Photograph credit score: Porsche
Porsche’s 2025 Junior Shootout begins in Cologne, Germany on November 14, then strikes to Autódromo do Estoril in Portugal for 2 days of on-track testing from November 17–18. For the primary time at this degree, Canada’s Vanier will signify Porsche Motorsport North America after three seasons within the EBOOST Junior Program, a name he described as each stunning and career-defining.
“To be trustworthy, the preliminary response was pure shock,” Vanier stated. “When the fellows at Porsche Motorsport North America instructed me that they had determined to ship me, I used to be speechless. This was my purpose all yr, what I’d been working towards, however listening to it confirmed was surreal. There’s an enormous sense of satisfaction realizing what number of proficient drivers would like to have this chance.” Previous Shootout winners embody IMSA stars Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, Laurin Heinrich, and Klaus Bachler.
This system mixes on- and off-track evaluations. Candidates full simulator periods, health and psychological assessments, enterprise shows, and interviews earlier than two days in similar Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) vehicles at Estoril. “Being chosen for the Shootout places you in a completely new dialog,” Vanier stated. “My focus now’s simply to be myself, imagine in my skills, and actually benefit from the course of. You solely get one shot at this.”
Preparation is already underway. Vanier will run pre-event testing, arrange further European seat time, and depend on Superior Sim in Montreal to refine approach for Cup-spec configuration variations, notably the dearth of ABS. “I’ve actually stepped up my simulator work this yr,” he stated. “I’m even training with out ABS to make it as sensible as potential.”
His 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season with JDX Racing featured wins at Watkins Glen and Indianapolis, plus constant podiums. A DNF in Miami Race 1 shifted his focus to the Shootout nomination. Vanier credited JDX management, together with Jeremy Dale and Harrison Brix, and stated Carrera Cup North America offered the maturity and confidence he’ll carry into the Shootout and, he hopes, the following step of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid in 2026.
