McLaren customer team Elite Motorsport has strengthened its ties with the British marque ahead of 2026, with the creation of the Elite McLaren Talent Pathway.
The Talent Pathway will enable McLaren Motorsport to work with Elite’s pool of drivers, offering advice and giving support. Selected drivers will also have the opportunity to attend a McLaren young driver assessment day, before potentially joining Elite alumni such as Tommy Pintos and Josh Rattican on McLaren’s GT driver roster.
The collaboration will be overseen by McLaren Motorsport’s sporting director, Rob Bell.
Elite Motorsport first raced a McLaren in 2023, when the British outfit made the step into the GT4 European Series, having previously applied its trade in one-make racing in Britain. It has since gone on to represent McLaren in the FFSA GT Championship and GT4 Winter Series, and win the 2024 GT4 European Series and 2025 GT4 Winter Series titles.
“We have known Eddie and the team at Elite Motorsport for a long time, and they do a great job of helping to nurture young drivers,” Bell said.
“We have seen it first-hand with Tom Gamble, Josh Rattican and Tommy Pintos, who all started out on their motorsport journey with Elite and became involved with our factory driver programme, so we are well aware of the talent that they foster. This relationship helps add structure to ease the way for drivers to move seamlessly into GT racing with McLaren.”
Eddie Ives, Elite Motorsport Director, added: “Partnering with McLaren for this talent pathway is a proud moment for everyone at Elite Motorsport. Developing young drivers, both on and off the track, has always been at the heart of what we do, giving them the best possible chance to build professional careers in the sport. This collaboration reinforces that commitment and provides a clear pathway to the very top.”
Image courtesy of SRO/JEP
