Teenager Mitchell to partner Hoy at Donington Park after topping online poll
One of Scotland’s most talented young sportscar drivers, Sandy Mitchell, has topped a poll which will lead to him competing in a 420bhp LMP3 car in partnership with cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy.
Mitchell, the 17-year-old from Forfar, 2016 British GT Championship Rookie of the Year, has won the Sports Insure Young Driver Initiative following a ten-week social media campaign and online voting by the public.
He will team up with sixtime Olympic gold medallist Hoy in a 420bhp, five-litre V8 carbon-bodied United Autosports Ligier JS P3. The duo will contest the final round of the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship at Donington Park on 16-17 September.
“I’m really pleased to win the Sports Insure Young Driver initiative. It’s an incredible prize,” said Mitchell, pictured, who last year became the youngest driver ever to win a race in the British GT Championship in his Mclaren 570s GT4. “To have this opportunity to drive the United Autosports LMP3 car alongside Sir Chris Hoy, a real sporting legend, is truly special.
“I would like to thank every person that voted for me. The support has been amazing. I can’t wait to race at Donington, where I’ve won before in the British GT Championship.
“I’ll definitely be giving it 100 per cent, and more. It will be a fantastic new experience, and I can’t wait to drive the United Autosports Ligier JS P3!”
Hoy, a former European Le Mans LMP3 Champion, completed the Le Mans 24-Hours on his debut last year in an LMP2 car.
Mitchell faced stiff competition from nine other drivers in the poll, including the rest of the top five – Alex Sedgwick, Bradley Smith, Stephane Kox and Callan O’keeffe. More than 8,000 votes were cast, and Mitchell topped a highly competitive field which totalled 118 young drivers from a diverse range of racing backgrounds.
He will test the Ligier JS P3 in the week leading up to the final round of the championship, Hoy had his first taste of the car last week at Snetterton in very wet conditions.