Tag: Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge

Touring car stars set the scene for double bill of tin-top thrills

The stars of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and several of its support categories descended on Thruxton today (17 April) for a key test ahead of a tantalising double helping of the UK’s premier motor racing series over the coming months.

For the first time since 2007, Thruxton will play host to the BTCC twice this season – on 18-19 May and 16-18 August. As the fastest circuit in the country – with speeds reaching an eye-watering 160mph through the quickest sections – the popular Hampshire track presents a unique challenge. That means every opportunity to put miles on the clock is precious – and between them, the 29 touring car drivers in attendance today logged more than 1,200 laps.

Whetting the appetite for the forthcoming race meetings, fans enjoyed free entry to the test to watch their tin-top heroes in action – and if the drivers’ awe-inspiring commitment through Thruxton’s flat-out sweepers is anything to go by, spectators are in for a real treat come May and August.

Halfords Yuasa Racing star Dan Cammish was arguably the most committed of all, setting a scintillating pace in the morning session that nobody could match in the afternoon. More than three tenths-of-a-second under the existing lap record, the Yorkshireman led a Honda Civic 1-2-3 at the top of the timesheets, ahead of BTC Racing’s Chris Smiley and Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance ace Rory Butcher.

In evidence of just how close and intense the competition is in the BTCC, less than one second blanketed the gaggle of cars from Butcher in third all the way back to Stephen Jelley in 20th – setting the scene for six sensational races.

“I always enjoy coming to Thruxton,” enthused Cammish, the series’ reigning Jack Sears Trophy Champion. “It’s a lot of fun to drive and Honda has historically gone well round here. It’s a bit of a home track for us too, so it’s fantastic to have two race weekends this year.

“Thruxton is well-known as the fastest circuit in the country, and it feels every bit of it when you’re driving round. No matter how many laps you’ve done, Church corner never gets boring – it’s always an adventure. It’s enjoyable enough to drive on your own – but when you’re in a pack of 30 cars, it becomes a challenge like no other…”

More high-profile names at the test included defending title-holder Colin Turkington (sixth overall), current championship leader and Thruxton instructor Josh Cook from nearby Bath (seventh), Hampshire’s own Rob Collard (12th), five-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s brother Nicolas Hamilton (24th) and former F1 podium-finisher Mark Blundell (28th).

Making his BTCC debut this year, the 1992 Le Mans 24 Hours winner is still finding his feet in the series and adapting to its famously cut-and-thrust, doorhandle-to-doorhandle nature. He admitted that he also needed to re-adjust to Thruxton’s particular demands, having not driven the track for more than three decades…

“Thruxton is pretty unique as a circuit, and I think everybody really enjoys coming here,” said Blundell. “It’s a one-off – there’s nowhere else like it in the world. It’s flat-out and the lap just unfolds in front of you, with extremely challenging corners like Church that call for maximum commitment. It’s a remarkable place. You get a slot of slipstreaming in the races – which is vital for the drivers and very exciting for the fans.”

In addition to the BTCC, leading lights from the F4 British Championship – the Formula 1 stars of the future – the Ginetta Junior Championship for prodigiously talented 14-to-17-year-olds and the Ginetta GT5 Challenge took to the track, offering a glimpse of the wide variety of entertainment to be enjoyed later this year.

Advance tickets for the two Thruxton BTCC race meetings are available from just ÂŁ13 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ29 for Sunday. Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, see thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc (May), thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug (August) or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: thruxtonracing.co.uk

For season or individual race meeting accreditation, please e-mail: press@barc.net

Michelin named as title sponsor of Ginetta Junior Championship

Ginetta have announced that leading global tyre manufacturer Michelin will become the title sponsor for the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship as part of a new five-year extension to what is an already long-standing partnership.

In what has been an association that has lasted over a decade already, Michelin will remain the sole tyre supplier for all five of Ginetta’s domestic single marque championships.

The Ginetta Junior Championship, Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Ginneta G40 Cup, Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club will all run Michelin compounds through to 2023.

Tim Hoare, Motorsport Manager at Ginetta, said: “We are proud to extend our long-standing sponsorship partnership with Ginetta and strengthen our association with the complete ladder of racing that Ginetta and Michelin can provide for drivers.

