Racing joy for Stevan
Former Stonelaw pupil seals double in NewYork
Rutherglen racing driver Stevan McAleer has celebrated a remarkable double after picking up a championship as team owner five years after winning the same title as a driver.
Former Stonelaw High pupil Stevan looked on in delight as driver Patrick Gallagher scooped the Global MX-5 Cup at Watkins Glen racetrack in New York State.
Patrick was racing with the McCumbee McAleer Racing team, which Stevan set up with his good friend, Chad McCumbee, three years ago.
In 2012, Stevan was behind the wheel for CJ Wilson to win the championship as a driver.
The team scooped this year’s top prize with two races left and could yet add more silverware. Their second driver, Robert Stout, is in the running for rookie of the year.
While Stevan, 33, remains focussed on his own driving in the Continental Tire Series, the victory as a team owner has been an incredible experience for him. He said: “We have simply dominated this season with our driver line-up and have won eight out of 10 races and been on pole position six times.
“We hand-picked our crew and they have been terrific all season and we have outperformed every other team in only our third year competing as team owners.
“It’s a big step for Chad and myself as it shows we can manage and engineer, not only perform on the race track as drivers.”
While Stevan and Chad have enjoyed succes off the track, they have endured a frustrating season behind the wheel.
Mechanical problems have hampered the pair in the Continental Tire Series street tuner class. They have picked up two wins and sit fifth in a championship they won two years ago.
While the championship is out of reach, Stevan is hoping for two wins from two in the final meetings of the season, starting at Mazda Raceway in Califorina on September 23.
He said: “We have been fast as always but mechanical gremlins have kept us off the podium multiple times. In the last race at Virginia International we got taken out mid race and mathematically we can’t win the championship.
“We do have two strong races for the Mazda left however, at Mazda Raceway and Road Atlanta, so we look to end the season on a high note.
“We are also working on some great opportunities for next season – all is looking good right now.”
And Steven insists he can taste championship success as team owner and driver next year: “I think we can do both.
“I wouldn’t have taken the Mx5 Cup management on if I thought it would hurt my own driving side and it hasn’t, so as long as that continues I will attack both with full commitment.
“To be honest, and being very honest, winning as a driver has something so different for me.
“The feeling of crossing the line in first place behind the wheel still has a comfortable edge for me.
“I do however put 100 per cent into my team winning and we will simply try to win this championship again with a different driver next season.”