Porsche Power Proves Positive for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy

The Wera Alliance Racing Academy embraced Porsche power in 2024 as Team Parker Racing ran two of Weissach’s finest in Wera livery. Will Jenkins return for a second season stepping up to the new 4.0 Cayman RS and was joined by 2021 British F4 Champion Matthew Rees in a 911 GT3 Cup car.

It was Matt who was the first to take to the track for the opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB in Donington Park. It was the first race weekend in a closed cockpit car for the Cardiff youngster who had been racing in GB3 for the previous two seasons. However, he didn’t take long to adapt putting his car on pole for the first race of the season. Matthew led for the first few laps but got caught out by a damp section and took to the grass in the Craner Curves. Regathering his composure, he recovered to finish 11^th before race 2 was postponed due to the weather.

Next up was a trip to the short Brands Hatch Indy Circuit where Matthew showed his talent. A low grid spot meant he finished 15^th in the re-arranged Donington race 2, before powering to 5^th in the second race of the weekend and then jumping onto the podium with a second place and fastest lap in race 3.  

Snetterton saw the opening round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB where Will Jenkins looked to build on a strong 2023 season. Will was quick out of the blocks putting the car on the front row of the grid with a P2 in Qualifying. The rain fell on the Norfolk track all weekend making for tricky conditions on-track. Will claimed 4^th in the opening race of the weekend before fighting back to the podium and 3^rd place in race 2, and then backing it up with another 3^rd place in race 3.

The Carrera Cup returned for the high-speed visit to Thruxton in June. Matt started P7 for the opening race and maintained that position to the finish. It was a similar outcome in the Sunday afternoon race with Matthew holding on for 22 rollercoaster laps to finish in 7^th.

June also saw the Porsche Sprint Challenge travel to Cheshire for the tight and twisty Oulton Park round. The leafy circuit is notoriously difficult to overtake at and a P3 in qualifying turned into a 3^rd place finish for Will Jenkins in the opening race of the weekend. A time penalty in race 2 moved Will to 5^th before he stormed back to the podium in race 3 taking an impressive 2^nd place.

It was Croft in July where both championships combined on the same weekend, and it was a tale of contrasting fortunes for both drivers. In the Carrera Cup, Matthew claimed a P4 in the opening race before going on to take his first win of the season in race 2. In the Sprint Challenge, Will had another great qualifying with P2, before a collision in race 1 put him out of the race. The Team Parker Racing mechanics did a great job to put the car back together and help Will claim 2^nd in race 2, but his race 3 lasted for just over a lap before his race ended.

The annual trip North of the border took the Carrera Cup to Knockhill in August and Matthew continued his momentum taking another podium with 3^rd place in race 1. He backed it up with another 3^rd place in race 2 making it three podiums in a row.

Both championships returned to Donington Park in late August. Unfortunately, Matthew’s luck ran out in the Carrera Cup where a fantastic drive in the opening race was cruelly ruined by a track limits penalty moving him down to 5^th place. A collision with a bale meant a broken front splitter in race 2, but Matthew fought on to finish 7^th.

By Contrast, Will Jenkins had ground to make up after a difficult weekend at Croft. The Staffordshire driver took his fifth podium of the season in race 1 with a 3^rd place finish. It was 4^th place in race 2 for Will, before he fought back to take an excellent 2nd in race 3.

The penultimate event of the season saw both championships visit the Silverstone National Circuit. In the Sprint Challenge, Will took a stunning pole in qualifying to set up a strong weekend. He finished 3^rd in both race 1 and race 2 before powering to his first win of the season in the race 3. Over in the Carrera Cup, Matthew showed some speed to take 10^th in race 1 and 13^th in race 2.

The Brands Hatch GP Circuit played host to the season finale for both championships. Matthew rounded out the year with a 10^th and a 14^th in both races which were enough for him to claim the Rookies Championship. It was a good return for his first year in a closed cockpit car. In the Sprint Challenge, Will Jenkins had a dominant weekend claiming a clean sweep of three wins from three to finish the season in 3^rd place overall, just 9 points off the winner.

Reflecting on the season, both drivers commented:

Matt Rees:

It was a learning year for me with lots of new techniques to learn with it being my first year out of a single seater. However, I think we adapted well, grabbing 2 poles with one coming on my debut and a win and 4 podiums across the year. So, in all, I think it was a strong year with good pace, just need to fine tune the areas where we could see issues and we should be back even stronger next year.

Will Jenkins:

“This season has been by far my most successful year in car racing. To race at such a high level has been incredible and to take the last 4 victories of the year really showed the pace we’ve had this season. I was disappointed not to be able to take the overall title but after the streak of bad luck at Croft it was always going to be a challenge! I never gave up and we certainly gave it everything in the last few rounds! So, I’m proud of what we have achieved and of course extremely grateful for the fantastic support and of Wera Tools UK. It’s an honour to represent the brand and a privilege to be part of the prestigious Wera Alliance Academy. “