Dean MacDonald races to motorsport title in Spain

Dean MacDonald, 21, has his name in lights as the 2022 Fanatec GR World Challenge Europe, powered by AWS, Sprint Cup Pro-Am champion, alongside Portuguese driver, Miguel Ramos.

The #188 Garage 59 McLaren pair sealed top spot in the series during the fifth and final weekend of Sprint Cup racing, which took place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, between September 15-18.

Dean, who in 2019 won the prestigious karting Iame International Final at Le Mans, France, switched to to sports car competition two years prior to that triumph by entering GT racing with the McLaren GT Driver Academy.

Three years on from his karting triumph, he has added a global GT title to his already glittering list of achievements, having gone into the final weekend at the top of the standings with Ramos.

Other races took place at Brands Hatch, Magny-Cours in France, Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, and Misano, in Italy, whilst he also competed in the Endurance Cup, which saw events held at Imola, in Italy, Circuit Paul Ricard, in France, Spa in Belgium – including the iconic 24 Hours of Spa – Hockenheim, in Germany, and Barcelona, where it concluded from September 30 to October 2.

Speaking to Times Sport about his sprint cup title success, Dean commented: "It's been good but it was a bit strange on the day.

"I was in the stewards' office afterwards and it was a bit undecided; me and the guy who was going for the championship had a bit of a coming together, but it was alright. It was a bit of a relief!

"I was a bit speechless. It's my first championship win, and I'm glad it's over. It was the longest 30 minutes!

"I then went to Barcelona (in the Endurance Cup) and we stuck car on pole (position, in the Silver Cup), so it was a good two weeks."

Having started karting at the age of three, after receiving his first kart on his first birthday, Dean enjoyed a number of successes growing up, becoming the youngest and last ever winner of the Scottish Championship in Comer Cadet, and the last ever winner of the MSA British Comer Cadet Championship, previous winners of which include British motorsport stars Lewis Hamilton and Paul Di Resta.

The GT World Challenge Europe provides both professional and amateur competitiors equal opportunities to compete over long-distance and short-format, in the case of the Sprint Cup, races.

A number of big name manufacturers, including Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Ferrari, as well as McLaren, have fielded teams, placing the West Fifer in prestigious company.

Dean continued: "Valentino Rossi (a seven-time MotoGP World Championship winner in motorcycling) was racing this year. The crowds have been crazy!

"I thought we would be competitive, but I didn't really know how competitive we would be until round two. From the second round onwards, we polled at every race, and carried momentum.

"The second to last round was when I started to feel like we could win. With the points difference, we only had to finish to be in first.

"It was a good feeling, especially as the guy I was up against was an ex Formula One driver."

The season has been a hugely positive one for Dean, who is already turning his attention to next year, which also could include contesting an international German GT Championship.

Dean, who works full-time off the track with his main sponsors, Advance Construction Scotland, also has designs on earning a "big factory contract" in time.

"That's what I'm aiming for and, with the talks that I've had, it's unlikely to be next year, but possibly the year after," he said.

"It depends on performance.

"You always dream of Formula One, and to go there, but money takes over when you get a bit older. I never imagined I would be here.

"It's been mega this year; I can't fault it.

"The GT World Challenge is probably the biggest GT challenge, just because of the amount of cars on the grid.

"The Spa 24 hour challenge is the hardest one of the year. It's difficult, but enjoyable."

Dean is set to resume racing in March or April next year.