Coates signs up for new Porsche race series
NGK-sponsored North Yorkshire based racing car driver Max Coates and Graves Motorsport will embark on a debut season in the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB in 2023.
The family-run team from Colchester has been behind Max’s last two MINI CHALLENGE UK JCW seasons, both producing race winning results throughout. The two-car team for the 2023 season will include Max’s former team-mate Ethan Hammerton as the two re-join for Porsche’s newest single make race series. The pair will drive the Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car which features a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 425hp.
The Porsche Sprint Challenge GB is going into its most exciting season yet, moving to a full-time support series to the British Touring Car Championship with races broadcast live on ITV4 and in front of crowds in excess of 40,000 people. Racing exclusively on the BTCC support card is a real plus for Max whose thirteen-year racing career has seen him race in more BTCC support category cars than anyone else in history.
A serial championship challenger since 2016, Max has been racing in front-wheel drive race cars in both the Renault UK Clio Cup and MINI CHALLENGE UK JCW. Max, however, is no stranger to the rear-wheel drive alternative after his formative years were spent racing in the Ginetta series and ultimately, a one-off guest appearance in Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Donington Park in 2014 and a one-off round in the British Touring Car Championship at his home circuit of Croft in 2015.
Max said: “Porsche is a premium brand synonymous with motorsport that I am delighted to be joining to race this season. The Graves Motorsport team and I have worked well over the past two seasons; however, I don’t underestimate the challenge that competing against well-established Porsche teams will bring this year. I am sure my experience will help to get both Ethan and I up to speed quickly.”
Team manager David Graves said: “I am absolutely delighted that Max has moved up into the Porsche Cayman GT4 with the team. I’m genuinely happy to be working with Max again for the third year now, in fact the whole Coates family actually, they share the Racing Family Ethics of the team and we all work very well together to get the best out of Max. With his vast experience and previous RWD history I have no doubt at all that Max will be at the sharp end from the start.”
Max thanked his sponsors which include ignition and sensor specialist NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd.
Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, said: “We are delighted that Max is participating in this exciting race series which I’m sure will delight all his fans. We look forward to following his progress over the course of the season.”
The season launch date will be at Silverstone on March 27 before the racing action starts at Donington Park on April 22 and 23. Whilst races will be live broadcast on ITV4 throughout the season, Max will be hoping to see a massive crowd out in force at his home event at Croft on July 29 and 30.