Duncan Tappy

Biography

Throughout his championship-winning career, Duncan Tappy has built an enviable reputation as the complete racing driver – as quick on the track as he is professional off it, talented as both a racer and a coach, and an articulate spokesperson for his sponsors.

Duncan during a rare quiet moment in Superleague

2005 saw Duncan’s first full season in car racing with a remarkable thirteen consecutive race wins in Formula Ford. Not only did he take the championship by storm in the second part of the season, he dominated the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch where he faced stiff competition from international Formula Ford rivals.

The next step for Duncan was to progress to a ‘slicks and wings’ car for 2006 and he chose Formula Renault UK to make his leap. He spent his first season with his old Formula Ford team – Jamun Racing – learning the car and the engineering aspects that make it such a competitive series.

Having been identified as one of the top six British prospects for the McLaren Autosport Awards he then had his talent recognised further by being made a British Racing Driver Club ‘Rising Star’ in the summer of 2006.

2007 saw a move to Fortec Motorsport where Duncan wasted no time in making an impression. He took the UK Formula Renault Championship title with ten impressive wins. In 2008 Duncan showed his versatility with drives in World Series by Renault with Italian Team RC Motorsport, Superleague Formula where he achieved three podium finishes out of ten races, Rookie sessions in Mexico and Shanghai with A1 GP GBR, the Le Mans Series, Porsche Carrera Cup and Time Attack.

He returned to Superleague Formula in 2009 and once again in 2010 – splitting time in that season with the Auto GP championship. In that year he earned eight top-5 finishes in Auto GP, finishing third overall in the drivers’ standings and helping DAMS to the team title. He also found time to score five podiums in Superleague Formula.

After more Superleague duty in 2011 – including a race win at Assen – he will spend 2012 racing for ART Grand Prix in the Blancpain Endurance Series.

Racing Career

2012

Blancpain Endurance Series – ART Grand Prix, racing a McLaren MP4-12C GT3

2011

Superleague Formula – Japan and Turkey cars – race-winner in Assen

2010

Superleague Formula – Flamengo car – four podiums, one superfinal appearance

Auto GP – DAMS – third in driver championship, winner of team championship

2009

Firestone Indy Lights – St Petersburg, USA

Superleague Formula – Galatasaray car – 4 races – best position fifth

Formula Master – 2 races Pau

2008

Superleague Formula – Tottenham Hotspur Car – 10 races – 3 podiums

World Series by Renault – 4 races with RC Motorsport – Silverstone, Hungary, Estoril and Barcelona

Porsche Carrera Cup – 1 race Thruxton

Le Mans Series – 1 race Monza LMP1

A1GP GBR – Rookie Sessions Mexico and Shanghai

Awarded BRDC Superstars Status

2007

Formula Renault UK Champion – 10 wins

McLaren Autosport BRDC Award Finalist

Autosport British Club Driver of the Year

2006

Formula Renault UK debut season

British Racing Drivers Club ‘Rising Star’ award

2005

Nine consecutive wins and second in the UK Formula Ford Championship.

Winner Formula Ford Festival

McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist

2004

UK Formula Ford Winter Championship. 2nd overall.

Formula Ford Festival – qualified 7th in heat, and finished 11th overall in grand final.

Formula Ford testing with several top teams. In limited outings Duncan impressed, culminating in one dramatic round of the Avon Tyres championship in a Zetec powered Formula Ford. Running as high as 2nd from the back of the grid, Duncan was forced into retirement following contact with another competitor.

2003

Formula Zip Championship – last three rounds only. Best result 3rd overall in the final round of the championship in only his third ever single seater race meeting.

TKM Festival – 1st First Final, 2nd Second Final.

Super 1 Formula A category – 3rd overall.

2002

Super 1 in the highly competitive Intercontinental ‘A’ class. 2nd overall.

Achievements:

• Third in 2010 AutoGP driver championship, team champion with DAMS
• Three-time winner of David Brabham’s charity Celebrity Karting Challenge
• Twice represented Great Britain in A1GP rookie sessions
• Former BRDC Rising Star and Superstar
• 2007 Formula Renault UK champion
• Two-time BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver Award nominee
• 2005 Formula Ford Festival winner