RAFA Racing Team Bringing Talented Racing Newcomers To Porsche Sprint Challenge in 2024

RAFA Racing Team by JDX Team Principal Rafael Martinez Joined by Ian Porter, Caroline Candas and Paige Morales in Professional Racing Debuts in the Porsche Single-Make Championship

HOUSTON, Texas (February 22, 2024) - RAFA Racing Team is bringing four cars, including talented newcomers to professional racing, to Porsche Sprint Challenge by Yokohama in 2024 in a collaboration with JDX Racing. The U.S. racing operation is the debut for the program stateside in a full-season effort, which falls under the RAFA Racing Club umbrella. 

Team founder Rafael Martinez, Paige Morales, eSports legend Ian “Crimsix” Porter, and RAFA Racing Shootout winner Caroline Candas will carry the banner for the team in the championship hunt. Each will compete in Porsche Sprint Challenge Cayman GT4 Clubsport class, driving race-prepped Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsports during the 14-race, seven weekend championship season. 

The Porsche Sprint Challenge is the first U.S.-based racing challenge that Martinez, who was born in El Salvador and now calls Houston home, has undertaken. Fresh on the heels of a strong finish in the 2023 McLaren Trophy Europe Series, Martinez is continuing his racing development by climbing into the competitive Porsche North American championship in addition to a full season in the SRO GT4 European Series.

But he isn’t doing it alone. Coupled with his RAFA Racing Club, Martinez has been bold in his efforts to bring motorsports to the masses. That includes three drivers who may not have been able or ready to make the leap to professional racing without the RAFA Racing Team’s assistance. 

"I'm so excited for everything our debut season here in the States has to offer," Martinez said. "I can't believe the amount of work that Ian, Paige and Caroline have put in to make their true racing debuts. We're going to hit the ground running in our Caymans and introduce RAFA Racing to the rest of the paddock."

That began with the RAFA Racing Shootout, an invitational event that brought nine female drivers to a five-day shootout. Candas, the 21-year-old French driver with just one full season behind the wheel of a car, took that title and parlayed it into a chance to race stateside and continue her career. She'll concentrate her driving duties in the United States this season.

Porter is making his transition from the eSports community, where he is the all-time winningest Call of Duty player and generally regarded as the best to play the first-person shooter. Porter retired from competitive shooter games to transition to sim racing, and with the RAFA Racing Club’s help, into cars. After several track day events, the 30-year-old secured a racing license and will compete for the first time in the Cayman this season. 

Morales’ path is the model for the RAFA Racing Club’s vision. A car enthusiast as a child, Morales was a member of RAFA Racing Club and began doing track days. Her enthusiasm and talent were noticeable to the Club’s instructors, and she’ll make her racing debut this season. Her first wheel to wheel race at NOLA Motorsports Park in early February included a pair of third-place finishes at SCCA's Hooser Super Tour event and a podium sweep by RAFA Racing drivers Jem Hepworth, Candas and Morales.

The team will compete under the RAFA Racing Team by JDX banner, utilizing the technical prowess of the Jeremy Dale-led Porsche team. Using the motto “Race As Family Always,” JDX will prep and engineer the RAFA Racing Team cars for the 2024 season. 

"Jeremy and his team at JDX have been great partners as we've launched this program," Martinez said. "They've absolutely become part of the RAFA Racing family, along with Cameron Lawrence and Alec Udell as our driver coaches. As drivers, we know that we'll have a great car under us. Now we have to take care of business."

Following a series of tests, the RAFA Racing Team and Porsche Sprint Challenge get underway at Sebring International Raceway, March 1-3. Included on the 2024 schedule are Barber Motorsports Park during the IndyCar race, Circuit of the Americas, VIRginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Road America and Sonoma Raceway.

RAFA Racing Quote Board

Ian Porter, Driver, RAFA Racing Team: "I've got high hopes for myself and for this season. Obviously we don't know what the competition looks like, but my goal going into this is to win every race and the championship. That might not be possible, but that's the mindset and the preparation. We're working really hard with the RAFA Racing Team, our Porsches are good, and I'm going to do everything I can to grab some hardware and improve all season."

Paige Morales, Driver, RAFA Racing Team: "I'm extremely excited for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Series. It's my first year racing, so I'm a rookie driver but I'm doing loads of training. I just got my first podium at an SCCA race, so that's good experience and hopefully it will set me on the way to be on pace with my teammates. My goal is just to get better as a driver and develop. That's what RAFA Racing stands for, to take a driver whereever they are at and make them better. Luckily I have this amazing opportunity and develop and hopefully make some podium."

Caroline Candas, Driver, RAFA Racing Team: "I did a first test at Sebring, and it was my first time in the Cayman. It's a fast car, I loved it and I'm exciting to compete at the first race. I'm super excited. I always have the same goal, whether I'm at home in France or over here, and that's to be first. But I know I have a lot of things to improve, and I don't know the car or any of the tracks because it's my first time in the U.S. I have a lot to discover, but I will learn and get some experience."

About Rafa Racing Club:

RAFA Racing, utilizing the motto "Race As Family Always," is a motorsports club and race team founded by and made for high-performance auto drivers, supporters, and fans of all types. Started by Rafael Martinez, the Club aims to create a space for high-performance car enthusiasts to enjoy like-minded individuals, network and share ideas on and off the track, and bond as one team with a common interest. The RAFA Racing Team made its debut in 2023 with a runner-up finish in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series, and expands that footprint to include Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and SRO GT4 Europe in 2024. The Club's off-track presence can be felt on social media and beyond, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and at RafaRacing.Club.

Reece White

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