Motor Racing: Mortimer swaps his Mini for a Porsche 911

MULTIPLE British and Scottish Mini Cooper champ Oli Mortimer will switch to racing a Porsche 911 next season, and the Edinburgh driver believes ultimately the decision could trigger a move to America.

The 27-year-old driver and his Tynecastle Racing team, led by boss David Kerr, have bought a Porsche 911 GT3 from Tommy Dreelan at Aberdeen-based Celtic Speed.

The car has competed in this year's Porsche Carrera Cup and was driven to fifth and sixth places at the double-header at Knockhill in September by Dunfermline's Rory Butcher.

"It's a great opportunity for me," explained Mortimer, "but like everyone else in Scottish motorsport, we're struggling to find sponsorship.

"For the past few years I'd been hoping to move to the British Touring Car Championship, but now I believe sportscars is the way forward for me."

It promises to be a steep learning curve though for the Edinburgh racer, who spends his weekdays as a technician at the city's Western Volkswagen.

"I haven't even sat in a Porsche, let alone driven one," he admitted. "The key is going to be long, long sessions getting used to the car at Knockhill in the early part of next year."

Mortimer, who is expected to compete in the Porsche GT3 Cup Series, hopes his switch could ultimately lead to him racing in the American sportscar championships after talking with fellow Edinburgh racer Robin Liddell, a winner in the US Grand-Am Championship.