Kent’s Mikey Porter is gearing up for his first full season in the Ginetta Junior Championship.
Porter who took part in the Winter Series in 2022 will make the move to race in the full series, which joins the British GT grid for 2023 having previously been part of the British Touring Car paddock.
His background in karting and successful Ginetta Juniors winter series in which he secured three podiums in four races and winning him the charger award for the most overtakes, should set him up nicely for a successful season in 2023.
Born in the USA to British Parents, he started his motorsport career a little later than most at the age of 10. Mikey started in corporate karting at Buckmore Park and then a year later he was chomping at the bit to get into owner driver karting.
This is where he first got introduced to Bayford Meadows. Ian introduced Mikey to the track and did his first ever track review with him so that he was allowed to start racing.
After a short stint with Project one, they decided to attack racing as a dad and lad. Testing went well but it was clear that they needed the input of a team. It was then when they joined a small kart team before moving over to CHDD, a local kart team.
Spending most of his time racing in the Honda and Minimax classes with CHDD until moving to JAXX motorsport with Jack Marshall. It was at this point where karting really got serious and they would spend most weekends driving up and down the country at club and British Championship rounds.
Covid was a bit of a strange time for racing and it delayed Mikey’s move to car racing by about a year as he hadn’t managed a full season in Juniors.
They looked at various championships but decided to take the move into Ginetta. Ginetta championships are renowned as one of the most watched series on the motorsport racing calendar.
In 2022 Mikey competed at his debut race in Silverstone where his impressive drive secured his seat at the prestigious R-Racing. R racing have seen them claim the junior championship driver title with Aston Millar in 2021 and Josh Rowledge in 2022.
The training, focus and diet needed to compete at such a high level has not phased Mikey. Outside of motorsport Mikey has been competing in Judo at a high level since he was about 5 years old, seeing him ranked 5th in the British Nationals and independent schools champion 3 years running.
In addition to Judo training, Mikey is trained by ex professional boxer Ross Minter for his strength and conditioning. The training, pre season testing and exam preparations is a lot for a 15 year old to take on, however Mikey manages this well with his maturity.
Kids that have been involved in motorsport seem to have a far more mature head on their shoulders. The time spent at kart circuits certainly has been the making of Mikey in his development as a person.
The kids are exposed to a very disciplined environment at an early age, and are soon gaining the discipline and respect that they need.
Speaking about the season ahead, Mikey said: “I feel very privileged for the opportunity I’ve been given. I couldn’t be happier with where I am at the moment.”
“I have a great team, great team mates, great coaches and above all, parents that do everything to get me to where I am today. And not forgetting my Grandad who bought me my very first kart Lid.”