Two young drivers will work with McLaren GT alongside current factory drivers

McLaren GT has confirmed today at the Autosport International Show the launch of the McLaren GT Young Driver Programme. Ahead of the 2015 GT season, which will see McLaren GT customer teams racing the new 650S GT3 in a number of championships across the world.

Drivers 23 year-old Ross Wylie from Scotland (left) and 19 year-old Andrew Watson from Northern Ireland (right) will work with McLaren GT, and the existing trio 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. The two young additions to the team mark the start of an exciting year for the Woking based manufacturer. Each young driver has shown promise over the past few years, and been closely monitored by a team at McLaren GT keen to nurture home-grown talent. Spearheading this search has been McLaren GT Managing Director, Andrew Kirkaldy, a former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner.

Joining up with McLaren GT, the young drivers will benefit from involvement in the extensive development testing programmes throughout 2015 undertaken by McLaren GT for the 650S Sprint and 650S GT3, they will take an active role in driver tuition with the calendar of Pure McLaren track driving experiences, as well as having direct access to various aspects of the business including simulator testing, driver coaching and management, and media activities from a team of experts with a wealth of motorsport knowledge. These are all key elements which a factory has access to in order to help the development of the cars, the business and the drivers’ own personal careers.