Alex Lynn has been one of the UK’s most successful professional drivers over the last decade in both single-seater and sportscar racing.
Having just turned 30, Lynn has accrued two Sebring 12 Hours wins, an LMGTE Pro victory at Le Mans, a GP3 title and a Formula E race victory. Most of his decorated CV came after he just missed out on a Formula 1 chance after stints as a Red Bull Junior, a test with Lotus and a role as Williams’ test and development driver.
Factory deals with Aston Martin and Cadillac have helped him major on international endurance racing in the last six years with success coming with both LMGTE Pro and Hypercar programmes.
Along with team-mates Earl Bamber and Richard Westbrook this season Alex took an overall podium position at Le Mans and more recently took the challenge to the all-conquering Toyotas in qualifying at the final FIA WEC race in Bahrain just a fortnight ago.
We sat down with Lynn at the Sakhir circuit to put readers’ questions to him and chat about his career to date.
Question: What sparked an interest in motorsport for you?
James Hilton
Via email
Alex Lynn: “To be honest, my first dream was I wanted to race supercross in the US. I wanted to be a motocross racer.
“Our family hobby was on Saturdays we’d go water skiing and on Sundays we’d go to motocross. Then it sort of transformed from there, but that was our first family foray into hobbies.
“I really loved motocross and that was where it started. I also just fell in love with Michael Schumacher and what he was doing in F1 at the time. As a kid, I just loved seeing his competitive side and I really thrived off that and gravitated towards the scarlet red Ferrari. I think that really captures most kids’ imagination and most adults as well.”
MN: You were quite a late starter in karting. What was the reason for that?
AL: “I think there was a point where it went from [motorbikes to] go-karting, and I wasn’t the most successful go karter, but there was a very serious point in my life where I left school with no GCSEs because I’d spent my whole time karting.
