PCCGB: Porsche reveals Scholarship winners.

Teenage pair Ton Bradshaw and Lewis Hopkins have been named as winners of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme for 2009 and will each receive ?50,000 towards racing in the series next season.

The pair were selected from six finalists after two days of intensive evaluation at Silverstone in the programme designed to find two drivers to follow the path of former champion Richard Westbrook to being a professional sports car racer.

In 2008, Bradshaw raced in Formula Palmer Audi, while Hopkins competed in Caterham Roadsports.

"I still can't believe it," Bradshaw said after the announcement. "It's an amazing opportunity with a huge manufacturer behind me and I can't wait to get started. I want a career in sports car racing and this is a massive boost. It's a great car and a great championship. It will be a steep learning curve, but I'm confident I can be up at the front."

"It feels amazing; I've never felt like this before," Hopkins added. "I wanted it but I wasn't expecting it. It means everything for my career and I can do what I really want to do in 2009. This has been a great experience and I'm really grateful for the opportunity. The commitment of Porsche is amazing."

While only two drivers could be selected for the scholarship, the other four finalists will all get a chance to race in the Carrera Cup GB after being told that they would each spend a weekend racing the VIP car during the 2009 season.

That announcement will mean Aaron Steele, Andrew Herron, Tom Sharp and Richard Singleton will each be given the chance to show their ability in the 911GT3 Cup car despite missing out on the scholarship.

"Initially, the Scholarship programme was a toe-in-the-water exercise, but it has quickly become a fundamental part of Carrera Cup GB and it feels like such a right thing to do," Geoff Turral, marketing director for Porsche Cars GB said. "The breadth of the evaluation they have gone through has really got under the skin of what these guys are all about and that feels so naturally Porsche.

"I'm really pleased with how the programme has worked and it's given us a lot to talk about on Carrera Cup. There's a real buzz about Carrera Cup for 2009."