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Ewan Thomas crowned Motorsport UK Academy 2025 Young Driver of the Year

Sunday 20 July 2025

Ewan Thomas LMP3 European Sprint Prototype Cup competitor has been crowned the Motorsport UK Academy 2025 Young Driver of the Year, having impressed against tough competition at the iZone Driver Performance shootout finale.

Each year, standout second-year Motorsport UK Academy Enhanced DiSE students are shortlisted for the award, which recognises sporting excellence as well as academic performance, attainment, effort and overall engagement.

Five drivers made the cut this year, Leo Brown (iRacing Formula Skip Barber Series), Jack James (Nurburgring Langstrecke Serie), Gracie Mitchell (Iberian Supercar Endurance Championship), Ruan Lowry (Competing in National Stage Rallies) competing against Ewan Thomas (LMP3 European Sprint Prototype Cup).

The shootout involved a series of physical fitness tests to check muscular endurance and max VO2 levels, driving skill assessments on Silverstone-based iZone’s three state-of-the art GT and single-seater simulators to test race runs and vision on both known and unknown tracks, in addition to undergoing panel interviews and presenting on their own experiences gained during the Motorsport UK Academy Enhanced DiSE Programme, drawing on their own career goals and aspirations.

Motorsport UK would like to thank the entire iZone Driver Performance team and Chris McCarthy for their extensive time and support with the award.

Ewan Thomas, 2025 Motorsport UK Academy Young Driver of the Year:

“I’m super pleased, it’s been a really, really tough day, very physical, mentally draining… it’s been a goal of mine to come away with when I came onto the course two years ago, so I’m just really happy that I was able to make it happen today.”

Ewan will receive a trophy at the 2026 Night of Champions, presented by Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers, as well as a comprehensive package including training and development with iZone Driver Performance and a place as a guest judge in next year’s Young Driver of the Year award.