Sandy Mitchell

It has been an extremely busy year so far for young motor racing sensation Sandy Mitchell. The 17-yearold, now a Former Pupil, left the High School of Dundee in September to take up a place at Loughborough College, which specialises in training budding professional racing drivers.

Competing in the British GT Championship earlier this year, Sandy made his appearance in the Black Bull Garage 59 McLaren 570S GT4 race car. The highlights of this competition included the Snetterton round, which saw two podium finishes for Sandy, and teammate Ciaran Haggerty, both a win, and also third place. The previous year, Sandy had penned a significant piece of British motorsport history by becoming the youngest ever driver to stand on the top step of the British GT Podium. His successes have continued to grow since then. Furthermore, and perhaps most notable, was the Rockingham round of the GT Championship, producing yet another podium finish of second place. Moreover, Sandy was awarded the Sunoco Fastest GT4 Driver of the Weekend Award, for both the Rockingham, and Snetterton rounds.

Upon topping the public vote from a shortlist of ten of the UK’s best young racers, Sandy was awarded the Sports Insure Young Driver Initiative Prize. This provided him with a fully funded drive in the LMP3 Cup Ligier Race Car with United Autosports, along with Olympic legend, Sir Chris Hoy, in September of this year. The first race of the weekend saw Sandy fly by the other racers, to place second in his, and Sir Chris’, LMP3 debut. After a treacherous spin in very wet conditions, Sir Chris recovered extremely well, enabling the pair to finish fifth overall. In a recent interview with The Courier, Sandy describes how he ‘…had a good drive, and really enjoyed every minute of the race’. Saying further, how he was thrilled to have been provided with an opportunity to drive the car, as well as partner up with a famous, fellow Scotsman. Speaking fondly of Sandy in an article from The Courier, Sir Chris Hoy mentions how ‘it was great to meet Sandy. I’ll be watching his career in the future, and it will be nice to say I raced with him when he’s a big superstar in years to come’. Highlighting the pair’s success of stepping onto the podium in their first race, he goes on to say how starting on the front row in race two was a fantastic experience. The BRDC, owners and operators of the Silverstone circuit, are widely known for their highly sought after Rising Star scheme, which Sandy was fortunate enough to be selected for earlier this year, in August. BRDC is renowned for being the most exclusive Club in motor racing, with a track record of selecting some of the best individuals with star potential, including Lewis Hamilton MBE, Michael Schumacher, and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, to name but a few.

With much lined up for Sandy over the forthcoming year, all of us at the High School of Dundee would like to take the time to wish him all the best for all of his future endeavours, and sure-fire subsequent successes.