Dean MacDonald

Dean MacDonald (born 6 December 2000) is a British racing driver who competes for JP Motorsport in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.

Dean MacDonald
NationalityBritish
Born (2000-12-06) 6 December 2000
Cowdenbeath, Scotland
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup career
Debut season2022
Current teamJP Motorsport
Car number111
Former teamsGarage 59
Starts20
Wins4
Podiums7
Poles7
Fastest laps3
Championship titles
2022GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Pro-Am
Last updated on: 22 October 2023.

He was the Pro-Am champion of the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup alongside Miguel Ramos.[1]

Career

Early career

MacDonald's racing career began at an early age, as he received a go-kart as a gift from his father at just one year of age. It sat in the family kitchen for several years while Dean grew old enough to drive it.[2] At age three, he began testing ahead of a true karting debut at age five in Bambino karts.[2] MacDonald enjoyed a successful karting career, becoming the youngest Comer Cadet winner of the Scottish Championship and later winning the Iame International Final in the X30 Pro class in 2019.[1]

GT racing

In 2015, MacDonald shifted to sports car racing by joining the McLaren GT Driver Academy. MacDonald had initially aimed to progress towards Formula One, but pursued sports car racing due to the uncertainty of the single-seater ladder.[2] His first full-time drive supported by the program took place in 2017, where he drove in the British GT Championship.[3] Competing in the GT4 class alongside Akhil Rabindra, MacDonald came close to securing podium finishes early in the season,[2] but would ultimately finish 13th in points. In the winter of 2017, MacDonald was a finalist for the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Junior Scholarship shootout, becoming the youngest member of that year's prospective class.[4] MacDonald returned to the British GT Championship for 2018, shifting to Steller Performance and pairing Alex Quinn.[5] However, MacDonald's program with Steller wouldn't last the entire season, as the team were forced to skip the round at Spa after parts delays derailed a planned upgrade to their Toyota GT86-based entry. As a result, MacDonald joined Century Motorsport for the remainder of the season.[6] In his first race with the team, paired alongside eventual champion Jack Mitchell, MacDonald claimed a GT4 class victory – his only victory of the season.[7]

MacDonald's McLaren 570S GT4 at Brands Hatch in 2019.

MacDonald returned to McLaren machinery in 2019, embarking on his third British GT season with HHC Motorsport, paired with Callum Pointon.[8][9] The duo got off to a fast start, taking a class victory in the first race of the season at Oulton Park.[10] They would claim three additional podiums that season, placing third in the GT4 class championship. 2020 saw MacDonald graduate to GT3 machinery, as he took the wheel of a McLaren 720S GT3 for the first time in his career. Once again in British GT, MacDonald joined Angus Fender in a new-for-2020 effort for 2 Seas Motorsport.[11] The pair claimed a podium in the opening race of the season, and finished tenth in the GT3 championship.

For the first time in his professional racing career, MacDonald ventured outside of the British GT Championship in 2021. Alongside Gus Bowers, MacDonald joined United Autosports' effort in the GT4 European Series, with the two pairing up in the team's #32 entry.[12] Bowers and MacDonald scored one victory – at the Nürburgring in September – as United won the teams' title.[13]

GT World Challenge Europe
MacDonald's championship-winning McLaren 720S GT3 at Magny-Cours in 2022.

In 2022, MacDonald took on a full season drive in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup with Garage 59.[14] MacDonald and co-driver Miguel Ramos successfully defended the latter's 2021 Pro-Am title, taking seven class pole positions, seven class podiums, and four class victories.[1] MacDonald added a supposed one-off in the Endurance Cup, serving as the fourth driver in Garage 59's #188 entry at the 2022 24 Hours of Spa.[15] MacDonald would later replace Ethan Simioni as the third driver in the #159 for the final two races of the season, helping Nicolai Kjærgaard and Manuel Maldonado to a Silver Cup-class podium finish in the final race of the season.[16]

The following season, MacDonald embarked on a full-season GT World Challenge Europe campaign, albeit with different teams in each series. In the Endurance Cup, MacDonald switched to fellow McLaren competitors Optimum Motorsport, driving alongside Sam De Haan and Charlie Fagg.[17] Competing in the Gold Cup class, the team's season culminated in a class victory at the 2023 24 Hours of Spa[18] as they finished sixth in the Gold Cup championship. In the Sprint Cup, he graduated to the Pro class, joining former F1 driver Christian Klien in JP Motorsport's #111 entry.[19] The duo endured a difficult season, finishing as high as 11th on two occasions but failing to score championship points.

Personal life

MacDonald attended Beath High School in Cowdenbeath.[20] Early in his career, he worked for his father's kart and engine-building business Shox Performance. He also played a role in developing an IAME Gazelle engine for karting.[2]

Racing record

Career summary
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2017 British GT Championship - GT4 Black Bull Garage 59 10 0 0 0 0 45.5 13th
2018 British GT Championship - GT4 Steller Performance 6 0 0 0 0 52.5 12th
Century Motorsport 3 1 1 0 1
2019 British GT Championship - GT4 HHC Motorsport 9 1 1 3 4 112 3rd
2020 British GT Championship - GT3 2 Seas Motorsport 9 0 0 0 1 35 10th
2021 GT4 European Series - Silver Cup United Autosports 12 1 2 1 3 95 5th
2022 GT World Challenge Europe Garage 59 13 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe - Pro-Am 11 4 7 3 7 149 3rd
GT World Challenge Europe - Silver Cup 2 0 1 1 1 25 26th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Pro-Am 10 4 7 3 7 119 1st
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver Cup 2 0 1 1 1 25 13th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 1 0 0 0 0 30 9th
2023 GT World Challenge Europe JP Motorsport 10 0 0 0 0 7 46th
Optimum Motorsport 5 0 0 0 0
GT World Challenge Europe - Gold Cup Optimum Motorsport 5 1 1 1 2 70 12th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup JP Motorsport 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Optimum Motorsport 5 0 0 0 0 7 21st
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold Cup 5 1 1 1 2 70 6th

