Ginetta Junior graduate Dan Harper has made history as the youngest Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion after sealing the title at Silverstone last weekend.
The 18-year-old finished third in the Pro category in the opening race of the weekend, putting him 47 points ahead of his closest rival, 2014 champion Josh Webster who he had spent most of the race battling for position with.
With only 37 points available from the final three races of the season, it was enough to put Harper out of reach of the rest of the field and secure his first car racing title.
With an updated “champion gold” livery for the second race of the weekend, Harper finished fourth overall, further extending his advantage ahead of the final two races of the season at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.
“2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion. It feels pretty surreal to say that right now. Winning the championship was the number one goal this year and we’ve all worked so hard to achieve it, which makes this feel so amazing for all of us. I think it will take a while to sink in.
“This is one of the most competitive Carrera Cup series in the world, so to win it with a weekend to spare is an unbelievable feeling. To have so many family members, friends and sponsors with me to celebrate, alongside the brilliant JTR team, has made it such a special weekend.
“Obviously the title was in the back of my mind heading into the meeting and I knew what I needed to do to win it, but I tried to ignore it and just focus on each session as they came. My pole position record is one of my proudest achievements this season, so to continue it was a great start to the meeting.
“As you would expect in the UK, the weather certainly played its part in the opening race. While we were on the wrong tyre, fortunately not many Pro drivers went on wets. To come home first of the drivers on slicks was good and that got me the points I needed for the title.
“It was such a release of emotions as I crossed the line and I admit the tears started pretty quickly. To then come in and celebrate with the team, my family, friends and sponsors was really emotional and they are moments I will remember for the rest of my life.
“There are so many people I need to thank for getting me to this point. Porsche GB put incredible faith in me when selecting me as their Junior driver and they made all this possible. Their support through the last two years has been invaluable and I’m glad I could repay them with the title.
“JTR have been the perfect team for me. They’re a fantastic group of people, and also a superbly talented squad who have given me a faultless car for every session I’ve done. Hopefully I can help them win the Teams’ title at Brands Hatch to cap off the season in style.
“Family means the world to me, so to have my parents, my sister and my grandparents there to celebrate with me was amazing. Some of my sponsors were there too and I owe immense gratitude to everyone who has backed me – without them I wouldn’t be racing at all!”
Harper led the championship from the start of the season. The Porsche Junior driver took pole, fastest lap and victory in the opening race of the weekend at Brands Hatch in April.
Since then, he has added six more victories to his total, as well as three third place finishes.
The victory comes two years after he finished third in the 2017 Ginetta Junior championship, bringing the fight to McLaren Autosport Award winner Tom Gamble and British GT race winner Sebastian Priaulx.
Image credit: Dan Bathie/Porsche
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