“We feel that our two brands work together very well, allowing drivers of all ages and abilities to experience the thrill of motorsport, while providing an excellent springboard for them to progress through the various classes and beyond, if they so wish.

“This partnership also helps us bring to life the Total Performance characteristics of both our motorsport and road tyres, which are developed along similar lines to make driving a sustainable and more pleasurable experience for all.”

Offering the first step on the motorsport ladder for drivers aged 14 to 17. the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship has forged a path for itself as one of the leading lights within the TOCA support package.

Boasting big grids of Ginetta G40 machines, the series is renowned for producing close-fought racing and down the years has served as a launchpad for drivers to enjoy successful careers around the world.

Ashley Gallagher, Ginetta Motorsport Manager, added: “Michelin are undoubtedly one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the world, and their ethos of providing safe and reliable products to their customers is synonymous with that of Ginetta.

“We are delighted to further our partnership with a company as respected as Michelin into a second decade. This is a testament to the continued success of our domestic championships and together we’re looking forward to a fantastic year of competition in 2019.” In addition to Michelin, Ginetta have also confirmed a technical partnership with Millers Oils, have become title sponsors of the GT4 Supercup and Ginetta Junior Scholarship.

Ginetta reveals 2019 championship calendars

Ginetta has revealed a bumper events calendar for 2019 with all five of its categories once again returning to the track to crown the latest set of champions.

Consisting of 92 individual races and participating at nine different venues around the UK and mainland Europe, the forthcoming 2019 campaign is set to be the biggest yet for the manufacturer.

Both the Ginetta Junior Championship and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will fly the flag for the Yorkshire brand as they take their place on the TOCA support package.

Supporting the British Touring Car Championship, both categories flourished in 2018 with Adam Smalley and Charlie Ladell savouring title glory and the two championships will crown new victors next year.

Juniors will feature at all ten BTCC events whilst the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup will miss two events, the first of two visits to Thruxton in May and then later in the season at Snetterton as the second half of the campaign roars into life.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge will also make fleeting visits on the TOCA support package too, filling in the gaps of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup. The remaining rounds of the GT5 Challenge will be played out on the British GT support package

Alongside the GT5 Challenge on the SRO package is the road-based Ginetta G40 Cup, which in recent years has continued to flourish.

Capping off what is shaping up to be a blockbuster year of track action for Ginetta will see a grid of complete novices begin their journey towards becoming fully-fledged racing drivers, taking the plunge as part of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club (GRDC).

Ashley Gallagher, Ginetta Championship Manager, said: “2018 was a brilliant year for Ginetta Championships, with over 130 drivers racing with us across the five grids, and with the announcement of another exciting calendar of events coupled with the current high level of interest already for next season, there is no doubt that 2019 will see an even busier season across all the grids!”

To view the full 2019 championship calendar for each Ginetta category, click here.

TOCA support championships make a splash in Scotland

The annual trip north of the border to Knockhill for four TOCA support championships proved to be a blockbuster one as treacherous conditions spiced up the on-track thrills even further this past weekend (August 25/26).

As the season heads towards an enthralling climax, every point that is on offer is becoming ever-more pivotal and that proved to be plain to see as the undulating Fife circuit marked the latest stop on the calendar.

Last in action at Snetterton, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB contingent were back with Dan Harper emerging as the driver many were talking about come the end of the weekend. Storming to pole position on Saturday, the Scholarship winner then splashed his way to a second win of the season in race one.

Harper wasn’t to have things his own way as he had to fight his way back into the lead after making a small mistake earlier in the race. The Northern Irishman capitalised on an error at the hairpin made by Lewis Plato to retake a lead he would ultimately not lose again.

Race two would see George Gamble score victory, producing a controlled lights-to-flag performance however Harper was once again making a name for himself after producing a mesmerising drive to finish second. In the standings, a quiet weekend for points leader Dino Zamparelli has seen his series lead cut to just four points with Tio Ellinas hot on his heels.

