Offaly teen keeps on track for F1 dream with McLaren boost
Offaly teenager Alex Dunne was recently selected to take part in the prestigious McLaren driver development programme.
The 18-year-old from Clonbullogue posted online: “Dreams come true, extremely excited to announce that I have joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme".
The talented racing driver has previously said that competing at Formula 1 level was his "ultimate goal" in the long term.
Norwegian driver Martinius Stenshorne (also aged 18) has been added to the McLaren development programme along with Dunne.
In 2022, Dunne was chosen as the Irish International Driver of the Year by Motorsport Ireland. He won the Young Driver of the Year Award the previous year, becoming the youngest-ever winner of this honour.
Dunne is currently racing for MP Motorsport in Formula 3. He took first place at the 2022 British F4 Championship title with Hitech Grand Prix and finished as vice-champion in both the 2022 Italian F4 Championship and the 2023 GB3 Championship.
A son of Elizabeth and Noel Dunne, Alex started off as a kart racing driver when he was just nine years of age and has made remarkable progress since then.
Noel is a former Irish champion car racer, who won the Irish Formula Ford F1600 series twice.