Angus racer Sandy Mitchell has penned another piece of Scottish motorsport history with news of his move into the British GT championship.
The Letham 16-year-old will race the McLaren 570S GT4 with the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse team, becoming the youngest driver ever to compete in British GT history when the season gets underway at Brands Hatch in April.
In an exciting move for the legendary team most famous for back-to-back wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours in its heyday Mitchell has been paired with fellow Scot, 19-year-old Ciaran Haggerty for what promises to be a hotly-contested championship.
Mitchell was British junior karting champion in 2014 before making his mark in the 2015 MSA Formula series with performances which included a winning double at the ultra-fast Thruxton circuit.
Both teenagers have come through the Ecurie Ecosse Young Driver Initiative, which was launched last year and with the Scottish squad running the McLaren 570S GT4 alongside its GT3 campaign they will work closely alongside factory driver Rob Bell and Ecurie Ecosse director and driver Alasdair McCaig.
Dundee High School pupil Sandy said: “I am very excited to be racing with Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse in 2016 and to be driving the first ever McLaren 570S GT4 car in the British GT Championship is a real privilege, it is a fantastic car.
“I am really looking forward to partnering alongside Ciaran and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and made this incredible drive come together along with my sponsors Thorntons Law, Close Brothers Asset Management, Stirfresh, John Clark Motor Group, The Stag Inn, Tunnocks HBB Geo-Sales and SGM Distribution”.
Fife-born Andrew Kirkaldy, a former British GT champ and now managing director of McLaren GT said: “The decision to run the two Ecurie Ecosse Young Drivers was a very easy one.
“We conducted some pre-season testing and it was very clear from the outset that both Haggerty and Mitchell are stars of the future.
“Their pace and feedback is very good and of a level that we are comfortable with, showing that they are ready for the challenge. “
Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse patron Hugh McCaig commented: “It is a fantastic feeling to see two of Scotland’s young superstars take the next step in to top-level GT racing.
“I am sure the GT4 category will be an ideal platform for Ciaran and Sandy to demonstrate their talent with the support of the Ecurie Ecosse Young Drivers Initiative.”