Dan Harper (Endurance Racing)
17 races, ten countries, and three continents sum up the year Dan Harper has just had. He followed up last year’s British GT Championship GT3 title joy with Century Motorsport and Darren Leung by clinching the 2024 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Bronze title with them.
At just 24 years of age, Harper once again illustrated on some of the biggest events at many of the world’s most iconic circuits why he is one of the hottest prospects in the GT3 division – and why bosses at BMW Motorsport are keen to keep him on their payroll.
There were some setbacks that meant he failed to add to his Sprint Bronze crown, yet none of that can take the shine off what has been another incredible campaign for the Hillsborough man.
In 2025, you can expect him to visit the podium regularly and make the top step his own.
William Creighton (Rallying)
Few expected William Creighton to feature so prominently in the British Rally Championship this season – including the man himself.
What was initially pitched as a learning year for the 27-year-old from Moira quickly evolved into a title tilt with backing from M-Sport Ford and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy.
Despite having relative Rally2 experience compared to Keith Cronin, Osian Pryce, Meirion Evans and eventual champion Chris Ingram, an old-head-on-young-shoulders approach put him at the top of the standings with one round remaining.
A spin on the penultimate stage of the Cambrian Rally dashed his dream of becoming the first person from the north to get their hands on the trophy and join a long list of greats such as Ari Vatanen and Colin McRae.
However, those performances still impressed M-Sport’s Team Principal Richard Millener who is keen to retain his services for 2025. Watch this space.
Colin Turkington (Touring Cars)
In the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, BMW returned to the top of the pile in the drivers’ standings – except it was the car of Englishman Jake Hill and not his Portadown team-mate that took the German manufacturer there.
It means the wait continues for fans of Colin Turkington and the search for a historic fifth BTCC title continues for one of the tin top series’ most decorated and celebrated people.
No one will be more disappointed than Turkington to have missed out despite chalking up five wins, 11 top-three finishes and four pole starts in his twentieth campaign, especially as his car was improved for 2024 and far superior in the wet and dry.
Although his place on the grid has yet to be officially announced, sources close to the 42-year-old have confirmed news on this front can be expected early in the new year.
Andrew Watson (Touring Cars)
If you think Colin Turkington was feeling sorry for himself at the conclusion of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign, then spare a thought for Andrew Watson.
Inking a deal to nail down a factory-backed seat with Toyota Gazoo Racing for 2024 was just reward for all his rookie season heroics from the previous 12 months – and a sign he meant business.
Unfortunately, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare for the 29-year-old. Fifth place was the best he could muster from his thirty race starts in the Speedworks Motorsport-prepared Corolla GR Sport, and once his final points were totted up, 14th and no trophies paved the way for an “amicable separation”.
His second spell in the UK tin top series may have failed to live up to Watson’s usual high standards, but one troubled season does not mean he has become a sub-par driver overnight. He will regroup and come back stronger.
Charlie Eastwood (Endurance Racing)
In some respects, Charlie Eastwood will be glad to see the back of 2024, which has been challenging professionally and personally for the Belfast man.
He always knew joining up with a new team – Corvette Racing – and jumping behind the wheel of a new car – the Z06 GT3.R – for the FIA World Endurance Championship was always going to be a tall order, but a podium finish at the last round in Bahrain felt like an important step forward and has done his confidence no harm.
Next year he returns to WEC with Corvette Racing and is making appearances in America’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with DXDT Racing.
Sadly, the 29-year-old will not have one of his biggest supporters watching from the stands, or tuning in back home, after his dad, John, lost a brave battle with illness at the end of October.
Brandon McCaughan (Single Seater)
Unlike his compatriots, Ballymena’s Brandon McCaughan does not currently have the luxury of a big budget to fall back on, nor well-heeled sponsors to bankroll him – but he does have speed, natural ability, and self-belief in spadefuls.
In the summer, his involvement in the GB4 Championship was cut short having enjoyed a brace of race victories and two podiums with English team KMR Sport.
It meant McCaughan had to return to the drawing board and explore other options, and when news of his availability became public, Julien Gerbi – Team Virage’s co-owner – invited him to a private test at Mugello.
So impressed was Gerbi that further tests were arranged for the 21-year-old, and this paved the way for a final round appearance in the Ligier European Series at Portimão in Portugal.
Despite still learning about the closed cockpit car, he finished Race One fourth and Race Two fifth with Danish co-driver Mikkel Pedersen.
Gerbi has already gone on the record to say he wants to join forces with McCaughan, so if the money can be found, a place in one of Europe’s most respected feeder series awaits him.