Exton named as second Giltrap Motorsport Junior Scholarship recipient
Jan 19, 2025
Blenheim-based racer William Exton has edged out close to a hundred of New Zealand's most promising young race drivers to win the coveted Giltrap Motorsport Junior Scholarship and a seat in a brand-new McLaren race car.
Former Kartsport New Zealand Sprint Champion William Exton has made a big impression since graduating to cars, finishing third in a closely fought Toyota 86 Championship in his sophomore season.
“My dream is to be a race car driver, and this is the perfect next step to becoming a professional race car,” said the 20-year-old after being confirmed scholarship winner.
“It's a jump from an 86. It's a lot faster. I'm very thankful that I've driven a Porsche a few times, so I think I'll be able to fit right in and hit the season and the first round running.”
Exton will be looking to repeat the success of inaugural Giltrap Motorsport Junior Scholarship recipient, Brock Gilchrist, who dominated the GT4 class in last year's GTNZ Championship. But while Exton is following in Gilchrist's racing boots, he won't be inheriting his car; instead, Giltrap Group has invested in McLaren’s all-new Artura GT4 for the scholarship programme's second iteration.
“William's a great young man who showed all the qualities we were looking for in a scholarship winner,” says Giltrap Group Motorsport General Manager Hamish Miller. “Aside from his talent on track, he demonstrated a hunger to learn and a genuine desire to keep developing the skills needed to achieve his goals. That's exactly what we want to see from the winner of such a prestigious scholarship that carries one of motorsport's greatest brands.”
As an official Giltrap Group driver, Exton joins Liam Lawson, Shane van Gisbergen, and Matt Payne in sporting the famous black-and-white logo.
With the support of SP Tools, Castrol and McLaren, the Junior Scholarship was introduced as a genuine next step for talented young racers, offering a top-level car and a professional team environment. The project aims to prepare our most promising drivers to take on the world.
Gilchrist's success since is winning proof of the programme's potential, as he followed up his GMJS drive with an impressive runner-up finish in his debut season in the Australian Michelin Sprint Challenge, followed by a double podium on his Carrera Cup Asia debut.
Exton made his debut in the McLaren at the opening round of the Summerset GT New Zealand Championship at Taupo Motorsport Park in late-November. He began his rookie campaign in fine form, qualifying as the fastest in the GT4 class and went on to sweep the round with an impressive three-from-three race win result.