GT title for young British driver after F1 ladder proves too costly

Sports Car News

McKenzy Cresswell was a race winner in single-seaters, but found his path to F1 blocked by the cost of competing. After a switch to sports cars, the teenager has proven his championship-winning potential

McKenzy Cresswell with GB3 trophy after winning 2024 Brands Hatch round

A winner in GB3, McKenzy Cresswell has since turned his back on single-seaters due to the cost

Talent alone has rarely guaranteed young drivers a spot in Formula 1, but it has never been more difficult — or expensive — to reach motor sport’s top tier.

It can cost around £20m to get a junior driver from their first karting race to the grid of a grand prix, which blocks some of the most promising hotshots at an early stage,

But those drivers lost to Formula 1 often bring their skills to other championships, and that’s been the case for McKenzy Cresswell, one of the most promising young British racing drivers to emerge in recent years.

The 19-year-old from Weybridge has charted a path from karting in Texas to title-winning success in GT racing, and is currently in his first full GT4 European Championship season.

Like many of his peers, Cresswell’s earliest ambition was to reach Formula 1, a dream kindled by watching races with his father and fuelled by his rapid ascent through the junior single-seater ranks.

Cresswell’s competitive journey began in earnest after his family moved from Austin, Texas to Britain in 2019.

He quickly established himself as a formidable talent, making a significant impression in the 2021 British Formula 4 Championship. In his rookie season, Cresswell not only finished third overall but also outperformed all rivals in terms of race wins, fastest laps, and podium finishes.

McKenzy Cresswell standing on the top of a podium after winning kart race in Katy Texas

An early podium for Cresswell after winning a kart race in Katy, Texas

Reflecting on his early aspirations, Cresswell admits that the reality of progressing to Formula 1 became clear only after he entered F4, where the typical costs of a season exceed £100,000.

“I grew up watching it on TV with my dad and that was what I wanted to do from the start. I only really understood what it took to get there once I started F4 though, so by then I knew how hard it would be.”

He advanced to the highly competitive GB3 Championship in 2022, spending three seasons with Elite Motorsport. Over this period, he twice finished fourth in the championship, collecting multiple victories, pole positions, and fastest laps.

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In 2023, Cresswell achieved another milestone by making his FIA Formula 3 debut, racing at iconic venues such as the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone and still having the F1 dream in the front of his mind.

Despite his achievements, Cresswell recognised the financial barriers to progressing further in single-seaters.

“It became clear that progress beyond GB3 in single-seaters was mostly about money and we didn’t have the budget to play that game,” he explains.

Nevertheless, he values the experience: “I think my four years in single-seaters prepared me well for my career ahead and I am very grateful for the time I had driving such great cars.”

Formula 3 car of McKenzy Cresswell in Silverstone pitlane

Formula 3 at Silverstone was a single-seater highlight

Seeking new opportunities, Cresswell turned to sports car racing for 2025, joining Elite Motorsport’s successful GT programme. His transition was immediate and impactful.

Making his GT4 debut in the McLaren Artura at Estoril, he secured a front-row start in challenging wet conditions, seized the lead on the opening lap, and claimed a dominant victory by 17 seconds, also setting the fastest lap.

Teaming up with reigning GT4 European Series Silver Driver’s champion Josh Rattican, Cresswell continued his winning form in the longer feature race.

The momentum continued at Portimao, where Cresswell took pole position in wet conditions and led from start to finish in a dry race, winning by nearly 10 seconds.

Initially planning to contest only the first two rounds, strong results prompted him and his team to continue their championship campaign. Success followed at subsequent rounds, including podiums at Valencia and Aragon, and ultimately, Cresswell clinched the GT4 Winter Series Driver’s Championship at Barcelona.

McLaren of McKenzy Cresswell in GT4 winter challenge

A strong start to the GT4 Winter Series was the foundation for championship success

Cresswell credits his rapid adaptation to the support from Elite Motorsport and his teammates, noting the technical challenges of switching to GT cars-particularly managing ABS and handling the car’s movement.

“As a driver you always think you are going to be fast every time you drive a car. I was feeling confident that we could fight for race wins straight away and that’s what happened.”

Currently, Cresswell is contesting his first full season in the GT4 European Series, aiming to help Elite Motorsport defend its Teams’ title alongside Rattican.

Off the track, he balances his racing commitments with academic pursuits, studying Motorsports Engineering at Oxford Brookes University, and continues to focus on building a successful career in GT racing.

“I believe I gave everything in single-seaters. There are some decisions that I wish that we made differently in hindsight, and there are definitely races I wish I could have back again,” he concludes.