Sonic Motor Racing Service will field a youthful line-up for its Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge campaign in 2023.
Ronan Murphy, son of four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg, will make his Australian racing debut this year, competing with Sonic in the development Porsche category.
Murphy, 21, will be joined by 16-year-old rookie Marcus Flack and second-year Porsche driver Harrison Goodman in a strong three car line-up for the champion Sonic team.
All three drivers enjoyed a solid test session at Phillip Island yesterday, and for Murphy, it was the first time that he had driven a race car in Australia.
Murphy has spent his formative racing years in his home land of New Zealand, competing in Formula Ford and Toyota 86 racing. This year will mark his first full season racing away from home.
Flack also has racing in his blood. His father, Adrian, is a stalwart of Carrera Cup competition in Australia having competed in the Pro-Am class for a number of seasons.
The 16-year-old has made a fast start to his racing career, competing across the world in various junior open wheel categories, including Formula 4 and Formula 3.
Goodman returns for his third-straight season with Team Sonic after contesting 2021 in the team’s famous Formula Ford program, before stepping up to Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge last year.
Goodman has made great gains in the latter part of 2022, running inside the top five in what was heralded as the most competitive Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge on record.
The opening round of the 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge will be held at Phillip Island on March 3-5.
QUOTES
Ronan Murphy
Driver, Team Sonic, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
“I’m super pumped to join Team Sonic and join the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge for 2023,” said Murphy.
“It’s my first time racing in Australia and I couldn’t be more stoked to be doing it and joining a team like Sonic for the season. A huge thank you to Michael and Maria Ritter for the opportunity and all my supporters who have made this happen.”
“This was my first laps at Phillip Island today in a Gen II Porsche. I have a little bit of experience previously in New Zealand with Porsche but not this car and certainly not this track. I absolutely loved it, I have just been working on a few things with the team but we’re getting there slowly so I can’t wait for the season to roll around.
“My goal for the season is just to get some really good consistent results and see where we end up in the championship, ideally in the top five somewhere. Hopefully we will be fighting at the front come the season’s end.
“I certainly respect everything Dad has done in his time in Australia. He obviously had a half-decent run at things but I’m here to do my own thing and just do the best I can with what I have and the people around me and the support I’ve got and see how far it takes me.
“I’m just going to give it 110 percent, take every opportunity and hopefully we will come out of it successful in the end.”
Harrison Goodman
Driver, Team Sonic, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
“It’s great to be continuing this year in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with Sonic,” said Goodman.
“I’m really looking forward to this year. We showed lots of progress last year and I’m looking to continuing to grow and understanding the car.
“My goal is to be up the front of the pack. That’s the aim you always want to have.
“After a year of learning, this year is my chance to move forward, so I’m looking to make the steps I need to make to be up the front.”
Marcus Flack
Driver, Team Sonic, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
“It’s amazing to come home for a year and race in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with Sonic. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Flack.
“I’ve never driven a tin top before, so I’m looking forward to being home and being racing.
“Like everyone, I want to win the championship, but I’m also respectful that this is my first year in tin tops. The most important thing is that I want to learn as much as possible.”
Michael Ritter
Owner, Sonic Motor Racing Services
“This is going to be one of the most competitive Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge seasons on record, and I feel that we have the right mix to be very competitive,” said Ritter.
“All three drivers, despite their youthfulness, have a vast array of experience in different categories. I know our team will be able to get the most out of them every race weekend.
“It was an important test for us at Phillip Island. We have one more coming up at Winton before the series starts, so it’s great to get these guys in the cars, get them comfortable to launch into the season the best we can.”
