Rising motor racing star Scott McKenna has been appointed as the first member of the new Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Young Driver Programme. He will lead Speedworks Motorsport’s bid for British GT Championship glory behind the wheel of the team’s Toyota GR Supra GT4 this year.
In collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe (TGR-E), Speedworks launched the UK Young Driver Programme in 2021. It is designed to advance the career prospects of promising British sportscar racing talents.
McKenna immediately stood out as a leading candidate. The Yorkshireman is one of the most highly rated upcoming names on the GT scene. Growing up in a high-octane environment, he got to grips with the fundamentals of car control and the instinctive reactions so vital to a successful career in motorsport at an early age, through his family’s ice driving business on the frozen lakes of Scandinavia.
He only made the leap from ice to asphalt four years ago, but the 19-year-old is rapidly earning a reputation as a star in the making. From five races as a rookie in the Ginetta Junior Championship, McKenna scored two top four finishes before graduating to the Ginetta GT5 Championship – a series in which he was crowned champion in 2019 courtesy of an impressive six victories, five further rostrum appearances, three pole positions and three fastest laps. Astonishingly, it was just his first full campaign of car racing competition.
With mentoring from former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Guy Smith and coaching from seasoned endurance racing pro Andy Meyrick, the BRDC Rising Star and Motorsport UK Squad Athlete stepped up again last year to the BTCC-supporting Porsche Carrera Cup GB. A trio of podiums and a pole position in the headlining ‘Pro’ category kept the momentum going, and now he is set to continue climbing the ranks in Toyota Gazoo Racing UK colours.
In addition to being able to draw upon Speedworks and TGR-E’s combined expertise, McKenna will enjoy privileged access to TGR-E’s state-of-the-art Cologne facility and driving simulator. He will also benefit from the experience of Toyota Gazoo Racing stars such as reigning FIA World Endurance Champion and multiple Le Mans 24 Hours podium-finisher Mike Conway.
We interviewed Scott about his hopes for the 2021 season.
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