The hard lessons from his first Bridgestone GR86 Championship last season might be the key to a title-challenging campaign this coming season for 18-year-old Lucas McGill.
The Auckland driver was very impressive in pre-season testing last week at Hampton Downs as he settled into his new team, iMac Race Engineering. It followed a winter of hard work testing, and it seems to be paying off.
“I’m just looking forward to getting back to racing. I’ve only been testing over the off-season, so I’m excited to get back racing,” he said.
“I feel a lot more confident in the car now, not just in my pace but in general behind the wheel, and I’m ready to be fighting up the front.”
During a challenging start to the championship last season, when he was mostly in the lower half of the field, Lucas focused on simply getting better. It was evident he improved with each outing, particularly as the season progressed and he learned the intricacies of car set-up around New Zealand’s technically difficult circuits.
He entered his first season as the winner of the Wolfbrook Motorsport Foundation Scholarship and the Tony Quinn Foundation Scholarship, and a great drive in the wet at Teretonga was a stand-out and showed he could mix it with the best.
“For sure, last season was a big learning curve,” he added.
“Going straight from karting into GR86 was always going to be a challenge, as it needs a completely different driving style.
“One of the hardest things to learn was qualifying and how to get the most out of a new tyre. The tyre is at its best performance for a lap or two, so you’ve got to nail it straight away. Qualifying was my biggest struggle last year, so it’s been a big focus of mine heading into this season, and I’m confident I can turn on the speed when it matters most.
“I have also learned a lot about using the brakes and weight transfer to get the most out of the car and tyres, and obviously racing against such an experienced field taught me a heap of racecraft. I got quicker every round, and I’m starting this season with all of that behind me.”
Everything is pointing towards a vastly different season in 2026-2027 for McGill, who would love one day to make it into Supercars.
He’s secured a portfolio of impressive sponsors including East & South Toyota, Mad Butcher and Rocket Speed Pizza for the coming season, and while he understands the challenges of the super-competitive series, he is quietly confident about what he could achieve.
“Everyone’s in the exact same car, and all the drivers are very talented, so the whole field is separated by tiny margins,” he added. “There’s no room for mistakes, and it’s hard to pass, so qualifying well is super important and having great racecraft is important to make sure you are consistent and near the front. It’s tough, alright.
“This season, though, I have to set the goal of aiming to win the championship. Last year was challenging, but I’ve put a lot of work in over the off-season. I’ve got full belief in myself, and with iMac Race Engineering, I really do believe we can be contenders for the championship.”
It all begins for Lucas at the Season Opener at the Taupo International Motorsport Park next weekend.
Header Photo: Joel Hanks
