PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia champion Jake Santalucia will step up to Porsche’s main game in 2026.

The 18-year-old Victorian has signed with Wall Racing to contest the full 2026 Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia Championship, continuing a long line of Sprint Challenge champions stepping up into Carrera Cup.

Santalucia claimed the Michelin Sprint Challenge title in style last year; powering to seven race wins and ultimately claiming the title by 40 points in the final round at Sandown.

He became the second youngest one-make Porsche champion in Australian history in the process before going on to make his Carrera Cup debut in Adelaide’s season finale just a few weeks later.

He’s the sixth of the last seven Sprint Challenge winners to step up to Carrera Cup Australia the following season (the seventh went to Carrera Cup in the United States).

“It’s really exciting to be stepping up to Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia with Wall Racing,” Santalucia said.

“It’s exciting to continue my Porsche journey that we started two years ago and be able to step into the ‘main game’ this year is a great opportunity.

“Before I even get behind the wheel I can feel all the experience and the approach Wall Racing have so it’s great to work with David Wall, David Fyfe and the team in Carrera Cup.

“It’s an exciting next step in the journey and I am thankful to David, the team, my family and all my supporters for allowing me to do it.”

Santalucia’s signing with Wall Racing returns the title-winning squad to the championship on a full-time basis this year. The Sydney-based team claimed the 2017 title with David Wall behind the wheel, also finishing runner-up in 2018 and third in 2016 to add to their title success.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jake to the team,” Wall Racing team owner, David Wall, said.

“He’s proven in two years of Sprint Challenge that he’s got what it takes and his Carrera Cup debut in Adelaide was just as impressive.

“Part of our goals in returning Wall Racing to Carrera Cup on a full time basis has been to find a junior driver who we can support and work with over the journey. Hopefully some of my experience and the experience we have within the four walls at Wall Racing can help Jake on his journey and make his debut year of Carrera Cup a good one.

“We’re really excited to be back, we’ve been working at these plans for two years and to have it locked away well in advance of the year starting is brilliant.”

Santalucia and Wall Racing will test for the first time this week at Sydney Motorsport Park prior to the opening round of the championship at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix this March.