First Porsche Carrera Cup Female

First Porsche Carrera Cup Female

17-year-old Brisbane teenager Renee Gracie will become the first female driver to contest the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship when she takes to the track next year driving her Fujitsu Racing Porsche 997 Cup Car.

Gracie, a former Rotax Pro and CIK karter, has been part of the Fujitsu 'Cool' Driver Program since its inception in 2010 and for the last two years has received structured career development by Chris Jewell's specialist motorsport management agency, Velocity Management Group.

Gracie, who turns 18 in early January, will soon commence a rigorous testing and development program with leading Carrera Cup exponents Andy McElrea Racing, before making her Carrera Cup debut on the streets of Adelaide at the Clipsal 500 event opening round.

Fujitsu General (Aust.) Pty Limited have long supported Australia's motor racing youth, with Dunlop Series star Scott McLaughlin the initial catalyst for the company's youth development initiatives, and Deputy Managing Director Philip Perham is excited about what lies ahead for Gracie.

"We're all about giving youngsters a go and on the back of what Scott has achieved by jumping so successfully from karting to V8 Supercars, we're excited to be supporting Renee's progression into Porsche Carrera Cup. The Fujitsu 'Cool' Driver Program has become the industry leader in supporting Australia's motor racing youth and Renee has been a big part of the program since it commenced, always displaying the attributes we are looking for. While the next step is a big one, we have great faith that Renee will represent Fujitsu in a positive and competitive way."

Porsche Cars Australia's Motorsport Manager, Jamey Blaikie is equally enthusiastic about Gracie's progression to Porsche Carrera Cup.

"Carrera Cup Australia is a great platform for Renee to hone her skills at the wheel of a race car. We are thrilled to play a part in the development of Renee as a driver and look forward to welcoming her into the Porsche championship full-time in 2013. "

Gracie too, is excited to be making her debut in mainstream circuit racing driving in the Carrera Cup Championship.

"This fantastic opportunity is the realisation of what I set out to do when I first started in karts. I've been training hard and working towards making this exciting step into championship motor racing and I couldn't be happier knowing what 2013 holds for me. Yes, it's a big step, but I feel confident the team can bring me up to speed and assist me with increasing my competitiveness in a structured and measured way. It's also great to be able to continue with Fujitsu who've supported me so enthusiastically for the last two years. I'm pinching myself to be honest."