DRIVER BIO
Team: McLennan Motorsport
Nationality: Australian
Date of Birth: Dec 30th 2004
Born: Brisbane, Australia
Lives: Brisbane, Australia
Notable Awards – Motorsport
2022 Entered to compete in Castrol Toyota Racing Series (2023)
2022 4th Place Porsche Sprint Challenge, Rd4 (Pro Class) The Bend (SA)
2022 6th Place Porsche Sprint Challenge, Rd3 (Pro Class) Sandown Raceway (VIC)
2022 1st Place Porsche Sprint Challenge, Rd2 (Class B) Queensland Raceway (QLD)
2022 1st Place Porsche Cup car, QLD series Rd1 Queensland Raceway (QLD)
2022 8th Place Formula Ford, National series Rd3 Winton Raceway (VIC)
2022 9th Place Formula Ford, National series Rd2 Phillip Island Circuit (VIC)
2021 1st Place Formula Ford, QLD series Rd5 Queensland Raceway (QLD)
2021 3rd Place Formula Ford, QLD series Rd4 Morgan Park (QLD)
2021 2nd Place Formula Ford, QLD series Rd2 Queensland Raceway (QLD)
2021 4th Place Formula Ford, QLD series Rd1 Morgan Park (QLD)
Meet Tom
Tom began his journey in motorsport at a young age when he received his first motorbike, a Yamaha PW 50. Tom displayed a keen interest in motorbikes and spent many weekends trackside. Tom has since raced in Karting Championships, Australian Formula Ford Championship, Qld Raceway Open Sprints Series and more recently, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge. In 2023, he will start his season in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
Go Karting Days
At the age of thirteen, in 2018, Tom’s father introduced him to Karting. Tom continued Karting with his father as his mechanic until 2020, when he joined Tyler Greenbury Racing “TGR”. Tom started in the “KA4” series before moving to “KA3” Tag Light, Rotax and spent limited time in KZ shifter Karts. He competed in Queensland Karting Championships and the Rotax Pro Tour Series, which was limited by COVID. Despite the pandemic’s effects on national racing, Tom continued to compete in numerous races at his nearby circuits at Ipswich, Toowoomba, and Warwick Kart Clubs. Tom finished in the top 10 of most races during his karting prime.
The Transition
At 16, Tom began competing in Formula Ford in mid-2020 with Brett Francis (BF) Racing. Due to Covid, national events in 2021 were either postposed or limited. He raced in the QLD Formula Ford series where he won one round and finished on two podiums in this series. Due to a motor racing incident in April 2021, Tom missed 2 rounds and finished third overall in the series.
In early 2022, Tom joined CHE Racing and entered three rounds of the Australian Formula Ford Series, with a best race result of 7th and a top qualifying result of 4th. Competing in Formula Ford at both a state and national level provided a great platform for Tom to progress to racing Porsche.
QLD Raceway Sprints open class
To refine his motoracing skills, Tom competes in the Qld Raceway Sprints Open Class. He commenced in 2021 and took 2nd place in the Open Class series racing a Toyota 86.
Porsche
In July 2022, Tom transitioned from the National Formula Ford series to competing in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with the McElrea Racing Team. He is currently racing as car number 81 and in his first race won the B class in an older 2014 generation 991.1 series car and finished 11th outright for the weekend. For round three at Sandown, Tom moved up to competing in the Pro Class in the newer 2019 generation two 991, finishing 6th overall for the weekend, in very challenging wet conditions.
Values
Tom values “the ability to be a role model for younger racers” in sharing his journey from Karting to racing nationally. He aims to help younger racers build on their abilities and guide them in developing skills, knowledge and a strong mindset.
The Next Chapter
Tom’s goals in the future include racing overseas to extend his career to a new level.
Recently, Tom has entered to compete in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand in January 2023, which is an international open wheel event, based on current specification Formula 3 cars.
Off Track
In addition to a busy schedule of racing, Tom has completed year 12 and is preparing to commence a double degree in Property Development and Economics at QUT.
Q & A
a) Porsche Michelin Sprint challenge 1st place (Class B) Queensland Raceway 2022. Finished 11th overall in the 991.1.
b)1st Place Formula Ford Qld series Rd 4 Queensland Raceway 2021. Swept the weekend with pole in qualifying and winning all the races.
c) 4th place in qualifying and 7th overall Formula Ford Nationals Winton Raceway 2022. This was my first Supercars Support Round on Live TV and got a lot of TV coverage, which was cool.
Karting (2018-2021) Ka4, Ka3, Ka3 senior, Tag 125 (x30,Rotax), Kz2; Formula Ford (2021-2022) Qld, National; Queensland Raceway Sprint Series – Toyota 86 second place – Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge (2022-)
Training wise I enjoy gym work with my mates and also boxing which I have just begun this year for some extra cardio fitness.
Outside of training I like to get away with my mates and go 4wdriving and camping at beaches and inland areas. When I find the time I also enjoy getting the dirt bike out and going to tracks such as QMP and Willowbank MX.
My favourite Motorsport moment would have been my Karting days in 2021 as I was in a team with all my good mates and we would race and train side by side and go on week long camps together in the off seasons which were always a great time.
Porsche 992 RSR, because of how cool it looks and due to it being the top race car that Porsche has produced.
My favourite circuit that I have driven on so far in my career would be Phillip Island. The high speed corners and flow of the place makes the track really cool to drive on and creates great racing. The location and oceans view down the main straight are amazing as well.
My favourite circuits that I have not yet driven on are Bathurst, Spa Francorchamps and Gold Coast.
