Queenslander Bayley Hall is the first driver to lock in a spot on the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia grid after securing a seat with leading outfit McElrea Racing. 
  
The 18-year-old has shown plenty of promise during his maiden season in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia this year, with a runner-up finish in his debut race at Phillip Island the highlight of the season so far. 
  
While he has only had one season in the series, Hall has still gained plenty of racing experience through other categories, including the Motorsport Australia GT Championship and combined Sports Sedan Series at the Bathurst 12 Hour, where he secured a podium. 
  
In a major boost for Hall, the teenager contest next year behind the wheel of the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 Type 992 car, which is the first wide-body car based on the 911 to come out of Porsche Motorsport in Germany. 
  
Hall’s new Porsche 992 won’t be the only one to make its debut next year, with a further 29 to arrive in the country – making it a record number of units brought into Australia, and the largest field of generational race-cars to compete in the one-make series for its whole 17-year-old history in Australia. 
  
With his seat secured for 2022, Hall was excited to continue up his pathway in the Porsche pyramid in a prominent race car. 
  
“The prospect of competing in the pinnacle of Porsche Motorsport in Australia is surreal,” Hall said. 
  
“Like many, there’s been huge sacrifices and hard work to get me to where I am today and I couldn’t be prouder, or happier, of what we’ve achieved so far. 
  
“I’m very excited about what the McElrea team and I can do next year, and I can’t thank everyone involved enough, including all those who have gotten me to where I am today. 

“I can’t wait to get in the new 992 and give it all I’ve got.” 


McElrea Racing founder and team principal Andy McElrea was pleased to sign Hall as the first driver of the 2022 season. 
  
“At MR, we are really thrilled to announce Bayley as our first Pro driver signed for the 2022 Carrera Cup Australia season in the new 992 Cup car,” McElrea said. 
  
“We have been fortunate enough to have been on pole for the first race of the last three generations of new 911 Cup Cars in Australia – the 997, 991:1 and 991:2 – so we have no doubt Bayley will be pushing hard to be at the front from the start of the new era and stamp his name in the record books as soon as possible.” 
  
Currently sitting fifth on the outright Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge standings, Hall will continue in the series when the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships resume at Sandown Raceway on 19-21 November.