Fionn McLaughlin
| Fionn McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
 McLaughlin at the FIA European Karting Championships - Valencia 2024 | |
| Nationality |  Irish |
| Born | 29 October 2007 Magherafelt, 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 |
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 Fionn competed in the CIK-FIA European Championships finishing 7th overall in his first year in the category. Fionn also competed in the 2023 FIA Karting World Championship.
Career
Early Career
McLaughlin 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, Fionn 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 age 11 McLaughlin now into 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]
Age 13 Fionn moved up to the Junior category racing in the British Karting Championships and the Iame Euro Series. Fionn would go on to claim 4 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
In 2023 Fionn was invited to sign with the professional karting team, Kart Republic, racing as part of the VDK Team, based in Belgium.
McLaughlin 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 Fionn 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
In 2024 Fionn will compete in the OK CIK-FIA OK European Championship, FIA OK World Championship, Iame X30 European Championship and Iame X30 World Karting Championship.
Fionn will also be preparing to compete FIA Formula 4 in 2025.
Karting Record
| Season | Championship | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Tullyallen Karting championship | MCL Racing | 2nd |
| Ulster Cup Championship | 3rd | ||
| 2017 | LGM Championship | Tony Kart (Strawberry Racing) | 27th |
| 2018 | LGM Championship | Tony Kart (Strawberry Racing) | 23rd |
| 2019 | LGM Championship | Tony Kart (Strawberry Racing) | 21st |
| British Karting Championships | Tony Kart (Strawberry Racing) | 14th | |
| 2020 | UKC Championship | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd |
| British Grand Prix | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd | |
| 2021 | Junior IAME European Championship | Fusion Motorsport | 4th |
| British Karting Championships | Fusion Motorsport | 8th | |
| 2022 | British Karting Championships | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd |
| British Kart Masters Grand Prix | Fusion Motorsport | 6th | |
| British O Plate Championship | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd | |
| IAME x30 European Championship | Fusion Motorsport | 18th | |
| IAME International Finals Le Man's | Fusion Motorsport | 2nd | |
| 2023 | OK Champions of the future | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) | 16th |
| CIK-FIA OK European Championship | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) | 7th | |
| FIA OK World Championship | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) | 19th | |
| IAME x30 European Championship | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) | 4th | |
| Champions of the future Abu Dhabi | Kart Republic (VDK Racing) | 1st |
References
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "British Karting Championships". British Karting Championships. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "Teen Karting Star". Belfast Live. Belfast Live. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "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. "Iame World Games". Kart Sport News. Kart Sport News. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Fionn, McLaughlin. "FIA European Championship Standings". FIA Karting. FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "Pole at FIA World Championship". Youtube. TKART. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Fionn, McLaughlin. "Qualifying FIA World Finals". FIA Karting. FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "FIA World Championships". FIA Karting. FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "FIA World Championships". FIA Karting. FIA Karting. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Fionn. "Iame Euro Series X30" (PDF). Iame Euro Series. Iame Euro Series. Retrieved 13 May 2024.