Will Jenkins has concluded his 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB season with a brilliant double podium finish during an exciting season finale weekend at Brands Hatch (07/08 October).
The talented young racer has enjoyed an impressive maiden year of one-make Porsche competition, with the finale podiums being added to a stunning maiden race victory and pole position at Donington Park and further top three race results at Snetterton and Croft.
Jenkins, who has competed this season as part of BTCC team Alliance Racing’s Young Driver Programme with support from Wera Tools, was focused on ending his season on a high as he returned to the scene of a memorable race win in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge last year.
Producing encouraging pace as he got reacquainted with the Brands Hatch GP circuit during free practice on Friday, the Staffordshire racer wasn’t quite able to show his true pace in qualifying the next morning as he finished up seventh overall in an extremely close-fought session.
There would be further frustration in the opening race as some issues with the car left him back in seventh at the finish, however he posted the fastest lap of the race and that filled him with confidence heading into Sunday with the issues resolved on his Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
The 18 year old rising star took full advantage in race two. Storming up to sixth on the opening lap, he then benefitted from two drivers going off circuit – one of whom he pressured into a mistake – to rise to fourth position prior to a safety car period.
When action resumed, Jenkins went on to challenge for the final podium position and his efforts paid off on the last lap. A great run out of Westfield got him up the inside of Max Coates into Sheene Curve for third place, a result that also crucially secured him the same position on the grid for the final race.
Jenkins, who races with the support of loyal personal partners Hopkins Motorsport, Asset Alliance Group, The Reefer Trailer Centre and Culina Group, went on to double his podium tally for the day with a brilliant drive in an enthralling final race.
Renewing his battle with Coates, the duo produced some thrilling side-by-side racing as they traded third position. A potential grandstand finish was denied by an early red flag conclusion, which confirmed Jenkins ends the year with six podium finishes.
Will Jenkins: “I’m over the moon to end the season on such a high note. After qualifying lower than hoped and battling some car issues on Saturday, I know I was in for a tough battle on Sunday but the team got the car in a great place and I was able to go out there and show what I could do.
“To come through the order in race two and then pull off a big move to grab a podium finish on the last lap felt awesome. The final race was a different sort of battle as I had to be more defensive, but it was great fun going wheel-to-wheel and ending with another podium.
“It’s been a season full of highs and lows as we got to grips with a new car and a new championship, so to be able to reward everyone’s efforts with a positive end to the year is a great feeling. Personally, it’s a big confidence booster heading into the winter and 2024.
“A huge thank you to Century Motorsport for all their hard work this year, they’ve kept pushing to improve the car and me every weekend, and to Alliance Racing, Wera Tools and my personal partners for making all of this possible. I’m excited to see what next year may bring.”
Images from Porsche GB.