Fionn McLaughlin (Irish: Fionn Mac Lochlainn; born 29 October 2007) is an Irish karting driver competing in the OK class, representing Kart Republic as part of the VDK racing team. He is a vice-champion of the 2022 British Karting Championships and vice-champion of the 2022 IAME World Games. In 2023, McLaughlin competed in the CIK-FIA European Championships finishing 7th overall in his first year in the category. He also competed in the 2023 FIA Karting World Championship.
| Fionn McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
 McLaughlin at the FIA European Karting Championships - Valencia 2024 | |
| Nationality |  Irish |
| Born | 29 October 2007 Magherafelt, Northern Ireland |
| Karting OK career | |
| Debut season | 2023 |
| Current team | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) |
| Engine | IAME |
| Championship titles | |
| 2016 2022 2022 | Irish Karting Championship British Karting Championships IAME International Finals |
Career
editEarly career
editMcLaughlin began his karting career at the age of five in the Bambino category. By ages seven and eight, he was competing and winning in various championships throughout Ireland, earning multiple race wins. At age nine, he progressed to compete in the (cadet class 9-12 years old) British Karting Championships for Tony Kart Strawberry racing team.
At age ten, McLaughlin continued in the cadet UK British Karting Championships, breaking into the top ten drivers and contributing to chassis development.
In 2019, aged 11, McLaughlin, in his 3rd year at the British Karting Championships, he would place in the top 10 across multiple race weekends and finish 14th overall in the championship.[1]
In his final year in the cadet class in 2020, McLaughlin claimed multiple race victories and finished in the top three in various British Karting Championships.[2]
Aged 13, McLaughlin moved up to the Junior category racing in the British Karting Championships and the Iame Euro Series. He would go on to claim four podium finishes in the British [3] & European Championships, finishing 4th[4] overall in the IAME Euro Series championship in his first year in this category.
In 2022 now age 14 McLaughlin would complete his final year racing in the UK claiming Vice Champion[5] in the British Karting Championships & International British O Plate Championship. Fionn would also claim Vice Champion[6] at the Iame world finals held in Le Mans, France.
2023
editIn 2023, McLaughlin was invited to sign with the professional karting team, Kart Republic, racing as part of the VDK Team, based in Belgium. He would become the first Irish driver in history to compete in the CIK-FIA European Championship finishing 7th[7] overall in the Championship.
In 2023, McLaughlin would also compete in the FIA World Karting championship claiming pole position in his group.[8][9] Fionn would also claim three heat wins across the weekend[10] narrowly missing out on winning[11] the final due to an engine failure. In the same year Fionn claimed 4th[12] position in the Iame X30 European championships. Fionn would also compete at the Iame world games in Portimão, Portugal claiming 5th position.
He won the FIA Academy Champions of the Future race in Abu Dhabi, finishing first with a significant lead.
2024
editIn 2024, McLaughlin has finished 6th in the FIA OK European Karting Championship[13] and is competing in the OK Champions of the Future Euro Series, claiming a race win in the 4th round of the championship, which took place in Kristianstad. Throughout the rest of the year, is planned that he will compete in the FIA OK Karting World Championship, IAME X30 European Championship, and IAME X30 World Karting Championship. He will also be preparing to compete FIA Formula 4 in 2025.[14]
Karting record
edit| Season | Series | Team (s) | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Tullyallen Karting Championship — Honda Cadet | MCL Racing | 2nd |
| Ulster Cup Championship — Honda Cadet | 3rd | ||
| 2017 | LGM Series — IAME Cadet | Strawberry Racing | 35th |
| 2018 | LGM Series — IAME Cadet | Strawberry Racing | 23rd |
| 2019 | Kartmasters British Grand Prix — IAME Cadet | Strawberry Racing | 18th |
| British Karting Championships — IAME Cadet | 14th | ||
| 2020 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 8th |
| Kartmasters British Grand Prix — IAME Cadet | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd | |
| IAME Euro Series — X30 Junior | 5th | ||
| 2021 | IAME Winter Cup — X30 Junior | Fusion Motorsport | 4th |
| British Karting Championships — X30 Junior | 8th | ||
| 2022 | IAME Winter Cup — X30 Senior | Fusion Motorsport | 23rd |
| LGM Series — X30 Junior | 28th | ||
| Kartmasters British Grand Prix — X30 Junior | 6th | ||
| British Karting Championships — X30 Junior | 2nd | ||
| IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior | 18th | ||
| IAME Warriors Final — X30 Junior | 2nd | ||
| 2023 | IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior | VDK Racing | 4th |
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OK | 7th | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship — OK | 19th | ||
| Champions of the Future — OK | 16th | ||
| IAME World Finals — X30 Senior | 5th | ||
| 2024 | IAME Winter Cup — X30 Senior | VDK Racing | 34th |
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OK | 7th |
References
edit- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "British Karting Championships". British Karting Championships. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn (29 December 2020). "Teen Karting Star". Belfast Live. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn (6 September 2021). "Top Spot on The Podium". Derry Now. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "Iame Euro Series Results". Iame Euro Series. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "British Championship". British Kart Championships. British Championship. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn (24 October 2022). "Iame World Games". Kart Sport News. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Fionn, McLaughlin. "FIA European Championship Standings". FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn (6 October 2023). "Pole at FIA World Championship". Youtube. TKART. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Fionn, McLaughlin (6 October 2023). "Qualifying FIA World Finals". FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn (7 October 2023). "FIA World Championships". FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "FIA World Championships". FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "Iame Euro Series X30" (PDF). Iame Euro Series. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "MONDOKART.COM 2024 FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - OK". FIA Karting. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Ballymena, Love (7 August 2024). "Northern Ireland teen scouted by Red Bull in search to find next F1 World Champion". Love Ballymena. Retrieved 7 August 2024.