NI driver, 16, to be part of Red Bull Academy

A teenage racing driver from Magherafelt successful Northern Ireland has been offered a dream opportunity to beryllium portion of Formula One squad Red Bull Racing's academy.

Fionn McLaughlin, 16, precocious came done a hugely competitory information week arsenic 1 one of 11 invited candidates from nan UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Lebanon and Mexico.

From this aspiring group, nan first drivers selected to subordinate nan programme were Fionn and Sweden's Scott Lindblom.

The three-day arena consisted of prospective young drivers trying and testing open-wheel F4 and GP3 racing cars successful a shootout format astatine nan Jerez circuit successful Spain.

New talents subordinate nan aforesaid way arsenic existent Formula 1 drivers and champions Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Daniel Ricciardo successful taking portion successful nan Red Bull Junior Driver improvement programme.

The teen began karting astatine nan property of 5 and by nan clip he was 7 was competing successful and winning successful various championships passim Ireland.

Fionn has gone connected to compete successfully astatine British, European and world level and is presently competing successful nan OK class, representing Kart Republic arsenic portion of nan VDK racing team.

He has won some of nan past 2 events he has competed successful during July, nan German information of nan IAME Euro Series successful Wackersdorf and nan Champions of nan Future arena astatine Kristianstad successful Sweden.

Despite his tender years, notable profession achievements to day see being vice-champion of nan 2022 British Karting Championships and vice-champion of nan 2022 Iame World Games.

In 2023, McLaughlin competed successful nan CIK-FIA European Championships finishing seventh wide successful his first twelvemonth successful nan category. He besides competed successful nan 2023 FIA Karting World Championship.

“My extremity successful racing is to beryllium a world champion," said nan teenager.

"I ne'er springiness up and I activity difficult until I’m astatine nan top. I will support moving until I’m there."

Fionn’s racing domiciled model, erstwhile F1 champion Sebastian Vettel, was a Red Bull Junior Driver postgraduate himself.

“The driver that sewage maine into racing was Sebastian Vettel," he added. "He has ever been an inspiration to me."