Finlay Hutchison becomes part of BRDC Rising Star programme
Hutchison thanks Silverstone-based club for ‘fantastic opportunity’
Finlay Hutchison is celebrating after being named a British Racing Drivers’ Club Rising Star – one of the most prestigious accolades for young racing drivers from the UK.
The 19-year-old, who is currently making a name for himself in international GT endurance racing in the Blancpain Endurance Cup and sister Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe, was invited to the home of the BRDC at Silverstone yesterday for a formal interview.
Having been ‘scouted’ by members of the BRDC Rising Star panel, the teenager will now proudly represent the club through his racing across Europe and will also sport the famous blue roundel which has become synonymous with the best and brightest British motorsport talent.
“I’m absolutely elated to have been invited to become a BRDC Rising Star, it’s a huge accolade at this point of my racing career and a very proud moment for me personally”, said Hutchison, “Everyone within British motorsport knows what a massive honour it is to be part of the Rising Star scheme, and the benefits of being associated with the BRDC are, obviously, massive.
“Some of the sport’s biggest names have been part of the Rising Star programme as they’ve climbed the ladder, so it’s great to be following in their wheeltracks. I’m really looking forward to proudly representing the BRDC during the remainder of the season in Blancpain and beyond and I’d like to say a huge thank you to the panel for this fantastic opportunity.”
Currently in the midst of his maiden season in the Blancpain Endurance Cup and Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe with the Phoenix Racing squad, piloting an Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO, Hutchison is rapidly gaining an excellent reputation as one of the GT stars of the future.
Unlike the majority of his peers from the UK, the Hutchison Technologies, Evoson and In-Home Displays sponsored driver began his car racing career in Europe rather than domestically in the ranks of Formula Renault Northern European Cup back in 2016.
Making his endurance racing debut in 2017 at the Dubai 24 Hours, where he made headlines as a class winner at the tender age of 16, Hutchison then embarked on his first full season in GT racing in the GT4 European Series and also made selected outings in the one-make Audi Sport TT Cup.
Last year, Hutchison dovetailed campaigns in the GT4 European Series and British GT4 and became a race winner in both championships at the wheel of a McLaren 570S. At the beginning of 2018 he made his GT3 debut at the Dubai 24 Hours with a Chevrolet Corvette and again took a class podium.
The British Racing Drivers’ Club, which was inaugurated in 1928, is one of the most important organisations in UK motorsport and its Rising Star scheme has become one of the most recognised accolades in four-wheeled racing. Those on the invite-only programme are effectively ‘junior members’ of the BRDC who are working towards becoming fully professional racing drivers.
Subject to career progression, those who become BRDC Rising Stars are eligible to remain part of the scheme until the end of the year in which they have their 24th birthday. The list of top professionals to have been part of the programme reads like a Who’s Who of global motorsport, including the likes of multiple FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
