North Yorkshire’s Robert Lawson is delighted to announce his graduation to the prestigious Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship for the 2009 motor racing season, making the switch to rear-wheel drive competition for the first time in his short career.The 31-year-old, from Barton near Richmond, has signed a deal with the JHR Developments squad with whom he has competed for the past two years in, first, ELF Renault Clio Cup and, secondly, the SEAT Cupra Championship.Robert’s move up the ranks to the high-profile Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship will be supported by Bardon Aggregates and Bardon Concrete who watched their driver come within touching distance of winning the SEAT Cupra title during the category’s final season last year.Ending the 2008 campaign as SEAT Cupra Vice-Champion, with more racing points and podiums than any other driver, Robert is now tackling his third fresh challenge in as many seasons – and he can’t wait to get behind the wheel of his brand new 420bhp Porsche Carrera 911 GT3 (997) Cup car.“I’m exceptionally pleased with my deal with JHR to race in Porsche this year, it’s a fantastic championship and although I know it’ll be a very tough challenge it’s an incredibly exciting development for my racing career”, he commented.“I thoroughly enjoyed the Porsche when I tested at Brands Hatch, it’s a great car. It’ll be a big learning curve for me but I had that switching from Clios to SEAT.”Robert added: “It’s my third season with JHR and I’m confident the team will do a great job, as they have for the past two years in Clio Cup and SEAT. The team has Porsche experience from the past and we’re all very hungry to succeed. We’re not underestimating how difficult it will be but we’re aiming to move up the grid as quickly as we possibly can.”Porsche Carrera Cup GB enters its seventh season this year and will once again be a key part of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship race package. The 2009 season will commence on 4th/5th April at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent and will visit tracks the length and breadth of the UK before concluding back at Brands Hatch, albeit on the full Grand Prix Circuit, on 3rd/4th October.Robert Lawson – ProfileAge: 31Date of Birth: 10th May 1977Born: Darlington, Co. DurhamLives: Barton, Richmond, North YorkshireMarital status: Engaged to CharlotteRacing debut: 2006Team: JHR DevelopmentsSponsors: Bardon Aggregates & Bardon ConcreteRacing Highlights2008: SEAT Cupra Championship – 2nd overall with six wins, nine podiums and seven pole positions2007  ELF Renault Clio Cup – 3rd overall with one win, four podiums and two pole positions2006: ELF Renault Clio Cup – Debut season; led his first race at the World Series by Renault Festival having qualified a career best second on the grid; achieved one podium