Neil McEwan

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McEwan.png
Neil McEwan
Details
Name Neil McEwan
Born 6th June 1966
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png British
Achievements
Will go here when he actually does something

Neil McEwan (born 6th June, 1966 in Gillingham, Kent) is a British former racing driver.

Early life

Having been born and raised in Kent, McEwan had been exposed to motorsport from an early age. The first race he ever attended was the 1978 Tony Brise Memorial Trophy, which was won by Arrows driver Keke Rosberg. Inspired by the racing that he watched, he was able to work his way through the scholarship classes at Buckmore Park Circuit alongside his academic studies. His car racing career began with him picking up sporadic drives at Brands Hatch as a nineteen-year-old, and McEwan would not run a full Formula One season until the age of 21, by which time he had graduated from the University of Kent with a degree he described as "computer stuff".

At around this time, McEwan was able to make use of his father's banking connections to secure the backing that would be required to secure a seat at the best teams in British Formula Three and Formula 3000.

Early career

Neil McEwan initially raced in British national series.
Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png British F3 Career
Entries 34
Starts 33
Wins 1
Donington, '89
Podiums 6
Points 41
Best Season 5th
1989, 28 pts

McEwan's early outings for Mike Rowe Racing in 1986 and 1987 were very anonymous, with a best finish of 7th from his five attempts he did not trouble the scorers. That was to change when he joined Middlebridge Racing in 1988 with the intention of running a full season with the team. He claimed his first points for the team in the fourth round of the season, and added his maiden podium finish a few weeks later; both results came at his home track of Brands Hatch. His season would take a nosedive at Thruxton, however, when an accident at Church in qualifying left him with a broken wrist. After some time out to let it recover, McEwan returned to the track with a stunning podium at Oulton Park, although he and the team did opt to skip the rounds at both Spa and Thruxton owing to the time already lost in the season, and consequent lack of funds.

This would prove to be a strong year for McEwan, as he recorded three further podiums including a win at Donington Park to place fifth in the Championship, this time driving for Bowman Racing. McEwan considered this to be proof enough that he was ready to make the step up to British Formula 3000 with GA Motorsport, driving alongside Vittorio Zoboli, though he did return for two rounds of the 1990 British F3 Championship to "keep his eye in".

Formula 3000 Career

After a somewhat slow start in which his team failed to get to grips with the number eight car, McEwan claimed his maiden Formula 3000 race win in his sixth race at this level, winning an attritional race on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. This immediately propelled him into the upper reaches of the Championship table, a position that he would later consolidate with a second-place finish at Donington Park. McEwan's fifth place in the Championship put him both one place and one point above teammate Zoboli.

McEwan returned to the team in 1991, competing in the first three rounds of the Championship before a second-place finish at Brands Hatch attracted the attention of Dome, in the International championship, who invited him to replace the underperforming Mauro Martini from Mugello onwards.

Racing Career Results

British Formula Three Championship

Season Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pts Pos
1986 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Mike Rowe Racing Ralt-Volkswagen THR SIL THR SIL BRH THR DON SIL SIL OUL ZAN DON SNE SIL BRH
Ret
ZOL SPA SIL 0 -
1987 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Mike Rowe Racing Reynard-Volkswagen THR BRH
7
SIL THR SIL BRH
Ret
THR SIL ZAN DON SIL SNE DON OUL SIL BRH
10
SPA THR
Ret
0 -
1988 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Middlebridge Racing Reynard-Toyota THR
Ret
SIL
Ret
THR
8
BRH
6
DON
10
SIL
9
BRH
3
THR
DNS
SIL
INJ
DON
INJ
SIL
INJ
SNE
INJ
OUL
3
SIL
12
BRH
Ret
SPA THR SIL
7
9 11th
1989 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Bowman Racing Ralt-Volkswagen THR
4
SIL
14
BRH
Ret
SIL
6
BRH
7
THR
Ret
SIL
3
DON
1
SIL
8
SNE
6
OUL
3
SIL
Ret
BRH
DSQ
DON
5
SIL
Ret
THR
4
28 5th
1990 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Hepworth Racing Reynard-Volkswagen DON SIL THR BRH SIL BRH THR SIL
Ret
DON SIL SNE OUL SIL BRH
3
DON THR SIL 4 13th

British Formula 3000 Championship

Season Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts Pos
1990 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png GA Motorsport Lola-Cosworth BRH
6
OUL
Ret
THR
8
SNE
DNS
BRH
7
BRH
1
OUL
Ret
BRH
Ret
SIL
6
DON
2
17 5th
1991 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png GA Motorsport Reynard-Cosworth OUL
Ret
DON
Ret
BRH
2
BRH OUL SNE THR DON BRH SIL DON 6 11th

International Formula 3000 Championship

Season Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts Pos
1991 Flag of Japan svg.png Dome Dome-Cosworth IMO SIL PAU JER MUG
ENT
PER
ENT
HOC
ENT
BRH
ENT
SPA
ENT
BUG
ENT
MAG
ENT
* *