Andy Mackie

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Andy Mackie has been at the forefront of British junior motorsport for over 30 years.

Andy's skills were developed in the 70's and 80's when engineers could actually try their theories. Most often his radical set ups worked and Andy propelled his drivers to the front of the Formula Ford grids. During the 90's Andy set up his first team, Polestar Developments. Although under funded and short lived Andy proved his ability to lead a team with success with Jonny Kane. Andy kept the equipment from Polestar but took a sabbatical in Spain where he took Gluckmann Racing to win the championship in Spanish Formula Ford.

In 1995 Andy started a new team with old friend Jonathan Lewis. Using Andy’s equipment and engineering skill alongside Jonathan’s unparalleled management ability, the team was the most successful in Formula Vauxhall Junior. Andy was lucky to work with some of the best up and coming drivers in British and European motorsport including Andrew Kirkaldy, Antonio Pizzonia and Tomas Scheckter. Their unparalleled success in Formula Vauxhall Junior led to his set-ups winning 3 championships in a row and over 25 wins. Unfortunately disagreements about the direction of the team led to Andy and Jonathan going their separate ways.

In 1998 with the formation of his own team, Mackie Motorsport, Andy was for the first time, forced to make the most out of an underrated driver. Mark Taylor had very little experience driving but had a long tradition in motorsport. Andy harnessed his hunger to win and learned a new skill in pushing underdogs. In 2000 his hard work came to fruition with Mark Taylor winning the European Formula Ford Series and finishing runner up in the British Formula Ford Championship behind Australian V8 Supercar race winner, James Courtney and ahead of current F1 driver, Anthony Davidson. The following year Mackie Motorsport won the Junior Formula Ford Championship with Steven Kane with 8 wins and 4 second positions from 12 races.

In 2003 Andy took a year’s sabbatical to compete in the new ASCAR championship. Similar to the American NASCAR series ASCAR gave Andy a new challenge running one of his previous success stories, Andrew Kirkaldy.

In 2004 Andy was encouraged by his son Wayne to return to the junior formulae. With Wayne taking away the managerial duties Andy could get back to his enjoyment of helping drivers achieve their goals. Immediately in the Formula Ford Winter Series, Mackie Motorsport was back to success taking the championship with one race win. Although the team made a return with some success they were constantly battling with lack of budget. By the end of 2006 Andy decided to wrap up the team paying off years of debts. During the entire history of Mackie Motorsport, Andy has helped the 'underdogs' reach the top step of the podium.

[edit] Historic motorsport

During the Andy’s racing history he has also been involved in the rebuild of hundreds of historic race cars and built some of the finest engines ever raced. Andy is now enjoying a relaxed career working on historic cars and engines.

Andy has produced a fine pedigree of driver, many of whom have been nominated for and won the highly prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. These include:

[edit] Results

  • 1991 - Formula Vauxhall (with 1 race win) - Jonny Kane
  • 1992/3 - Won and 2nd Spanish Formula Ford Championship - Peter Jorgensen and Javier Morcillo
  • 1994 - Formula Renault UK - Mark Haswell
  • 1995 - Winner in ICS Historic Touring Cars - Allan Minshaw and Jason Minshaw
  • 1996 - 5th Formula Vauxhall Junior (with 4 race wins, 4 fastest laps, 2 poles) - Andrew Kirkaldy
  • 1997 - Won Formula Vauxhall (with 7 race wins) - Doug Bell
  • 1998
    • 3rd Formula Vauxhall (with 1 race win) - Tomas Scheckter
    • 6th Formula Ford Festival - Mark Taylor
    • 5th Formula Ford Winter Series - Mark Taylor
  • 1999
    • 8th Formula Ford Zetec Championship - Mark Taylor
    • Multiple non-championship wins in Kent County races - Mark Taylor
  • 2000
    • 2nd Formula Ford Zetec Championship (with 2 race wins) - Mark Taylor
    • Winner European Formula Ford Zetec Championship - Mark Taylor
    • Winner Formula Ford Spring Trophy
    • 7th Junior Formula Ford Zetec Championship - Charles Hollings
    • 1 non-championship win in Kent County race - Charles Hollings
  • 2001
    • 12th, 15th, 22nd Formula Ford Zetec Championship - Ryan Sharp, Luke Hines and Charles Hollings
    • Winner and Runner Up Scottish Formula Ford Festival - Ryan Sharp and Charles Hollings
    • Winner Junior Formula Ford Zetec Championship (with 8 race wins) - Steven Kane
    • Class Winner European Formula Ford Zetec race at Donington Park - Steven Kane
    • 8th Formula Ford Festival - Stephen Colbert
    • 3rd Winter Formula Ford Zetec Championship (with 1 race win) - Tony Rodgers
  • 2002
    • Runner Up Junior Formula Ford Zetec Championship (with 4 race wins) - Darwin Smith
    • Runner up Euroboss F3000 at Le Mans Bugatti - Francois Migault
    • 23rd Formula Renault Championship - Charles Hollings
  • 2003 - Days of Thunder Racing - Andrew Kirkaldy
  • 2004 - Winner BRSCC Formula Ford Winter Championship (1 Race Win) - Rob Sunderland
  • 2005
    • UK Formula Ford Zetec (9 guest driver wins) - Rob Sunderland
    • 3rd UK Formula Ford Scholarship class - Sarah Playfair
    • 7th Formula Ford Festival - Steve Morris
    • 3rd Monoposto Racing Championship (with 1 race win) - John Roberts
  • 2006 – Formula BMW UK Championship (one podium position) - Chris Holmes


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