Young up-and-coming racer who is making steps to a sportscar future
Ihave had a taste of the big time over the last few weeks, and it has made me more determined than ever to make my dreams come true. Over the closed season, I have been lucky enough to drive both a McLaren 570S GT4 and a Toyota Supra GT4 and I certainly know my future is in GT racing: now I just need to make it happen.
Firstly, a little about me: I finished seventh in the Mini Challenge UK in 2020 in my second year in the category. I was battling for a place in the top four of the points table, but I had a shunt in the finale at Brands Hatch that dented my hopes a little.
I really enjoyed the racing in the little pocket rockets, although I am desperate to move on now. GT racing would be the logical next step for me, in truth, and that is where my focus is for the future.
I have had quite a varied background since finishing my karting career 2016. I combined karting with some rallying in the F1000 division in a Nissan Micra and a Citroen C1 in the British F1000 Junior Rally Class in 2017. I enjoyed learning about motorsport and car control, while all the time waiting for my race licence.
When I got that, my first circuit experience was in the Monoposto championship in
2018 and I finished third in the 1000cc class in 2019 in a JKS chassis. But already I was dovetailing single-seaters with the Mini Challenge UK. I was used to handling a tin-top from the rally stages but I was pleased with ninth overall in the points in my first year of one of the UK’s most competitive single-make series. The drama at the final round in 2020 was not the best way to end the year but
I had been competitive throughout and took a win at Silverstone plus two other podiums.
My ambition is to look to a future in GT racing – be that in Europe or in the UK – and that taste I have had over the closed season has made me more determined than ever to make it a reality. It’s like being given a Christmas present and opening it but then being told you then have to leave it under the tree…
[Respected driver manager] Dennis Rushen is looking after me and he has been helpful in making some introductions to some great people in the GT world. He put me in touch with [customer GT boss] Danny Buxton at McLaren and we organised a run at Blyton Park late last year. That was my first go in a pukka GT car and it really opened my eyes but also confirmed to me: these cars are where I want to be.
Then I got another chance more recently with Speedworks Motorsport to drive its Supra GT4 car. I had met team boss Christian Dick at a round of the British GT championship. I had a good look at the car that day and I sat in it. He showed me around the cockpit and joked that I would have to go along and have a test day with him. I didn’t think it would actually happen but he called up and invited me to Oulton Park. It was amazing, another brilliant experience and I got about 30 laps.
I owe a big thanks to Danny Buxton and Christian Dick for those fantastic opportunities. It’s hard work for every driver at the moment because sponsorship is so hard to come by and we rely upon that to go racing. I am prepared to put the effort in, though, because I have had a glimpse of where it could lead.
When you work hard for it, it also means that when you do get a deal together, you are so hungry to make it succeed. I think it might give you a small edge on track when you know it is all on the line.
I certainly don’t lack the commitment, and I will be working my socks off over the next few months to make sure that I finally do get that Christmas present back out from under the tree and make my racing dreams come true in 2021.
“It really opened my eyes and confirmed to me: this is where I want to be”