Motorbase Performance returns to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship on home soil this weekend as the 2018 season gets underway on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

David Bartrum’s Wrotham-based squad is fielding a single-car effort for this year’s title campaign, with 21-year-old Carrera Cup debutant Dan Vaughan challenging for Pro-Am class honours against a strong field of eight top-class rivals.

“Coming back to the Carrera Cup at this point in time is good for us;” said Team Principal David Bartrum. “The new car means that we’re heading into the new season on a level playing field. Everyone is starting from the same platform and that gives us and Dan the best opportunity for his debut year.”

“We’ve done a fair few miles in pre-season testing and Dan has done a sterling job. He’s taken everything on-board and he brings a new energy to the team;” he added.

“As always, the Carrera Cup grid is big and varied this year and that produces some great racing. It’s a bonus to be starting the season at our home circuit, Brands Hatch, and I’m looking forward to the weekend and seeing what Dan can do.”

Hampshire-based Vaughan makes his step up to the Carrera Cup after a three-year sabbatical from competitive racing but the former Radical racer has quickly got to grips with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car and shown promising pace during the squad’s pre-season testing programme.

“The car has taken a little while to get used to, but now it’s all clicking into place I’m really looking forward to the weekend and getting stuck into the racing;” said Vaughan. “It would have been a big step up from Radicals anyway, and then with a three year break you know it’s even more of an ask, but I feel that I’ve adapted to the Porsche really well.

“My expectations are reasonable but quite high this year;” added the AE Graphics-backed driver. “Our overall target is to try and win the Pro-Am title this season but we know it’s a tough category. We’ve showed good pace in pre-season running though, I have a great team behind me in Motorbase and we have a strong package so I think we’ll be competitive this weekend.”

The 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB season gets underway with rounds 1 and 2 held on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Kent on April 7/8.

Images courtesy of Dan Bathie