An unprecedented level of early registrations following the 2016 season saw the majority of the grid confirmed before the year’s end, but the 2017 pre-season still has a few surprises of its own.
Heading to the championship from the BTCC is Welch Motorsport. In parallel to any BTCC activities, the team will be supporting Matt Telling as he takes on his first season competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Entered in both Pro-Am2 and Rookie categories, Telling has some experience of the ‘Type 991’ 911 GT3 Cup from endurance races, but he and Welch Motorsport will be making the most of pre-season testing.
After four seasons and seven wins, front-runner Stephen Jelley recently announced a return to the British Touring Car Championship after moving from the BTCC to Porsche Carrera Cup GB in 2010. Jelley will be trading places with Alex Martin, who returns to Porsche Carrera Cup GB alongside father Rupert at Team Parker Racing. Alex had his first taste of the championship driving a ‘Type 997’ 911 GT3 Cup back in 2009, but he and father Rupert, himself a veteran of two seasons, have never raced in the championship together.
Alex explains: “After two memorable but frustrating seasons in the BTCC, I’m genuinely happy to be returning to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. I never quite adapted to the front-wheel drive Focus and felt unable to push myself and the car to the edge required in such a competitive championship. So onwards and upwards to Porsche!“
For 2017, company director Alex will compete in the Pro-Am1 category, while Rupert stays in Pro-Am2. Alex continues: “I drove my dad’s car after the end of last season and loved it straight away. So much so that at the end of a long day in the car I got out, smiling from ear to ear, and Stuart Parker [team manager] said, “there are 10 minutes left before the circuit shuts”, so rather than calling it a day I jumped straight back in to do a few more laps – what a machine!
“2017 for me is about rediscovering my love for racing. It’s easy to get caught up in all the hype and media, but at the end of the day I race for three reasons: the love of competition, the cars and, most of all, fun! I can’t wait to get stuck in as 2017 is going to be a lot of fun.”
Indications are that there will be more to come before the first race weekend at Brands Hatch on 1 / 2 April.