Laser Tools Racing has confirmed that Dexter Patterson will partner Aiden Moffat in on of its Infiniti Q50 cars in the 2022 British Touring Car Championship.
The 18-year-old Scot secured the drive after recently testing one of the outfit’s cars at Snetterton, where he delivered a ‘stunning performance’ according to the team’s release.
Patterson began karting in 2011 and in 2015 he won the Super 1 National and Formula Kart Stars series.
The following year, he won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix in the Rotax Mini Max class. 2017 then proved to be his most successful season, as he won the Trofeo delle Industrie and the CIK-FIA Junior World Championship on his first attempt.
It wasn’t until 2020 that Patterson moved into car racing, competing in the Italian Formula 4 championship, where he ended the year in 22nd overall, having competed in all races and secured a best finish of eighth in the opening meeting at Misano.
This year, Patterson raced in the first half of the season of the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, claiming a podium finish at Brands Hatch before withdrawing halfway through the year.
The youngster admitted he is excited to now be stepping into touring cars for the first time with the Scottish outfit.
“I loved the Infiniti — it is certainly different to the single-seaters that I’m used to,” said Patterson, a former Sauber Junior Team member. “It was a bit slippery in the morning session but as the track dried off in the afternoon we went onto slicks and I was very happy with my lap times.
“The brakes take a bit of getting used to though — in the single-seater I can see when the tyres are about to lock up and I can brake much later.
“So I’m really looking forward to the extended test sessions pre-season and of course, getting used to the new hybrid car. What an opportunity!”
Laser Tools Racing Team Principal Bob Moffat believes that Laser Tools has spotted a promising young talent in Patterson.
“I’m very excited by this,” said Moffat. “We’ve always been very appreciative of the support and encouragement that Aiden has received from Laser Tools over quite a number of years now.
“Now we can continue with Laser’s ethos of spotting young talent and then developing that talent on the race track.
“Dexter is a great fit for us, it’s exactly why Laser Tools got into the BTCC. With our on-going collaboration with Tony Gilham and Team HARD, we are really looking forward to the 2022 season now.”