10 Days of Champions - David Hampton: GT Western Championship

December 16, 2024

In just his second season of Trans Am Series competition, David Hampton captured the 2024 Western Championship GT title while having a stellar season, winning nearly every race he entered in his No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. With his AR Motorsports team around him, and driver coach and 2022 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Thomas Merrill by his side, Hampton improved his performance in every race and is already setting himself up to be a threat in 2025.

Hampton kicked off the season with five straight GT victories, winning Races 1 & 2 at both Thunderhill Raceway Park and Sonoma Raceway, and the single event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

With a hefty lead in the points and a hunger for more competition, Hampton moved into the SGT class for the races at Portland International Raceway and Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, finishing second in Race 1 at Portland and driving to victory in the final three events.

Hampton also made his National Championship debut, starting five races and earning his first-career victory in a rainy race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“The car is really, really fun to drive in the rain,” said Hampton after winning his first National event. “I just had a great time. This is pretty amazing, sort of an incredible thing for us to do. I've got to thank my crew that worked so hard. Thanks to my coach, Thomas Merrill, and my wife, for all the support that they give me. We just drove. I just kept trying to drive as fast as I could and not fall off the track. It was just absolutely incredible.”

Hampton followed that up with additional National podium finishes at Road America and Circuit of The Americas.

“This year has just been absolutely amazing,” said Hampton at the conclusion of the season. “The guys pushed me to go to the National Championship races and see what that racing was like on the big iconic tracks. I've learned so much. We were here a year ago, and I was driving, not quite half as fast, but it was just so different. My whole style is much different. I'm very proud of what we've done. The crew has done an amazing job for me, and we've just been able to push stuff. I'm still not at the limit; I'm trying to get there, and it's all about the six inches between my ears now. We're doing the best we can. It's been so much fun; I've just had a real gas this year.”