Johnson Joins Porsche as DSA
Steve Johnson Recruited as Porsche Driving Standards Adviser
Australian touring car ace Steven Johnson has been recruited by Porsche to serve as the Driving Standards Adviser across Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia in 2017.
The new appointment will see Johnson replace Craig Baird in the role after the latter accepted the same position within the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
The vastly experienced Johnson entered top-level motorsport in 1998 and has since contested 13 consecutive full-time Australian Touring Car/Supercars Championships (2000-2012) and, more recently, raced in the popular Touring Car Masters championship.
Johnson has an existing relationship with Porsche: the Gold Coast resident, who competed in Carrera Cup in 2013, is one of several current and former Supercars drivers working alongside Tomas Mezera at the Queensland based Porsche Sport Driving School.
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to this new challenge with Porsche for both the Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series,” said Johnson.
“Both series hold an important role in Australian motorsport for racing enthusiasts and future talent alike, and it’s great to have the opportunity to help develop and educate these drivers as part of the driving standards process.”
Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager, Kurt Sakzewski, is pleased with the appointment of Johnson as the new Porsche DSA.
“It’s great to welcome Steve as part of the Porsche team. He was the first person we approached after Craig made us aware of his move to Supercars and I believe he will make a strong Driving Standards Adviser for both the Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge championships,” said Sakzewski.
“The Driving Standards Adviser is a crucial role to a series and can, at times, be quite testing. Therefore, it was important that we recruited a worthy replacement for Craig. And I believe, in Steve, we have.”
The move sees Carrera Cup continue as an effective preparation for future Supercars DSAs, with Baird following in the footsteps of Tomas Mezera and Cam McConville in the move from Carrera Cup to the Supercars Championship.
“Craig’s recruitment is testament to Porsche and the professionalism of the Carrera Cup series, where it can prepare individuals like Craig – and Tomas and Cam before him – for such an important role in the Supercars series. We wish Craig all the best in his new endeavour,” said Sakzewski.
Sources: Daniel Jordan/Porsche Cars Australia PR