Porsche McElrea Junior to race stateside

Porsche Carrera Cup Junior Bayley Hall has scored a drive in North America with McElrea Racing to drive alongside Tom Sargent at Laguna Seca and COTA.

Hall is currently in his second full-year of one-make Porsche racing, and in a hugely competitive field sits just outside the top-ten as well as sitting fifth in the Michelin Junior stakes.

The McElrea racer has also had a great start to Sandown 500 round, placing second behind Dylan O’Keeffe in the second practice session.

The Queensland youngster will race alongside Tom Sargent who sits second in the championship after inhabiting second place on the grid for most of the season in a sensational debut year internationally.

Hall has twice been out to America to test for McElrea, and will make his international debut at Laguna Seca

Hall will head to the states to race in two Porsche Carrera Cup North America rounds, with his first outing to be at the famous Laguna Seca on September 29-October 1, before taking on the Formula 1 supporting COTA round in Texas on October 20-22.

“This opportunity to race with my home team on an international scale will be, I’m sure, very eye opening but an experience I am very grateful to take head on and make the most of every minute,” Hall said.

“The United States are so passionate about sports and I cannot wait to experience that for myself from the drivers side’ and immerse myself in it.

“There are a few differences in the Carrera Cup North America. Most notable ones are that the cars use ABS and have rolling starts, which is different from Carrera Cup Australia. Also they have two 45 minute races over the weekend which will provide plenty of laps to learn and grow from.”

Hall finished fifth outright at The Bend, and sits just 60 points of the top-four in 2023

Hall has already completed a pair of tests in the United States, including one at Road America in Wisconsin in July.

He then recently travelled to Texas for a two-day test with McElrea at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the round there later this month.

Carrera Cup North America uses identical cars to the Australian championship, save for the addition of ABS braking.

Andy McElrea says that Hall was impressive in his test sessions in the states, and that he’s been exceeding expectations on the home front.

“Last year we threw Bayley into the deep end in the Carrera Cup due to Covid not allowing a Sprint Championship for him to learn from, he pretty much had to learn how to drink from a fire hose and he certainly did,” McElrea said.

“This year he’s been able to gain another level of confidence by building on his experience from last year, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him, he’s a brilliant student & he’s exceeded our expectations. He’s fast, he’s dedicated & he’s hungry.

“The opportunity to test in America arose & like Bayley always does, he grabbed it with two hands & impressed at the test, opening up this opportunity to race in the North American Carrera Cup.

“It will be a challenge for him but he’s proven his adaptability skills over the last 18 months and we can’t wait to see what he can do.”

Hall will be back in action for this afternoon’s vital qualifying at the Sandown 500, with Group 1 heading out at 1500, and Group 2 at 1518.

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