Octane Finance expands motorsport programme with Robert de Haan

The market-leading car finance business will extend its backing of rising star Harry King into a fourth season, with the BRDC Superstar racer set to chase title success on two fronts during the year ahead.

Alongside that, the company will also support teenager Robert De Haan as he embarks on his first full season of Porsche competition, with the teenager also set to compete in two championships as part of his 2023 programme.

Octane Finance’s relationship with British ace Harry kicked off back in 2020 when he moved into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB in the role of Porsche GB Junior Driver.

A stunning season saw Harry power to championship glory in his Octane Finance-backed machine, taking twelve wins from 16 starts, and there were a further three wins the following season when he also contested selected events in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Running in the F1-support series full-time in 2022, Harry scored podium finishes in half of the eight rounds to end the year fifth in the points whilst a parallel programme in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux saw him claim his second Porsche title - despite being forced to miss one round due to his Supercup commitments.

This year, Harry will return to the Supercup having extended his deal with championship front-runners BWT Lechner Racing, whilst he will also compete in the Carrera Cup Germany with the Allied Racing team.

Dutch racer Robert will make his debut in Carrera Cup GB with defending teams’ champions Richardson Racing, whilst he will also race with the same team in Carrera Cup Benelux - where he will seek to emulate the success Harry enjoyed last year.

Robert made his car racing debut in 2021 in the Ginetta Junior Championship, where he secured three overall race wins and lifted the Rookie title before moving into Spanish F4 last year.

Already this year, Robert has secured a maiden Porsche title after dominating the inaugural Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe season, scoring pole position for every race and taking four wins from six starts.

Robert’s first race in Octane Racing colours will take place at Donington Park in late April in the Carrera Cup GB opener, whilst Harry’s season gets underway a week later at Spa when the Carrera Cup Germany season bursts into life.

Dan Kirby, Octane Finance – Co-founder, said:

"It goes without saying that we’re delighted to continue our relationship with Harry this season. The last three years have been a huge success with two championship titles, and there in no doubt that he will be in the mix to add at least one more during the year ahead.

"Harry has also been a fantastic ambassador for the Octane Finance brand during that time, and we’re looking forward to working with him again both on and off track in 2023.

"When we were looking to support another young driver who was going to be racing in the UK, Robert really stood out for his performances in the Southern Europe championship - particularly when you consider he had hardly any time in the car before the opening round.

"He is clearly a driver who - like Harry - has a lot of talent and the potential to go a long way so we are excited to welcome him into the Octane family."