Alex MacDowall

Alex MacDowall is a British racing driver who most recently raced with Audi in the Blancpain GT Series. Earlier in a career, MacDowall spent three seasons with Aston Martin Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series, scoring the greatest success in 2016 when he was the ELMS GTE champion. Before gaining success in GT racing, he was active in different touring car competitions.

Alex MacDowall

Starting a career at the age 14

Born in January 1991 in Carlisle, Cumbria, Alexander Hay MacDowall started his racing career in a British T Cars series, participating in the 2005 Autumn Trophy. In 2006, he spent a full season in that competition, finishing seventh in the final standings. In 2007, he progressed to the Renault Clio Cup UK, having no success as a driver of Total Control Racing team. He was only 32nd in the final points.

MacDowall improved his performances during the 2007 Renault Clio Winter Cup, finishing in the third place, and then finishing seventh in 2008 Renault Clip Cup UK. In 2008, he was again third in the Winter Cup.

The highlight of his early career was the season in the 2009 Renault Clio Cup when he scored four wins and finished second in the championship, behind Phil Glew.

Alex MacDowall spent two BTCC seasons with Silverline Chevrolet

Two BTCC seasons with Silverline Chevrolet

During a winter break, MacDowall was testing BTCC cars with several teams. After all, he joined RML-operated Silverline Chevrolet factory-supported team to drive the #20 Chevrolet Cruze in the 2010 BTCC season. His teammate in the #4 Chevrolet was a BTCC legend Jason Plato. MacDowall was the fastest qualifier two times, at Snetterton and Knockhill. However, he didn't score wins, only two podiums at Brands Hatch and Knockhill, finishing 11th in the final standings. Jason Plato was a champion that year.

Both Plato and Macdowall stayed with Silverline Chevrolet in 2011. MacDowall was on a podium three times, finishing ninth in the final points.

Alex MacDowall at Monza's WTCC podium

Two WTCC seasons with Bamboo Engineering

MacDowall stayed in a cockpit of Chevrolet Cruze in 2012 but progressed into World Touring Car Championship to drive a full season with Bamboo Engineering. Driving the #11 Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T among independent entries, he was a Yokohama Trophy winner two times, finishing fifth among independent drivers and eleventh overall.

MacDowall stayed with Bamboo Engineering for the 2013 WTCC season, driving the #9 Chevrolet Cruze. He finished on the overall podium for the first time at Monza, finishing third overall and Yokohama Trophy winner. With five independent wins over a season, he finished second in the points behind his teammate James Nash. In the overall standings, MacDowall was 11th.

Alex MacDowall spent three seasons with Aston Martin Racing

Joining Aston Martin Racing in 2014

In 2014, MacDowall changed not only a team but also a racing discipline. He joined Aston Martin Racing to drive the #99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE in the FIA World Endurance Championship. His full-time teammate was Fernando Rees. The third drivers were Darryl O'Young (seven rounds) and Abdulaziz Al Faisal (one round). They scored GTE Pro podium by finishing third at Fuji, ending a season 12th in the final standings. MacDowall had no opportunity to made his Le Mans 24h debut because Rees crashed during qualifying and the team withdrew from the race.

In 2015, MacDowall stayed in the #99 Aston Martin Vantage, finishing sixth in GTE Pro class at Le Mans, sharing a car with Fernando Rees and Richie Stanaway. They were race winners at Spa 6 Hours, finishing seventh in the final standings of GTE Pro class.

2016 ELMS GTE champions Alex MacDowall, Darren Turner and Andrew Howard

European Le Mans Series GTE champion in 2016

While competing with AMR in the FIA WEC, MacDowall had occasional appearances in other competitions with other Aston Martin teams, recording few starts in the British GT Championship, one start in the Blancpain Endurance Series and one start in the European Le Mans Series.

In 2016, MacDowall stayed in the #99 Aston Martin Vantage but switched to the European Le Mans Series. Sharing a car with Andrew Howard and Darren Turner, he won two races and captured the ELMS GTE title.

Klaus Bachler and Alex MacDowall at Oscherleben

A season with Porsche in the ADAC GT Masters

In 2017, MacDowall left Aston Martin Racing and accepted a new challenge in the German GT Championship. He joined Schütz Motorsport to drive the #36 Porsche 911 GT3 R together with Klaus Bachler.

Their best result was the second place in the season-opening race at Oschersleben. Later in the season they were far from podiums and finished only 22nd in the final standings.

GTE class vice-champion in the 2018 ELMS season

In 2018, MacDowall returned to European Le Mans Series, joining British team JMW Motorsport to drive the #66 Ferrari 488 GTE.  His co-drivers were Miguel Molina and Liam Griffin. They won two times in GTE class, at Circuit Paul Ricard and Silverstone, finishing second in the final standings.

In 2019, Alex changed the team and the competition, joining Team WRT to drive an Audi R8 LMS in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.

Alex MacDowall celebrates ELMS GTE victory at Silverstone

Photos: Alec MacDowall, Jakob Ebrey,