Carrera Cup GB Scholarship finalists complete evaluation

The six finalists in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Scholarship have completed two days of intensive evaluation at the Porsche Experience Centre (Monday and Tuesday 18 and 19 October) and now have an anxious wait until the two winners are announced on Friday, 29 October.The two-day final started with driving sessions in the latest 911 GT3 Cup car on the Silverstone National circuit under the expert guidance of former Carrera Cup GB champion James Sutton. Each driver had two timed stints, with the second run on new Michelin slicks as all aspects of their driving and feedback were analysed.On Monday afternoon the focus switched to media work and presentation skills, as each driver underwent interviews with the panel of expert judges as well as television interview sessions and training.Tuesday started early with unannounced media interviews followed by exhaustive fitness testing with Porsche Human Performance, with culminated with a demanding assault course run within the driving course at the Experience Centre.The judging panel is now evaluating all aspects of the two-day final in order to select two drivers to each receive a £50,000 scholarship towards their budget for the 2011 Carrera Cup GB. In addition, the scholars will receive an extensive fitness programme with Porsche Human Performance, race suits and a new Arai GP6S helmet.Championship manager Marion Barnaby said: "I'm very pleased with the overall standard of the six finalists. The judges face a very difficult decision in selecting just two of them to be the 2011 Carrera Cup GB Scholars."James Sutton said: “All of them showed great aptitude in driving the GT3 Cup car and performed well in such a short period of time in a high pressure environment. I’m impressed with how they all coped with the situation.”Each of the six finalists found the evaluation process both challenging and rewarding and all of them had to dig deep during differing aspects of the final.Leyton Clarke; aged 19 from Maidenhead, Berks"It's been an awesome couple of days. I look forward to competing in the 2011 Carrera Cup GB, hopefully as a Scholarship winner."Benji Hetherington; aged 18 from Hulme Walfield, Cheshire"It's been a fantastic experience. It has been tough but very enjoyable and the fitness session was very testing. It has really whetted my appetite to race in the Carrera Cup."Michael Lyons; aged 19 from Felsted, Essex"It's been a good two days and it was great to get experience of driving the new GT3 Cup car. It's been a great opportunity for me and it really showed the quality of everything that Porsche does."Adam Morgan; aged 21 from Preston, Lancs"It has been challenging but very good experience. I've really enjoyed it."Sam Tordoff; aged 21 from Leeds"A fantastic experience; the chance of a lifetime. I can take a lot from these two days."Kieran Vernon; aged 20 from West Chiltington, West Sussex"I really enjoyed the two days; it has been a great experience. It's been hard work and I hope I've done what it takes."The winners of the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship will be announced at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone on Friday 29 October.

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