Andy Purdie will step up to contest the 2006 Porsche Carrera Cup GB in the first year of a multi-year programme in the high-profile championship. The 22-year old from West Malling in Kent will graduate from the Porsche Club Championship in the Paragon with RH Motorsport team."I can't wait," says Purdie. "I've got no major expectations from this year. It's a learning year as part of a three-year plan in Carrera Cup." In his first full season of racing, Purdie finished second in class one of the Porsche Club Championship in 2005, winning seven of the final 10 races on the schedule.However, Purdie will miss two Carrera Cup race weekends in the spring due to final university exams. Instead, former British GT champion Mark Sumpter, boss of Paragon Porsche, will take the car over for the races at Mondello Park and Oulton Park. Sumpter could also tackle further races later in the season if a second car became available, but the team's main focus is on Purdie. The team hopes to expand to a two-car operation for 2007.Mike Jordan, the former GT partner of Sumpter, will act as driver coach for Purdie during test sessions.The team's new car, complete in Paragon livery will be launched at Paragon's showrooms in Sussex on Friday (24 February).