Racing driver fuels motorsport business with significant investment
Racing driver Rupert Laslett, who competes in Great Britain’s Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge, has become the latest director at Yorkshire-based Hype Motorsport, after acquiring a stake in the business.
Laslett will have an active role in the company, overseeing new projects planned for 2023, as well as promoting Hype’s events and track day car hire to his network in the world of motorsport and the Porsche community.
Hype Motorsport is the brainchild of Leeds-based Ben Hyland, who has spent two decades working in motorsport, and Southampton based co-founder Mike Jarvis.
The pair launched the business earlier this year. It is designated as ‘ClimatePositive’ thanks to carbon offsetting through SCB, a low-carbon commodity company which redresses and improves on the carbon footprint left by businesses and individuals.
Prior to launching Hype, Hyland ran Pole Position Indoor Karting in Leeds before joining forces with Jarvis to launch want2race, which became the UK’s biggest novice racing driver competition.
In 2019, want2race was acquired by Ginetta and Hyland spent the next two and a half years continuing to develop want2race under the sports car brand’s umbrella, which is where he met Laslett, who was Ginetta’s 2021 G40 Cup Am Champion, before he made the switch to Porsche.
Laslett previously ran a California-based management consulting business, specialising in the oil, gas, chemicals, technology and pharmaceutical sectors, before selling the company in 2014.
He returned to the UK in 2019 and started racing in Ginetta’s competitions. He has just completed his rookie season in the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge, finishing in second place.
He said: “I met Ben through Ginetta and have always been impressed with his racing knowledge and ability to organise and host superb motorsport events. When he launched Hype with Mike, I immediately knew it would be successful.
“Partnering with ClimatePositive and making Hype’s events climate positive by at least 25%, was a very shrewd move. It also mirrors what’s happening at the very forefront of motorsport, with F1 aiming to become net-zero by 2030 and developing a 100% sustainable fuel that will soon be used in its cars.
“Six months after launching, Hype has already hosted countless events for hundreds of drivers at circuits including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Spa in Belgium, and I’m really looking forward to helping the team build on this.”
Hyland said: “Rupert is passionate about motorsport, has enjoyed a successful business career and is a superb racing driver, which all made him a perfect fit for Hype and we’re very pleased to welcome him.
“With Rupert on board, we’re also looking forward to offering tailored corporate partnerships as the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge races exclusively alongside the British Touring Car Championship from next year.
“This will mean millions of viewers on ITV, as well as tens of thousands of spectators at each event, and we can now offer brands exposure on the car and hospitality at race events, in addition to corporate track day event options.”
