PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Michelin Junior Bayley Hall will get his first shot at international racing later this month when he heads to compete in the United States.

The McElrea Racing driver will link with his team’s Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America squad for two key rounds of the American championship, adding two high-profile US events to the final four rounds of this year’s Carrera Cup Australia title race.

Hall will compete at the iconic Porsche Rennsport Reunion event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 29-October 1, before journeying to the Circuit of the Americas in Texas for the support event at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on October 20-22.

Hall will slide into McElrea’s #24 North American entry alongside another local graduate – Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge winner Tom Sargent.

Sargent has already scored several pole positions and podium finishes this year and sits second in the North American Championship.

Hall has impressed in domestic Porsche competition this year, scoring three top-10 round finishes in what is effectively his second full year of one-make Porsche competition.

He qualified a career-best third in Townsville and finished fifth overall last time out at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia and sits less than 60 points outside the top four in the championship.

Hall has already completed a pair of tests in the United States, including one at Road America in Wisconsin in July.

He then recently travelled to Texas for a two-day test with McElrea at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the round there later this month.

Carrera Cup North America uses identical cars to the Australian championship, save for the addition of ABS braking.

Hall will be in action this weekend at the fifth round of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria.

BAYLEY HALL

“This opportunity to race with my home team on an international scale will be I’m sure, very eye opening but an experience I am very grateful to take head on and make the most of every minute.

“The United States are so passionate about sports and I cannot wait to experience that for myself from the drivers side’ and immerse myself in it”

“When I was 7 years old, I made my Dad take a detour on a USA family holiday to visit Laguna Seca but I have never been to Texas, so yes I’m very excited. I’m very much looking forward to this incredible experience, and ticking off another 2 iconic tracks from my bucket list that I had set goals to race on,’

“There are a few differences in Carrera cup North America. Most notable ones are that the cars use ABS and have rolling starts, which is different from Carrera Cup Australia. Also they have two 45 minutes races over the weekend which will provide plenty of laps to learn and grow from.”

“I’ve taken inspiration from both Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen who have both raced in the US and rustled some feathers. I’m excited for when it’s my chance to do the same.”

“The American championship is still extremely competitive, and it will be a great challenge for me to adapt to the tracks as quickly as possible and also endeavour to make a name for myself in another country.”

‘The Porsche driver selection program is another incentive in the Michelin Junior Program and it allows a pathway to the IMSA GTD program. My ambitions are to work towards a seat in the GTD program and Andy and my team believe that this is one step in the right direction”

ANDY McELREA

“Last year we threw Bayley into the deep end in Carrera Cup due to Covid not allowing a Sprint Championship for him to learn from, he pretty much had to learn how to drink from a fire hose and he certainly did.

“This year he’s been able to gain another level of confidence by building on his experience from last year, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him, he’s a brilliant student & he’s exceeding our expectations. He’s fast, he’s dedicated & he’s hungry.

“The opportunity to test in America arose & like Bayley always does, he grabbed it with two hands & impressed at the test, opening up this opportunity to race in the North American Carrera Cup.

“It will be a challenge for him but he’s proven his adaptability skills over the last 18 months & we can’t wait to see what he can do.”