Factory McLaren ace Come Ledogar is Tekno Autosports’ secret weapon as the squad bids to claim both the Australian GT and Australian Endurance Championship titles.
The newly crowned Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) winner has been drafted in for the final Australian GT and AEC rounds at Highlands Park this weekend.
Ledogar has emerged as one of McLaren’s rising stars, landing a factory role this year with the Garage 59 squad alongside Supercars ace Shane van Gisbergen and Rob Bell.
Having helped the British sportscar marque lift the 2016 BES title, the 25-year-old Frenchman is now poised to act as a rear gunner for Tekno Autosports in the Australian GT and Australian Endurance Championship title fights.
The squad lead the AEC with Grant Denyer and Nathan Morcom, while the latter is second in the Australian GT Championship.
The former French Carrera Cup champion will partner Grant Denyer in the #59 650S GT3 for today’s two title deciding sprint races and share the #60 alongside Matt Kingsley for the Highlands 101 AEC finale on Sunday.
New to Highlands Park, Ledogar was immediately on the pace qualifying within a tenth of reigning Australian GT champion Chris Mies to claim second on the grid.
“It was a late call to come here,” Ledogar told Speedcafe.com.
“I knew about it a few weeks ago but I’m happy to do the event.
“The plan is to help out this weekend and it is working so let’s hope it continues.
“The circuit is really different to what I am used to.
“To be honest it is a bit like a street circuit with the concrete walls but it is really fun to drive.
“There is certainly a lot of adrenaline flowing when you finish a lap here.”
Ledogar is keen to do more racing in Australia and New Zealand, notably February’s Bathurst 12 Hour, but admits he is yet to secure his 2017 schedule.
“I haven’t spoken (to the team) yet about 2017,” he added.
“Sure I would like to do the Bathurst 12 Hour as I have seen it in videos and on television and it looks like one of the best tracks in the world.”
The opening Australian GT Championship race is scheduled to begin at 1125 local time.