In an exciting episode of the Grassroots Racing Podcast, Darren Smith and Garry O’Brien celebrate their 68th opportunity to delve into the stories of motorsport personalities.
Luke Youlden’s Motorsport Journey
Our guest this time is Luke Youlden, who shares his fascinating motorsport story. Alongside this, we also discuss the latest developments in the state and club motorsport scene, as well as upcoming events. Luke, the son of the late Kent Youlden, a two-time Australian Production Car champion, operates the Porsche Track Experience Australia performance driving school.
Luke’s journey in state-level racing began in Formula Fords. After five years of dedication, he achieved two race victories in an older Mygale in 1999. In 2000, competing in a modern car against talented young Australian drivers, including Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power and V8 Supercar’s Will Davison, he clinched the Formula Ford Championship and was named Rookie of the Year. That same year marked his first participation at Bathurst, where he has competed in the iconic 1000-kilometre race through to 2021, primarily with top-tier teams.
One of the highlights of his career came in the 2017 Supercheap Auto Bathurst, where he celebrated victory alongside David Reynolds while racing for Erebus. In 2021, he set a new benchmark lap time at Mount Panorama in a prototype Brabham supercar. Subsequently, he was appointed as the joint Head Instructor of Porsche’s Track Experience program, sharing this prestigious role with fellow Bathurst winner Tomas Mezera.
While continuing to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup and GTs, Luke has been an integral part of the team, progressively sharing Track Experience running duties with Mezera. In 2024, he took over as the Chief Instructor of the Porsche Track Experience, marking the first leadership change in this esteemed driver training program in 20 years.
Additionally, it’s worth revisiting the previous 67 episodes of the Grassroots Racing Podcast, where Darren and Garry have engaged with many prominent figures in the sport, discussing their beginnings and career advancements.