Mitchell wins dream LMP3 drive with Hoy 14 | 08 | 2017
ONE OF SCOTLAND’S most talented young sportscar drivers, teenager Sandy Mitchell, has come top of a poll which will see him compete in a 420bhp LMP3 car in partnership with Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy. (Related: Chris Hoy — My amazing Le Mans debut)
Mitchell, the 17-year-old from Forfar and 2016 British GT Championship Rookie of the Year, has won the Sports Insure Young Driver Initiative. The result comes after a 10-week social media campaign and online voting by the public.
The youngster will now team up with fellow Scot, six-time Olympic gold medallist Hoy, in a 420bhp, five-litre V8 carbon-bodied United Autosports Ligier JS P3. The Scots duo will contest the final round of the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship at Donington Park on September 16/17.
Hoy, the 41-year-old from Edinburgh (pictured above at Le Mans) and a former European Le Mans LMP3 Champion, completed the Le Mans 24-Hours on his debut last year in an LMP2 car.
Mitchell meanwhile, the youngest driver ever to win a race in the British GT Championship, faced stiff competition from nine other drivers in the final shootout, including Alex Sedgwick, Bradley Smith, Stephane Kox and Callan O’Keeffe who were the final top five.
More than 8000 votes were cast, and Mitchell emerged top of a highly competitive field which totalled 118 young drivers from a diverse range of racing backgrounds applied to race in the ACO-backed British LMP3 Championship.
While the young Scot 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 (pictured below).
Sandy Mitchell, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m really pleased to win the Sports Insure Young Driver initiative. It’s an incredible prize. To have this opportunity to drive the United Autosports LMP3 car alongside Sir Chris Hoy is truly special.
“I would like to thank every single person that voted for me. The support has been amazing! I can't wait to race at Donington Park, where I’ve won before in the British GT Championship.
“I’ll definitely be giving it 100%, and more. It will be a fantastic new experience, and I can’t wait to drive the United Autosports Ligier JS P3!”
Chris Haynes, Managing Director, Bute Motorsport, Championship Organisers:
“We look forward to welcoming Sandy to the championship at Donington Park and helping him develop his skills in an LMP3 car. Well done to all the other finalists and entrants.
“The whole process has generated a large amount of enthusiasm from all the shortlisted drivers, and our changes to the championship present them with an opportunity to come and join us next year.
“It's safe to say we were not only amazed by the quantity of applicants, but the quality as well. The fact we had drivers from top national championships apply is a tremendous show of strength for the LMP3 formula, and particularly for our Championship.
“We also realise that none of this can be achieved on our own and we are extremely appreciative of the support and profile that our title sponsor Henderson Insurance Brokers, in partnership with Ligier UK and United Autosports have brought to our Championship, especially by creating and running this exciting opportunity for a young driver.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“I’m really pleased with the response we have had from the Sports Insure Young Driver initiative. It’s a great opportunity for a young driver to get behind the wheel of a prototype and I hope Sandy gets everything he can out of it.
“It has been a close competition with various leaders at one point or another, but I think Sandy will be an asset to the team as he is a proven race winner already this year.”
Related: Mitchell and Haggerty bag GT4 win
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars
Jim McGill