Tony Bates is the latest driver to join the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia championship for 2012.

After an impressive season in the V8 Supercars Development Series, the Victorian based driver has joined the all Porsche championship with McElrea Racing, and is looking forward to the new challenge following a successful test day at Queensland Raceway last week.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in the category, even more so after driving the Porsche at a recent test day,” said Bates.

“I was impressed with the grip and the brakes that these cars have. It’s a great looking car, the category is professionally run and there’s great parity in the series.

“I think the top four or five drivers in Carrera Cup are very fast, so it will be a good gauge to see where I compete against those guys. Meanwhile, the drivers in the Elite Class, like Max Twigg, are going to be very tough competition. I can’t wait to get back in the car for the Clipsal 500.”

Bates will race with the backing of Favourit.com, along with the support of Melbourne Real Estate Agents, Bekdon Richards, and Bates’s own Alternative Freight Services.

Bates has previously raced in Commodore Cup and, more recently, the V8 Supercars Development Series and will now compete for the Elite Class crown in the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia championship.

The season opening event for the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia is the Clipsal 500 Adelaide on March 01-04, 2012.

For more information on the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia, visit porschecarrera.wpengine.com.