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Dani delighted to be ‘back where it all began’

The Spanish racer on returning to McLaren Shadow for the 2023 F1 Esports Pro Series

As Dani Moreno wandered around the McLaren Technology Centre for the first time, there was a warming sense of familiarity. 

Dani hadn’t been to the MTC before, so there were plenty of new faces, but also a fair few familiar ones too. A lot has changed for McLaren Shadow since the Spanish racer drove for us in the 2020 season: the team has grown significantly, along with the official opening of the Shadow Studio, a state-of-the-art activity hub based within the MTC, where we train, race and produce content. 

Dani drove for the team in the 2020 F1 Esports Pro Series, finishing eighth with one podium in his rookie season, earning the title of F1 Esports Pro Series Rookie of the Year, before joining Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Esports.  

“It's great to be back where it all began with McLaren Shadow,” Dani said. “It means a lot to be back with McLaren, a historical team in both esports and motorsport in general.  

“It has been great meeting the team so far, seeing the MTC and the Shadow Studio for the first time, it has been amazing, and I’ve been made to feel so welcome.” 

Dani Moreno gaming image

The Spanish racer returns to McLaren Shadow as a race winner in the F1 Esports Pro Series, finishing first at Zandvoort in 2021 on his way to fourth in the drivers’ rankings. 

He’ll join F1 Esports Pro Drivers’ Champion Lucas Blakely and Wilson Hughes in the team as we begin our bid to retain the F1 Esports Pro Constructors’ Championship title, which was clinched with four wins, five further podiums and one pole. 

The trio will be backed up by Engineer Antoine de Zaluski, and our Development Drivers, Harvey Cowan, Can Akanci and Otis Lawrence. Harvey, Can and Otis will play a key role throughout the season, running laps, testing setups and gathering data. 

As he arrived at the MTC to meet his new team, Dani got the chance to explore the factory and see the two F1 Esports Pro Series trophies for the first time. “This is the challenge here,” he said. “Last year the team got both championships. I'm going to give everything this year to try and fight for those championships again.  

“Having Lucas by my side, I am hoping to learn a lot from him because he has been such an amazing driver in the past few years. I hope that I can learn a lot from both him and Wilson, who is a long-term friend of mine.  

“They’re both really good friends of mine and insanely talented driver as well. We’re hoping to battle again for both championships.” 

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