McElrea Racing

Clay Osborne
Porsche Sprint Challenge @Phillip Island 2024

Clay Osborne

Clay competed in karting from the age of 5 -16 winning multiple New Zealand and Australian championships and titles, as well as winning a Karting World Championship in 2019.

He then moved on to a season of Formula Ford in 2020, where he finished third in the Northland Championship. He competed in the 2021 Toyota 86 series in New Zealand going on to have multiple podium and round rookie wins. In his second year of competing in the Toyota series Clay had multiple race wins and round wins finishing up second in the championship.

He then joined MR late in 2023 and competed in the final two rounds of the Porsche Sprint Challenge held at the Bend and Bathurst. His 2024 plans are to race the full season of Sprint Challenge Australia and potentially some Carrera Cup Australia rounds. Clay's longterm motorsport goal is to become a Porsche factory or V8 supercar driver.

Background...

What are your top 3 career highlights?

  • Winning my first New Zealand karting title at the age of nine.
  • Winning the 2019 Rotox World finals.
  • Finishing second in the 2022/23 Toyota 86 Championship.

What is your Motorsport background?

  • Karting from age of 6 till 17 in Cadets, Mini Rok, Junior Rotax, Senior Rotax, KZ2 and DD2, including 7 months racing in Europe. 1 season of NZ Formula Ford in 2020, 2 seasons of NZ Toyota 86 in 2021 & 2022.

Any other personal interests or achievements you would like to share?

  • I played provincial rugby for Waikato aged 13 and love snowboarding, jetskiing, wakeboarding and raced downhill mountain bikes throughout my childhood.

What is your favourite Motorsport moment?

  • Winning the Junior Rotax Karting World Championship at Sarno Italy in 2019.

What is your all time favourite race car?

  • My favourite race car of all time would have to be the Porsche GT3RSR.

What is your favourite circuit?

  • My favourite racetrack is Highlands Cromwell.

Clay Osborne
Porsche Sprint Challenge @Bathurst 2023

Clay Osborne
First Practice @Taupo New Zealand 2023

Clay Osborne
KZ2 @Auckland 2022

Clay Osborne
Toyota 86 @Pukekohe New Zealand 2022

Clay Osborne
Junior Rotax @Sarno Italy World Championships 2019

Clay Osborne
New Zealand Cadet Nationals @Palmerston North 2015