Thompson is Young Racing Driver of Month

Gary Thompson from Donabate, Co Dublin has been selected as the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Month for August, the third year in a row that he has joined the shortlist for the Young Driver of the Year Award.

The 19-year-old dominated the second of the Japanese Formula 3 National Championship races at Motegi on 7 August. He also set the fastest lap after tyre changing problems in race one, when torrential rain drenched the circuit, left him down the field.

Three weeks later, at Okayama, he finished third and fourth, leaving him in fourth position in the championship points table.

He will complete his championship season this weekend at Sugo, where the final three rounds of the series will be held. Thompson hopes to drive in the world famous Macau Grand Prix in November and to continue in the Japanese Formula 3 series next year, as the Far East offers tremendous opportunities for young drivers.

Thompson, who is sponsored by SG Changi, Aviation Display, BAM Motorsports and Cebu Pacific Air, began racing karts at the age of 9, in 2002, and finished third in the British Super 1 JICA Championship in 2007. In 2009, he was runner up in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship and won the Rookie Cup in that series.

Having been selected as the fifth Dunlop Driver of the Month for the 2011 season, Gary is now a contender for the prestigious €50,000 Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award. This award is presented annually and is sponsored by Dunlop, the Irish Sports Council and Motorsport Ireland.