The 2026 season of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica will feature a new international debut, with young driver Flame Airikkala stepping up to the championship at the wheel of a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup with AF Motorsport.
At just 19 years old, the Finnish-British driver is set to take on a new challenge in her career, continuing a trajectory marked by rapid and consistent progression across different levels of international motorsport. Flame Airikkala’s entry into the championship is another clear sign of PSCI’s growing international appeal, as the series continues to attract emerging talents from across Europe.
She joins the grid with a solid technical profile and a competitive approach built on consistency, adaptability and strong analytical skills—qualities that have defined her development since her early days in karting. Her motorsport career began at the age of 14, before moving into car racing in 2023 in the Fiesta Juniors category, where she quickly made an impression by securing a class podium in just her third race weekend and finishing the season as the top female driver.
In 2024, she continued that progression by finishing runner-up in the international Formula Woman competition, held at Cadwell Park against drivers from around the world. In 2025, Airikkala took another significant step forward by competing in the Radical SR3 XXR, where she achieved a team victory at Donington Park and a solo fourth-place finish. She also stepped into single-seaters in the Kyojo Cup in Japan, finishing in the top 10 on her debut. In parallel, she competed in selected GB4 races and carried out testing in LMP4 prototypes and GT4 machinery, further demonstrating her versatility and ability to adapt to different cars and racing environments.
The 2026 season therefore marks a new chapter in her career: “I’m very proud to announce that I will be racing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica with AF Motorsport in 2026. New circuits, a new car and a new challenge. I can’t wait to get on track and fight for strong results throughout the season. To everyone who has supported me, thank you and to those joining the journey now, welcome. Let’s make this season one to remember.”
José Monroy, Series Manager of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica, highlighted the significance of her arrival: “It is very positive to see young drivers like Flame choosing the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica to take the next step in their careers. She has a very interesting background and experience across different categories, which shows her versatility and ability to adapt. We believe she can continue to develop strongly throughout the season.”
Flame Airikkala’s debut adds another dimension to the 2026 grid, in a championship where the next generation of talent finds the ideal platform to develop, compete and establish itself within the Porsche Motorsport environment.