IMSA: Hurley Haywood GT3 Scholarship to offer career boost for young racers

The just-announced IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship, which will be awarded to a young driver, offers a career-boosting package that includes a full season of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competition.

Aspiring racers between the ages of 16 and 25, with no previous full-time Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama experience, are eligible to earn the scholarship. Candidates will have a strong desire to compete in the series, outstanding previous results and proven on-track potential in junior racing categories, and the ability to build a compelling business plan for securing remaining funding needed to compete in a full season of the IMSA-sanctioned Single-Make Series.

"Hurley Haywood is a Porsche and sports-car racing icon, so it was a natural fit to name this scholarship in his honor," said David Pettit, IMSA vice president, marketing. "Drivers who win the IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship not only will receive a significant boost to begin their career in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, but also will forever have their name associated with the great Hurley Haywood. We expect a robust pool of candidates for this scholarship this year and for years to come as it continues to grow in stature."

A recipient will be chosen after a review of the finalists by a panel of experts. The IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship winner will receive from IMSA, with support from Porsche and Yokohama, these rewards with a combined value of approximately $70,000: A full-season Premium Entry into the 2017 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; a set of Yokohama tires for each 2017 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama event; tool credit from Sonic Tools; a complete OMP driver suit and gloves, plus a two-page feature story in RACER Magazine.

The scholarship is named after legendary sports car driver Hurley Haywood, one of the most accomplished endurance racers in history. He earned five overall victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and two wins at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida – all in Porsches – during his remarkable driving career, which spanned five decades. He serves as the chief driving instructor at the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

"I'm proud to lend my name to this scholarship," Haywood said. "I'm always thrilled when I get to help young people get their foot in the door in racing, and I think this is a really good way to promote that. It gives up and coming drivers a baseline to build upon, and that's always beneficial."