New and old faces join Gold Coast Carrera Cup field

Marcos Flack and Luke Youlden will bring a mixture of youth and experience to the Porsche Carrera Cup field at this weekend’s Gold Coast 500.

For Flack, it is a new beginning making his Carrera Cup debut for Team Sonic, while for Youlden it will mark a return to the category after 12 months away.

The 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner will race for the team he co owns, TekworkX Motorsport in a one-off appearance alongside regular drivers Max Vidau and Thomas Maxwell.

Youlden is being a substitute for Danny Stutterd in the #23 Pro-Am entry, with the regular driver missing the penultimate round on family commitments.

Luke Youlden racing at last year’s Gold Coast 500 in the Carrera Cup. Image: Mark Horsburgh

Fittingly the race will take place on the same stage as Youlden’s last Carrera Cup appearance at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit last year where he finished ninth, ninth and seventh across the three races.

Youlden is looking forward to jumping back behind the wheel.

“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel, my last race was the Gold Coast in 2022 and I thought I drove pretty well at that one, even if the results didn’t particularly reflect it,” he said.

“It’s hopefully a positive for Max and Thomas as well, having a third pro driver, to help them out a bit. 

“Three heads are better than one, looking at data and trying different things to find the speed. I’ve got a fair amount of experience with lots of co-drives around there, so I don’t expect the year out of the seat will affect me to much.

“I expect Danny will still have an integral role within the team on the weekend, and I know full well that I’m going out to do the best I can for myself and for Danny in his car. 

“If we can help out Thomas and Max in their efforts as well, then that’d be perfect for the team.”

Marcos Flack is eyeing a full-time Carrera Cup seat next year. Image: Supplied

Flack will step up from the second tier Porsche Sprint Challenge to the top level Porsche Carrera Cup Australia for the first time.

The 17-year-old has put together a solid 2023 campaign, currently sitting sixth in the championship with five podiums and one pole position.

Flack will compete in Pro Class in a fourth Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992 for Team Sonic, joining regular team drivers Simon Fallon, Angelo Mouzouris and Rodney Jane.

The youngster hopes this can be a stepping stone to a full-time Carrera Cups seat next year.

“It will be a good experience. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Flack.

“It’s all in preparation for next year. My aim is to do Carrera Cup in 2024. There are a few details to lock away, but this will give me a good head start for next year.

The special livery Marcos Flack will race with at Gold Coast.

“The circuit will be difficult. It’s my first time at a street track, so my main aim will be to learn the track, enjoy the experience and keep the car straight.

“I have done a test in the Carrera Cup car, and they aren’t a lot different to my regular Sprint Challenge car. 

“Fundamentally, they are the same. The brakes are better on the Carrera Cup car, but I think I will be able to adjust to it pretty quickly.”

The 2023 Gold Coast 500 takes place this weekend on October 27-29.

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