McDonald in “Crash Course” for Unexpectedly Early WEC Debut

Photo: TF Sport

Blake McDonald said he’s been put into a “crash course” of getting acclimated and prepared for his unexpectedly early FIA World Endurance Championship debut in this weekend’s 6 Hours of Imola.

The 35-year-old American has been drafted into the No. 33 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in place of fellow FIA Bronze-rated driver Ben Keating, who has been ruled out of the first two WEC rounds after breaking his elbow in a training accident.

McDonald, one of the stars in the Pro-Am class of GT World Challenge America powered by AWS last year with DXDT Racing, recently took part in the 2025-26 Asian Le Mans Series in one of TF’s Corvettes and kicked off his first European Le Mans Series campaign last weekend in Barcelona, also with the Tom Ferrier-led squad.

However, a step up to the world’s stage was not in the cards for him this year, after initially set to concentrate on ELMS competition.

“It was very unexpected,” McDonald told Sportscar365.

“First of all, I wish Ben a speedy recovery. You never want it to come that way but once the opportunity was there it was a very easy ‘yes’ from my camp.

“WEC has been, and will always be, the goal for me, at least while I’m Bronze-rated. That’s the main goal.

“If I’m being honest with you, SRO came quicker than expected. This whole opportunity with TF came much quicker than expected.

“I’m been sewing these seeds for a little while now and gave myself a much longer timeline to get to WEC.

“I’ve cut years out of that plan. It’s happened way quicker than expected.”

McDonald revealed the late call-up to contest both Imola and next month’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps rounds has resulted in a ‘crammed’ series of sim sessions at home to learn some of the upcoming circuits, in what will now result in month-long trip in Europe between his WEC and ELMS commitments.

“I did everything I could to prepare for Barcelona, with a lot of sim work and stuff like that,” he explained.

“Immediately, I had to start cramming a lot of Imola and Spa sim work in, and also Paul Ricard sim work because the plan was to originally come to Europe for [Barcelona] but now I’m staying through Spa. Now I’m here for the next month.

“It was a very tight, hectic schedule leading up to this but I’ve been mentally preparing so much for this that it fit right into my training program.”

McDonald, who “briefly” got to know his new co-drivers Nicky Catsburg and Jonny Edgar last week, admits that the first few days in Imola will very much be a massive learning experience, despite his existing knowledge of the car and team.

“It’s a crash course for me in terms of getting to know that side of TF and those drivers,” he said.

“I’ve driven Spa but the first time I drove Barcelona was the [ELMS] Prologue, and the first time I’ll drive Imola will be the Prologue.

“Having the Prologue at Imola was kind of perfect as I felt that would be the hardest track to build up to. I think that worked out in my favor.”

GTWC America the “Perfect Training Ground” for Overseas Ventures

McDonald said his time in GTWC America, where he and co-driver Matt Bell finished second in the Pr0-Am championship after four class wins, prepared him well for his step into overseas competition.

“Working with DXDT in GT World Challenge America was the perfect training ground to prepare me for the professionalism that TF brings to the table,” he said.

“They’re both very kind people that run the teams and I’m very close with the people that run the teams, so in that regard, it’s very easy to transition between them.

“But I think Tom [Ferrier] has gone above and beyond to make sure that I felt very welcomed and my needs were taken care of me immediately.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to work with TF. Them being the defending champions in ELMS is something I’m very proud to get to work with them.”

While achieving success in SRO America competition, McDonald admitted a venture into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship doesn’t currently interest him as a Bronze driver, due to the limited options for a driver of his grading.

While Bronze pilots can compete for the Bob Akin Award in GTD, the only class that mandates a Bronze in each lineup is LMP2.

“It’s a little bit of a shame, if I’m being honest, because I love the American tracks so much,” said McDonald.

“The value of being a fast Bronze is best paid off in ACO with WEC and ELMS and Asian Le Mans Series. That’s where I felt I was the most valuable and can make the biggest impact in the races.

“Whereas IMSA is a little bit different for the Bronzes. GT World Challenge America just doesn’t have that big of a field, so I thought this is the best place for me to land.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John