Thomas Merrill (racing driver)

Merrill was exposed to racing at a young age, as both of his parents were racing drivers themselves, taking part in Porsche Club meetings around his hometown of Salinas, California. Merrill himself began racing at age 8, culminating in his first karting title in 1998 at the age of 11.[1] Following on his from initial title victory, he would win six consecutive championships over the following years, including back-to-back national titles in 2005 and 2006.[2]

In 2006, Merrill transitioned into formula racing, taking part in the SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Continental series, where he won thirteen of fourteen races en route to the championship.[3] The following year saw him step up to Pacific F2000,[4] where he finished second in the championship behind Patrick Barrett.[5]

In 2008, Merrill graduated to the Rolex Sports Car Series, embarking on a part-time program in the GT class for PR1 Motorsports.[6] Appearing at Homestead, Laguna Seca,[7] and Watkins Glen,[8] Merrill claimed a best finish of 12th. He returned to the team in 2009, making his debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona[9] alongside another appearance at Laguna Seca. 2010 and 2011 saw Merrill run just one race each in the Rolex Sports Car Series and IMSA SportsCar Challenge, after which he appeared to scale back his professional racing duties.

Merrill's TA2 Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen International in 2023.

Near the end of the 2017 season, Merrill began competing in the Trans-Am Series, driving for Big Diehl Racing. After making his debut at Circuit of the Americas, the team confirmed a full-season entry into the West Coast Championship for 2018.[1] In just his second official race in the championship at Auto Club Speedway, he scored his first TA2-class victory.[10] Through the five-race season, of which Merrill competed in only four races, he won all four races in which he competed. With 140 points scored, he won the TA2 West Coast Championship.[11] He stepped up to the nation-wide championship for 2019, albeit not for the full season. Through the eight races he competed in, Merrill claimed back-to-back victories at Laguna Seca[12] and Lime Rock,[13] as well as an additional victory in the season finale at Daytona.[14] A potential fourth victory was stripped at VIR due to a reckless driving penalty.[15] When the dust settled, he finished 8th in points, with nearly half the points total of series champion Marc Miller.[16]

In early 2020, Merrill embarked on a one-off effort in the IMSA Prototype Challenge, driving for K2R Motorsports alongside Steven Thomas. The duo scored a Bronze Cup-class victory at Daytona,[17] before teaming up again for the season finale at Road Atlanta, where they would claim an overall podium.[18] Merrill also returned to Trans-Am in 2020, driving for Mike Cope Racing.[19] He claimed just one TA2 victory in 2020, scoring overall honors at Mid-Ohio in June.[20] He would finish fourth in the championship, with 173 points.[21]

Merrill participated in several programs in 2021, splitting his efforts between Trans-Am and sports car racing under the IMSA and SRO umbrellas. His Trans-Am program formed the majority of his efforts, as he claimed six podiums and one race victory during the season,[22] finishing fourth in the TA2 championship once again.[23] Merrill also competed in the Michelin Endurance Cup sub-championship of the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving in the LMP2 class for WIN Autosport alongside Tristan Nunez and former teammate Thomas.[24] The trio claimed a class victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen,[25] and also claimed a podium at Petit Le Mans. In addition to a temporary GT4 America Series program with Stephen Cameron Racing, Merrill took part in the Indianapolis 8 Hour for DXDT Racing, driving alongside Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper.[26]

Merrill's Porsche 911 RSR-19 at Le Mans in 2022.

2022 saw Merrill score his first Trans-Am TA2 championship. After winning his first race of the campaign at Lime Rock,[27] he followed it up with another victory in the subsequent round at Mid-Ohio.[28] Merrill scored the championship on a tie-breaker, ending level on points with Rafa Matos. Matos began the weekend with a strong points lead, however a 40th-place finish for the Brazilian and a race victory for Merrill saw the latter take the championship.[29] During the 2022 season, Merrill felt he was "at home" in the series,[30] and he was pleased with the development the series had experienced since he began racing in 2017.[31] Merrill also made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022, racing in the GTE Am class for WeatherTech Racing alongside Cooper MacNeil and Julien Andlauer.[32] The trio would finish second in the GTE Am class, marking Merrill's first Le Mans podium in his maiden appearance.[3] Merrill made a number of additional one-off appearance during 2022, including a podium finish for Jr III Racing in the IMSA Prototype Challenge at Mid-Ohio.[33]

Merrill began his 2023 campaign by returning to the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for AWA in the LMP3 class.[34] Alongside Wayne Boyd, Anthony Mantella, and Nicolás Varrone, Merrill claimed victory in the LMP3 class – his first class victory at the Rolex 24.[3][35] Merrill was also embroiled in a battle for the final spot in Northwest AMR's FIA World Endurance Championship entry with Axcil Jefferies, although Jefferies would go on to secure the seat.[36] In February, Merrill traveled to the Middle East to compete in the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series with Walkenhorst Motorsport. Teamed up with Nicky Catsburg and Chandler Hull, Merrill claimed two victories, three podiums, and the GT-class championship.[37]

Merrill's full-time programs for 2023 surrounded both the Trans-Am Series and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.[38] In Trans-Am, Merrill claimed his first victory of the season at Lime Rock in May.[39] He claimed his first Porsche Cup podium in July at Road America.[40]

^* Season still in progress.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

^† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.

^† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP3 Championship.

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

^* Season still in progress.