Complete British GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
2017 Black Bull Garage 59 McLaren 570S GT4 GT4 OUL
1
22		 OUL
2
12		 ROC
1
14		 SNE
1
18		 SNE
2
16		 SIL
1
21		 SPA
1
Ret		 SPA
2
24		 BRH
1
21		 DON
1
Ret		 13th 45.5
2018 Steller Performance Toyota GT86 GT4 GT4 OUL
1
27		 OUL
2
29		 ROC
1
24		 SNE
1
Ret		 SNE
2
Ret		 SIL
1
Ret		 12th 52.5
Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 GT4 SPA
1
11		 BRH
1
14		 DON
1
20
2019 HHC Motorsport McLaren 570S GT4 GT4 OUL
1
12		 OUL
2
24		 SNE
1
15		 SNE
2
16		 SIL
1
21		 DON
1
16		 SPA
1
Ret		 BRH
1
14		 DON
2
20		 3rd 112
2020 2 Seas Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 GT3 OUL
1
3		 OUL
2
Ret		 DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
21		 BRH
1
11		 DON
3
13		 SNE
1
11		 SNE
2
9		 SIL
1
5		 10th 35

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Points
2022 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Pro-Am IMO LEC SPA
6H
29		 SPA
12H
24		 SPA
24H
41†		 9th 30
Silver HOC
18		 CAT
12		 13th 25
2023 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Gold MNZ
11		 LEC
Ret		 SPA
6H
31		 SPA
12H
4		 SPA
24H
10		 NÜR
46		 CAT
Ret		 6th 70

* Season still in progress.

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2022 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Pro-Am BRH
1
19		 BRH
2
22		 MAG
1
18		 MAG
2
21		 ZAN
1
Ret		 ZAN
2
15		 MIS
1
17		 MIS
2
15		 VAL
1
20		 VAL
2
21		 1st 119
2023 JP Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Pro BRH
1
21		 BRH
2
11		 MIS
1
Ret		 MIS
2
37		 HOC
1
30		 HOC
2
Ret		 VAL
1
13		 VAL
2
11		 ZAN
1
23		 ZAN
2
18		 NC 0

* Season still in progress.

References
  1. Hart, Ross (23 October 2022). "Dean MacDonald races to motorsport title in Spain". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. "Promoted: Dean MacDonald - McLaren's new GT prodigy". Autosport. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. Goodwin, Graham (8 March 2017). "McLaren GT Driver Academy Returns For 2017". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. Pettit, Vince (8 November 2017). "PCCGB Junior Scholarship 2018/19 shootout: Introducing the finalists – Dean MacDonald". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. Goodwin, Graham (21 March 2018). "Steller Motorsport Announces Full-Season Two-Car Toyota GT86 GT4 Effort". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. Goodwin, Graham (20 July 2018). "GT News Notebook". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023. Century Sign Dean Macdonald
  7. Hackett, Jean-Paul (23 July 2018). "Century Motorsport Take British GT Spa Francorchamps GT4 Honours". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. Kilbey, Stephen (30 January 2019). "HHC Switches To McLaren For 2019 Season". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. "Dean Macdonald signs with HHC for McLaren GT4 Campaign". GO Motorsport Management. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. Errity, Stephen (22 April 2019). "Debut JRM Bentley Win For Parfitt & Morris at Oulton". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023. HHC's Pointon and MacDonald lead a McLaren 1-2-3 in GT4
  11. Kilbey, Stephen (25 February 2020). "2 Seas Motorsport To Bring 720S GT3s To British GT". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  12. Goodwin, Graham (12 March 2021). "Gus Bowers & Dean Macdonald Complete United Autosports GT4 Line-Up". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  13. Goodwin, Graham (5 September 2021). "United Autosports Seal Teams Title As Macdonald & Bowers Win Race 2". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  14. Lloyd, Daniel (10 March 2022). "Pro-Am Champions Ramos, Chaves Join Garage 59". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 3 April 2023. However, only Ramos is confirmed to pursue a defense of the Sprint Cup Pro-Am title, with Dean MacDonald named as his pro co-driver in the No. 188 car.
  15. Goodwin, Graham (20 June 2022). "James Baldwin & Dean Macdonald Complete Garage 59 Spa 24 Line-ups". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  16. Lloyd, Daniel (2 October 2022). "Akkodis ASP Wins Endurance Cup Title at Barcelona Finale". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 3 April 2023. Garage 59 led most of the race with its No. 159 McLaren, but Neubauer moved past Dean MacDonald in the closing stint to take the win.
  17. Goodwin, Graham (9 March 2023). "Optimum Motorsport Confirm Endurance Cup McLaren Effort". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  18. Currell, Rob (8 July 2023). "McLaren Automotive factory driver racing driver Tom Gamble had a fantastic weekend in the 75th Edition of the CrowdStrike 24 hours of Spa endurance race becoming a class winner". Newark Advertiser. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  19. Lloyd, Daniel (20 December 2022). "JP Motorsport to Run Two McLarens in Sprint Cup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. "Dean in pole position to win British title". Central Fife Times. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023. The Beath High School youngster went into the penultimate round of the championship at Shenington, Gloucestershire, joint top of the standings...
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