Last year's Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge runner-up Cooper Murray will take another step up the Porsche ladder as a confirmed starter in the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.

The announcement comes off the back of a breakout year in the category for Murray, where he picked up eight race wins, including a dominant period which featured five consecutive victories. 

Despite moving up the Porsche Motorsport pyramid, the 17-year-old has opted to tackle his debut Carrera Cup season alongside his 2018 team, Ashley Seward Motorsport.

With the season to start at this month’s Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Superloop Adelaide 500, an excited Murray is raring to start his new chapter.

“I’m certainly excited for the season ahead,” Murray said.

“I had a great season in GT3 Cup Challenge last year and achieved far more than I expected. The series was great preparation for Carrera Cup as the cars are obviously very similar with a lot of talented drivers. 

“Naturally Carrera Cup’s on-track competition is at another level and I can’t wait to be in the same field as the likes of David Wall, Warren Luff and Steven Richards, a five-time Bathurst 1000 winner.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge and hopefully a great learning year for me. The Adelaide 500 can’t come soon enough.”

It’s not the first time a driver has progressed through to the Carrera Cup after a successful season in the GT3 Cup Challenge, with 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour winner Matt Campbell and former Carrera Cup title winner Jaxon Evans just two of the success stories.

Both drivers went on to win the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout after taking out their respective Carrera Cup titles, a feat which Murray hopes to replicate.

“Our goal is to run a two-year Carrera Cup programme,” Murray added.

“The first year will be to learn all the tracks as I’ve only been to two of the eight tracks on the calendar.

“Hopefully then I can have a crack at the championship in the second year with the intention to continue my climb of the Porsche Motorsport pyramid into Europe.”

Click here for more information on the Porsche Carrera Cup.