Ronan McKenzie

Ronan McKenzie, (born 1998), is an English kart racing driver.

Ronan McKenzie
(2010) Ronan McKenzie karting champion
NationalityBritish
Born1998 (age 22–23)
Northampton, England
Stars at Whilton Mill Junior Rotax 125cc Championship career
Best finishChampion – Junior Rotax 2014
#5 Junior Rotax Championship 2013
#13 S1 KF3 British Champs 2012
Champion – UK Junior E Plate 2012
#3 UK Junior Championship 2011
Champion – UK Cadet 2010
Champion – UK Cadet E Plate 2010
#3 UK Cadet Championship in 2009
Previous series
2014
2013
2012
2012
2011
2011
2011
2009–2010
2009–2010
2009–2010
2006–2010		Stars at Whilton Mill Jnr Rotax
Stars at Whilton Mill Jnr Rotax
KF3 Super1 British Champs
Junior UK Open Championship
Junior UK Championship
Junior European Championship
Junior World Championship
Cadet UK Championship
Cadet European Championship
Cadet World Championship
Comer Cadet Club Championships
Ronan McKenzie before his debut race at Ellough Park (March 2011)

McKenzie was signed under an option contract with the Motorsport division of kart manufacturer Birel on their Easykart Driver Program[1] in December 2009.[2]

McKenzie was born in Northampton. Awarded Daventry District Sports Awards Junior Sportsman of the Year[3] for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011 in recognition of his achievements in motorsport, McKenzie has raced in UK, European and World Championships since 2009 in the MSA approved Easykart Formula, and won the Easykart UK Cadet 60cc Championship[4][5] in 2010 before graduating to the Easykart Junior 100cc class in 2011.[6]

In McKenzie's debut race in the first round of the Easykart Junior 100cc UK Championship in March 2011, he was named as Driver of the Day by Karting Magazine[7] after he qualified in pole position, and went on to win the heat, pre-final and the final to give him the championship lead,[8] eventually finishing third in his debut season.

McKenzie was also invited to become an Associate Driver of Cranfied University's prestigious Motorsport Programme in 2011, attending university events, taking part in simulator tests and having students attend McKenzie's races and help with the mechanics. McKenzie remained on the driver programme until its end in 2013.

After spending two years on Birel's Driver Program where his progress in the UK and international events were monitored, McKenzie, then 13 years old, was selected to take part in a KF3 125cc test day at the 7 Laghi International Circuit in Castelletto Di Branduzzo, Italy, in October 2011 with three other more experienced and older UK drivers. Although it was the first time McKenzie had driven that class of kart, he achieved the best lap times of the four drivers and was subsequently offered a part-sponsored works drive in Europe for 2012 in the ultra-competitive KF3 class for 13- to 17-year-olds, but was unable to take up the offer due to lack of budget.

McKenzie went on to totally dominate the Junior "E" Plate Open Championship in February 2012, winning all races unchallenged from pole, becoming the first driver to win the title in two different classes at the age of just 13.

McKenzie then joined the 2012 MSA British Super One Championship at the second round in April 2012, after he was approached by a UK race team and offered a KF3 drive, finishing 13th out of 26 in his rookie year. The team ceased operations at the end of the 2012 season, leaving McKenzie without a drive in the KF3 class for 2013.

In 2013, McKenzie switched to competing in the Stars at Whilton Mill Championship in the Junior Rotax 125cc class and came 5th in his debut season.

In November 2014 at the age of 16, McKenzie won the Junior Rotax Stars at Whilton Mill championship – his most notable result claiming victory in round two from 12th on the grid, on the last corner.

McKenzie now competes in endurance karting and is pursuing a career in mechanics.

References
  1. "Thriving Junior Project Supported by Birel". easykartinternational.net. Birel. 2010-02-25. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  2. "Karting Magazine Kartmania Show 2009 Review" (PDF). kartmania.co.uk. Karting Magazine. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  3. "Awards Ceremony Recognses Sporting Talent". idaventry.com. Midtown Media Group. 2010-10-11. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  4. "McKenzie Snatches Cadet Crown". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  5. "Victorious Ronan Wins His Karting Crown". lynnnews.net. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  6. "Easykart Gears Up For Biggest Season Ever". racecar.com. Racecar New Media Services. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  7. "Easykart UK Rd1, Ellough Park Raceway". easykart.co.uk. Easykart UK. 2011-03-13. Archived from the original on 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  8. "12-year-old McKenzie in a class of his own in Easykart Junior 100cc debut". news.driverdb.com. Driver Database. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
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