McKenzy Cresswell takes the next step in his burgeoning GT career when the successful former single-seater racer makes his GT3 endurance race debut next weekend (17 May).
The McLaren GT3 Junior competes in the International GT Open 500 at Spa-Francorchamps for Greystone GT driving a McLaren GT3 EVO shared with Australian racer Jayden Kelly.
Single-seater budgets encouraged Cresswell to switch to GT racing with Elite Motorsport last year following nine race wins and eight pole-positions over three seasons in British F4 and GB3. He also competed in selected FIA Formula 3 Championship events during 2023.
The 20-year-old Surrey-based driver who studies Motorsports Engineering at Oxford Brookes University, claimed the 2025 GT4 Winter Series Driver’s “crown” with Elite following three wins plus a further five podiums, achieved with either Josh Rattican or Tom Lebbon.
McLaren x Elite Talent Pathway member Cresswell plus Rattican, both 2026 McLaren GT3 Junior Drivers, finished fifth in the 2025 GT4 European Championship Driver’s standings having scored a victory at the Nürburgring.
This year, McKenzy achieved a pole-position plus victory in Barcelona with Charlie Hart, also part of the McLaren x Elite Talent Pathway initiative aimed to accelerate the opportunity for drivers to join McLaren’s “factory” programme, in Elite’s one and only GT4 Winter Series outing in its McLaren Artura.
McKenzy Cresswell: “I’ve done limited GT3 mileage in a McLaren. I did the McLaren Assessment last year at Navarra and more recently some testing in the Greystone 720S EVO in preparation for Spa.
“It’s my first proper endurance race and first time racing a McLaren GT3 car. It’s a lot to take in but I’m aiming to be fighting at the front.
‘I’m honoured to be included in the McLaren x Elite Talent Pathway scheme as it’s an important step on the journey to becoming a professional driver with McLaren.
“Spa will be only my second race in the GT Open and second race in a GT3 car.”
Ed Ives, Elite Motorsport Team Owner: “We’re all really pleased to see McKenzy take this next step in his GT career with his first GT3 endurance race in a McLaren. He’s worked incredibly hard over the past couple of seasons and has adapted to GT racing exceptionally well after coming from single-seaters.
“Having already gained some GT3 experience last year, this is another important opportunity for him to continue developing at a very high level.
“The progress he’s made in a short space of time has been impressive and opportunities like this are exactly what the McLaren x Elite Talent Pathway is designed to help create.
“Spa is always a huge challenge, but we’re confident he’ll take a lot from the experience.”
Rob Bell, McLaren Motorsport’s Sporting Director: “McKenzy showed promise in GT4 last year and thoroughly earned his place on McLaren’s Driver Assessment last summer.
“He drove our GT4 and GT3 cars with the factory team in which he displayed real promise, immediately excelling in the GT3 car.
“From what I’ve seen of McKenzy racing in GT4 in Europe, he’s got the makings of becoming a professional GT3 racing driver.”
