsport. An expert panel, which not only included representatives of the Cup organization, but also former Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen, assessed the performance of the drivers around each race weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. Attention was paid not only to the results achieved in training and races, but also, for example, to matters such as behavior on and off the track, communication and providing the requested feedback afterwards.
Van Eijndhoven, twice race winner this season and third in the final standings of the drivers' standings, came out on top of the four 'Talent Pool' drivers, so that he is delegated to the Junior Championships as the official representative of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. selection of Porsche Motorsport. "I had hoped for it, but then it still has to be confirmed, so I was happy when I heard the good news," said Van Eijndhoven. “Unfortunately, we did not manage to win the title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, but this is a nice consolation prize.”
Spanish circuit still unknown territory
The Motorland Aragón circuit near the city of Alcañiz in the north of Spain is still unknown territory for Van Eijndhoven. “From what I've seen, it's a very technical track with some corners where you have to turn in while braking,” he says. “I will train with Kevin Abbring on the simulator and will also ask for feedback from Jaap van Lagen, who I believe has already driven there. Things like lines, braking points, which curbstones you can and cannot take, all play a role.”
With Turkish driver Ayhancan Güven, a former champion from Porsche's Benelux competition is one of Porsche Motorsport's current Junior drivers. The Junior programme, which was established in 1997, previously produced the later factory drivers Timo Bernhard, Patrick Long, Michael Christensen, Earl Bamber and Sven Müller. The last rider to participate in the selection from the Netherlands was Max van Splunteren in 2019. Last year, the selection was canceled due to the corona pandemic. “I think it's a great honor to have the opportunity to participate in the selection, with drivers from all over the world,” says Van Eijndhoven. “That experience alone is already nice after my first year in the Porsche Carrera Cup!”
Of course, the outcome of the Junior selection for Van Eijndhoven plays an important role in his plans for the coming season. “If I get the support as a Junior driver from Porsche, it will of course open other doors,” he says. “But we are already busy making plans for next year. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is the highest, that would be great to be able to participate in that, but I think the German Porsche Carrera Cup is a bit more accessible as the next step and the level is also very high there. It's exciting at this time of year, but now my focus is on the Junior squad first. I am really looking forward to that!”