Alex Denning Delivers Strong Performance Despite Challenges in Jeddah

Former Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year, Alex Denning, showcased impressive skill and determination during the final round of the European GT4 Series at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, securing a podium finish in race one and demonstrating resilience in a challenging race two.

Race 1: Having initially qualified on Pole for Race One by three-tenths of a second, Denning saw his fastest lap time deleted for track limit infringements. However, his second-fastest attempt at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was enough to secure him a Second-place finish in qualifying among the thirty-six-strong field.

In the race, Denning made a strong start and initially led from the Audi of Benjamin Lariche. Despite a near 10 kph straight-line speed disadvantage, the driver fought hard to maintain the lead until an early safety car intervention. Following the restart, Denning pulled away from teammate Josh Rattican and focused on attacking the Audi ahead. Another safety car period halted progress, and Denning handed the car to teammate Tom Emson in P2, with the fastest lap of the stint. The team finished Race 1 in P2 overall and as the top McLaren, a strong result for the team.

Race 2: Race 2 proved to be a more difficult challenge. A blistering out lap from the team was overshadowed by an effective overcut strategy from rival teams during pit stops, resulting in the Mustang and the sister McLaren jumping ahead and demoting the team to P6. To compound the issue, the car was handed back to Denning with 4-5 track limit warnings already imposed.

Despite this setback, Denning immediately launched an attack, diving down the inside of teammate Josh Rattican at Turn 12 to regain positions. The driver then faced the challenge of overtaking the Mustang, which, although poor through the corners, proved difficult to pass on the straights due to its superior top-end speed. The narrow Jeddah circuit made overtaking on the corners nearly impossible, and with 15 minutes to go, Denning received a track limit penalty for the fifth infringement, further hampering the effort.

In an effort to support the sister car, the team made the decision to swap positions and focus on defending from threats behind. Denning finished P6 on the road, but after the penalty, the result was P10 overall.

Reflecting on his experience in Saudi Arabia, Alex Denning shared:

"What a privilege it is to drive on a street circuit here. Not too long ago, I was racing in Mondello Park, and now I'm racing a McLaren in Jeddah. Standing on that amazing podium was an honorary moment for me, thinking of everyone who has been part of my journey to get here. There’s no better place or time to achieve such a result. The track itself was thrilling, with a huge element of risk and bravery due to the walls and high-speed corners. It has certainly opened up many conversations and opportunities for next year. McLaren has commended my qualifying pace and recognised the team effort in swapping positions with the sister car in Race 2. I’d like to thank all my sponsors for being part of this exciting journey in 2024."