Canadian race team Auto Eclectic Motorsports will join the McLaren Trophy America grid for the season finale at Indianapolis, taking its first step towards a planned two-car entry in 2027.
Founded in 2021 by former racer Mark Boyd, the team will field a McLaren Artura Trophy EVO for British amateur driver John Spinks, whose enthusiasm for the championship has inspired a move from track days into competitive racing.
Joining him in the number 9 entry will by Pro driver and coach Zachary Vanier. Zachary has had a busy year so far competing in the IMSA Weathertech SportrCar Championship and GT World Challenge America, where he has finished on the podium twice.
The Indianapolis appearance will provide an opportunity for both team and drivers to experience McLaren Trophy America first-hand, understand the demands of the championship and establish a foundation for a full-season programme next year.
Eclectic Motorsports began as a team supporting Boyd’s own racing ambitions, which included competing in Radicals. As the operation developed, its emphasis on preparation, race strategy and the technical aspects of competition attracted interest from other drivers seeking support for their racing programmes.
Five years later, Boyd has stepped away from driving to focus on leading the team, which now supports an established customer base. Its forthcoming McLaren Trophy America debut represents the next stage of that development, bringing its approach to a new championship and creating opportunities for further growth.
For John, Indianapolis will mark another step in a journey shaped by his interest in McLaren and a desire to develop his driving. Having followed McLaren Trophy America and been attracted by its competitive racing and the experience surrounding the championship, he initially purchased his car for track-day use.
Working with Zachary this year has encouraged him to take the next step, with the finale offering an opportunity to put that learning into practice in a race environment.
The team’s immediate priority is to build experience, assessing its preparation and understanding where further development will be needed ahead of 2027. Lessons gathered at Indianapolis will help guide its winter work as it prepares for a potential two-car campaign.
Alongside its existing Artura Trophy EVO, Eclectic Motorsports has a McLaren Artura GT4 car that it plans to upgrade to Trophy EVO specification over the winter, supporting its ambition to expand its presence on the grid.
Mark Boyd, Team Principal, Eclectic Motorsports:
“It’s been quite the road with John, but definitely a learning experience for both sides. John started watching the McLaren Trophy America series and saw the level of competition and the overall spectacle as being the epitome of McLaren ownership. He bought the Trophy car with the plan to do track days, but he started working with Zachary this year and decided now is the time to step up and take his driving to the next level.
“The objective is to go to Indy and find out what we don’t know: to learn about the series and the level of competition, giving us a good baseline to work from moving into 2027. The plan is looking like two cars for 2027. We currently have one Trophy EVO and one GT4, so we’re going to upgrade the GT4 to Trophy EVO specification over the winter.”