Jordan Love has enjoyed an impressive stint in this year’s Porsche Junior Shootout, despite falling short to eventual winner, Turkey’s Ayhancan Güven.
Love was one of 12 candidates from around the world taking part in the three-day selection process, which saw the drivers undergo a series a of challenges at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal.
The weekend tested the drivers in every aspect both on and off the track, which included practice, qualifying and a race, as well as testing their technical understanding, interaction with the engineers, media skills and physical fitness.
While Love was unable to follow the footsteps of previous shootout winner and fellow Australian Matt Campbell, he still thoroughly enjoyed the event.
“It was a mega experience. The track was awesome. Really got the most of out of it and learnt a few things, so I am pretty happy to be able to have done it no matter the result,” Love said.
“It was an incredible opportunity. There were 30-40 staff with the full factory outfit, four cars, everything just for us over the three days and it was awesome weekend.
“I am completely fine with it all because it’s not like I was going there expecting to win. It was all about just enjoying the opportunity and just trying to get the most out of it.
“They gave me a little bit of feedback. Told me they were quite happy with everything but obviously there can only be one person. Ayhancan (Güven) must of been better than me at something, so congratulations to him for winning it.”
Güven’s victory will now see the 21-year-old contest in the 2020 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup as a Porsche junior, while a determined Love will head back to the drawing board to continue the momentum of what has been a solid year.
Having won the 2019 Michelin Junior title and the 2019 Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Championship, Love remains confident he can continue his pathway to Europe.
“It’s been a great year. Ever since we started GT3 cup challenge two years ago, I have achieved everything I have set to do thus far. One of those goals was to compete in the shootout, which I have just done,” Love explained.
“Now we have to build on the momentum that we have and try to use that to carry ourselves forward. We still have the ambition to head overseas.
“Obviously without winning the shootout, it puts you under a little bit more pressure because we are trying to make the move to the other side of the world without any guidance and no help from a factory outfit.
“We are a little stuck in regard to who we talk to and where to go to get the ball rolling, but we are really looking forward to the next step now that we have finished the shootout.”