by admin | Mar 23, 2015 | F3 News
We are happy to announce the signing of Mexican driver Fernando Urrutia to drive in the 2015 Duo BRDC Formula 4 series. This completes our line up, with Akhil Rabindra having signed recently.
Having won the National Kart Championship in 2008, Urrutia went on to win the Cuautla Championship in 2010 and was selected to represent the State of Morelos two years later in the ‘Mexican Heading to F1’ (Mexicano Rumbo a la F1) racing programme. Graduating into cars, he was named Rookie of the Year in 2013 after ending the F2000 campaign fifth overall. In 2014, Urrutia finished second in the PanamGP Spring Series, just being pipped for the title having taken pole position at every round. At the end of last season Fernando made his F4 debut, coming 6th in the Winter Series in preparation for this championship campaign.
Wayne Douglas, Team Principal Douglas Motorsport:
“I am delighted to have concluded a deal with Fernando, who is a promising driver with great pedigree. I think we now have a formidable team. I am looking forward for some top results again in 2015.”
Fernando Urrutia:
“I’m pleased to announce that I will be racing in BRDC F4 with Douglas Motorsport.
After working a lot in my development as a driver during last year’s F4 winter series and getting used to the car, I’m really looking foward to working with the team and l think we can do a very good job together and challenge for the title.”
by admin | Mar 13, 2015 | F3 News
18 year old Akhil Rabindra will compete for the F4 Championship with Wayne Douglas’ eponymous Douglas Motorsport Team, having penned a deal earlier today. Belying his age, Akhil has a wealth of experience to draw on, having graduated from karts through various single seater and saloon classes. He was also the first ever Indian driver to be nominated for the FIA Young Drivers Excellence Academy. In 2014, Akhil was runner up in the JK Racing India Series, with 9 podiums and 2 wins.
The 2015 Duo BRDC F4 Championship commences with three races at Oulton Park on April 4th & 6th, when the series supports the British GT Championship at the historic Cheshire venue.
Akhil Rabindra:
“I am very excited to race in the UK with Douglas Motorsport. I look forward to all the guidance and support from the team and hope to bring them many podiums this season”
Wayne Douglas: “It is great to have Akhil onboard. We have a good understanding of the F4 cars and he has plenty of experience so we hope to be challenging for podiums immediately.”
by admin | Feb 6, 2015 | Ginetta Junior Championship News
Douglas Motorsport and Ginetta can today confirm that Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner Stuart Middleton will run as part of the Douglas Motorsport team in the 2015 KICK Start Energy Ginetta Junior Championship.
15 year old Middleton won a fully funded season in the KICK Start Energy Ginetta Junior Championship in October after impressing across the board in his driving, fitness and media assessments.
Wayne Douglas: ‘We are delighted to be running Stuart Middleton this season. He showed blistering pace at the Ginetta Junior Scholarship and really impressed us during a pre-season test, so we’re set for what looks like another strong year with our junior team.’
Middleton said; “The KICK Start Energy Ginetta Junior Championship is the ideal route to move from karting into cars. It’s the perfect platform to gain invaluable race experience and driving skills to progress my driving career, and Douglas Motorsport have the credentials to support that.”
by admin | Jan 28, 2015 | News
A fantastic £90,000 prize package has been announced for the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in 2015. The winner of the 2015 BRDC F4 Championship will receive an outstanding prize package worth £90,000, comprised of £35,000 cash, a GP3 test drive with the highly successful ART team at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, and a special Pirelli award of €50,000 if they graduate to GP3.
If you are interested in competing, we are interested in hearing from you, we have a drive available and have already won in F4!
Read more on formula4.com
by admin | Jan 13, 2015 | News
Dublin-based Andrew Watson, who raced successfully with Douglas Motorsport in both the Ginetta Junior and Ginetta GT4 Supercup has been chosen by McLaren GT for its newly announced “Young Driver” programme.
Former Douglas Motorsport Driver Andrew Watson
It sees Watson, studying Economics at Trinity College Dublin, who embarks on only his fourth full season of car racing, continue his rise up the GT category motor racing ladder. Andrew, who celebrates his 20th birthday later this month (21 Jan), has been racing Ginetta sportscars with since 2011.
“To get this opportunity is fantastic – I’m just so excited to be given this amazing chance by McLaren GT,” confirmed Andrew who was announced as part of the exciting programme at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham today (10 January).
McLaren GT is the GT race car manufacturing arm of McLaren Group established to develop, build and support the GT racing and track derivatives of the 12C sports car, and the 650S GT3. Based in Woking, Surrey at the former home of McLaren Racing, the company is responsible for the design, development and production of the GT3 variants of the 12C and 650S, the 12C GT Can-Am Edition and the 12C GT Sprint.
Andrew and Ross Wylie (Scotland, 23) will work with McLaren GT and the existing trio of factory drivers of Rob Bell, Kevin Estre and Alvaro Parente to further enhance their skills and knowledge for a competitive career in GT racing.
The McLaren GT Young Driver Programme announcement follows a successful 2014 season, which was brought to a close with a successful competitive debut for the new 650S GT3 at the Gulf 12 Hours.
Co. Tyrone born Watson has been closely monitored by McLaren GT Managing Director Andrew Kirkaldy.
Kirkaldy commented: “It is great that we are in the position to offer Andrew and Ross an opportunity to become part of our team, and help give them a boost with their careers.
“The GT racing scene is as exciting now as I can ever remember, and there is a huge amount of talent on every grid week-in week-out, so it can be difficult for young drivers to get on the first rung of the ladder to show their true potential.
“This programme is designed to offer young drivers we feel have something special a chance to show what they can do behind the wheel of a GT car, and also work closely with our drivers, engineers and technical teams, giving them access to many years of race- and championship-winning experience at the highest levels.”
Andrew continued: “I’ve only been racing cars since 2010 but led the highly competitive Ginetta GT4 Supercup for most of last season before finally finishing fourth in the 26-race series.
“Nevertheless it was a brilliant year, winning five races and scoring multiple pole positions and fastest laps. But sometimes it takes a little luck to actually win a championship and that deserted me at times.
“It will certainly be a big step up in performance from the Ginetta sportscar and will be a steep learning curve but I’m up for the challenge. The GT3 category allows more aerodynamic aids while the engine is much more powerful than the cars I’ve previously raced.”
McLaren GT customer teams will race the new 650S GT3 in a number of championships around the world.
Watson recently visited the McLaren GT factory in Woking, Surrey: “I was very impressed by the facilities and the team that I’ll be working with.”
The specific championship along with which team Watson races with will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I am delighted for Andrew”, said Douglas Motorsport Team Principal Wayne Douglas. “We had success in both Ginetta Juniors and GT4 Supercup and all of the team wish him all the best in his exciting new move.”
