Gold driver Jaxon Evans has taken another big step in his career after winning the 2018 Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout.

The program’s intense selection process took place at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. There, the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia champion beat ten other international candidates, including fellow Australian entry, Dylan O’ Keeffe.

Evans will now take part in the Porsche Supercup in Europe next season alongside Frenchman Julien Andlauer, who was awarded a second year in the program 

In a difficult three-day testing process against some very talented drivers in their respective Porsche one-make series, a nervous Evans was both thrilled and relieved to secure the spot. 

“When I received the phone call and they told me that I was their selection from the Shootout it was really special and I didn’t know what to say,” Evans said. 

“It’s exciting and a privilege that they picked me and they put their faith in me after the Shootout.

“To go from GT3 Cup Challenge, Carrera Cup and win the Shootout has always been my main goal in terms of building a career in motorsport and a future with Porsche."

While being selected for the prestigious program is an impressive feat in its own right, the victory was even more special with Evans following the footsteps close friend and 2016 Carrera Cup champion Matt Campbell, who won the same shootout last year. 

“I’m close mates with Matt and seeing how successful he’s been in terms of racing but also being able to move to Germany and build a racing career with Porsche has been so cool to see,” Evans added. 

“So to be rewarded with the first step towards replicating this – becoming a Porsche Junior – is really special and really is a dream come true for me. 

“Matt was one of the first people that I told.

“It’s pretty exciting and we joked about that, from where we were four years ago, we wouldn’t have expected to both be living in Germany in 2019 and racing for Porsche.

“To see him do it was special, but to follow in his footsteps and make the move to Germany and race in Supercup is incredible.”

Evans and Andlauer will now receive 225,000 Euros towards their Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign, as well as coaching, psychological training, individual fitness plans media relations assistance. 

The New Zealander will head to Germany early next month for the Porsche Motorsport Night of Champions before moving to Europe early next year to begin his 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign.