SCCA Pro Racing

Making the move from karts to cars this year, multi-time national level race winner and champion Ryan MacDermid was successful in his formula car debut. Joining the Alliance Racing Sponsored by Gas Monkey Energy program just before the holidays, the Canadian sprung into racing action during the second weekend of the new year garnering a double podium result at the famed Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.

“It was definitely an eye-opening weekend for me, but one that I enjoyed fully,” explained MacDermid following his pair of third place results. “It was a smaller field of competition but a great way to get started. I was able to gain confidence with each session and feel that I improved with every lap behind the wheel. I was able to gain experience in both dry and wet weather racing which will help me as I progress through 2019.”

Traveling from his home near Toronto, Ontario, MacDermid joined his Alliance Racing outfit at the technical Sonoma Raceway. Meeting the team, his engineer and teammates upon his arrival, MacDermid had not even sat in his new 2019 car before arriving at the track.

“Ryan impressed us all for the very little experience that he has,” explained Team Engineer Nathan Toney. “He took the information he was given in our debriefs after each session and turned that into improvements on track. He has a bright future and I am confident that he will be a threat at the front of the field throughout the season.”

MacDermid continued, “There was a lot to do before I could get on track. I had to get a seat made on site, get fitted to the car, pedals adjusted and more. The team was very helpful and made me feel right at home. I think it is going to be a good year.” 

Following his fitting, the next day was the first of two official days of competition. With no testing or practice on the schedule, it was straight into qualifying for the young Canadian where he secured a fourth-place result. In the wheel-to-wheel competition that day, MacDermid greatly improved and piloted his Alliance Racing / Gas Monkey Energy car to a third place podium result.

Back to the track on Sunday, the rain fell and it would be the young Canadian's first racing experience in wet weather. Showing his adaptability, MacDermid qualified and finished in the third position, his second podium result of the weekend. Improving almost every single lap of the main event, the confidence is now in place for the next race in less than two weeks’ time.

With the equipment staying in California and MacDermid returning home for schooling, the next on-track activity will be another race weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Utilizing the road course layout, MacDermid will have one full day of practice on Fri., Feb. 1 before wheel-to-wheel action commences on  Feb. 2-3.

For information on Ryan MacDermid, please visit him online via his social media channels by searching Ryan MacDermid Motorsports.

Photos: Ryan MacDermid Motorsports