Louis Foster was in unstoppable form in the Ginetta Junior Championship as he stormed to a brace of race wins. Picking up where he left off at Rockingham, the rookie held off title rivals Luke Browning and Adam Smalley to bring himself further into play in the title battle, closing to within 44 points of the standings summit.

Shane Stoney replicated Foster’s feat in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge as he bagged two wins in contrasting conditions. Basking in the Scottish sunshine, Stoney made his way from sixth on the grid into the lead to pip Max Bird by little under half a second.

Heavy rain welcomed the GT5 Challenge drivers on Sunday but that didn’t stop Stoney from once again starring. Holding a host of lurid slides around the 1.27 mile circuit, Stoney held his nerve to fend off the advances of James Kellett in a nail-biting finish to take a clean sweep at Knockhill.

Rounding out the TOCA support championship action was a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Johnathan Hoggard proved to be the driver to beat as he bagged a brace of pole positions and then a brace of race wins.

Title protagonist Ayrton Simmons maintained his championship charge as he triumphed in race two.

For the full classification results from all sessions and championships, click here.

The penultimate event of the season for the Ginetta Junior Championship, Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Renault UK Clio Cup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB and F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost will take place at Silverstone on September 15/16.

TOCA support championships head north of the border to Knockhill

Four support championships on the TOCA package will make the annual pilgrimage to Scotland this weekend (August 25/26) with title battles set to further intensify as the 2018 season moves toward an exciting climax.

In what is one of the highlights of the year, the journey north of the border to the picturesque Fife circuit has been an entertaining one down the years – and that is set to be no different this weekend.

The Ginetta Junior Championship arrives at Knockhill with Adam Smalley still leading the points having extended his lead to 45 markers at Rockingham. Underlining his title credentials with an impressive run of results, the former Scholarship winner has been the driver to beat for much of the season and will look to bridge that gap between himself and his rivals even further on Scottish soil.

Behind Smalley are a host of challengers, with Louis Foster and Luke Browning leading the way. The pair emerged as the winners from Rockingham earlier in the month and will be hard to bet against being the leading protagonists this time round too.

James Hedley, Fin Green and Patrick Kibble will also be drivers to look out for as the battle for supremacy hots up.

Last competing on the TOCA support package at Thruxton in May, the Protyre Motorsport GT5 Challenge rejoins the fray for a pair of races that will likely keep fans on the edge of their seats.

James Kellett currently sits atop of the championship standings, holding a 39-point advantage over Shane Stoney. Kellett and Stoney look to be the drivers to put money on triumphing around the 1.2 mile circuit however the likes of Geri Nicosia, Max Bird and Alex Toth-Jones can’t be counted out either.

Missing the most recent event at Rockingham, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is also back in action this weekend with the championship battle delicately poised.

As it stands, four drivers realistically look set to do battle for the coveted title with Dino Zamparelli leading the way, The Redline Racing driver was hotly tipped as one to watch at the start of the year and has reinstated that fact with three wins, propelling him to the standings summit.

Tio Ellinas, Tom Wrigley and Lewis Plato are all in the mix once dropped scores have been applied and will be eager to close the gap to Zamparelli further too.

Capping off the weekend’s action at Knockhill will be a trio of races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. In what has been another stellar campaign for the single seater category, this weekend’s triple-header could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the title.

Kiern Jewiss makes the long trip north with the chasing pack all trying to catch up him. Ayrton Simmons, Dennis Hauger, Jack Doohan and Sebastian Prialulx, amongst others, meanwhile have all shown what they are capable during the year and will be looking to take the fight to Jewiss.

TOCA support championships geared up for Thruxton thriller

The high-speed demands of Thruxton Circuit await the TOCA support championships this weekend (Mat 19/20) for the third event of the 2018 season.

Having already visited Brands Hatch and Donington Park, four categories will do battle at the Hampshire venue, with the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB not making the journey.

The Renault UK Clio Cup has descended on Thruxton however and is set to serve up another memorable two races. So far this year Paul Rivett, Max Coates and James Dorlin have all won races, the latter scoring two last time out.

With Coates holding a slender lead in the championship standings entering rounds five and six, all eyes will be transfixed on the one-make tin top series to see who will grab the initiative. Dorlin scored a popular maiden win at the corresponding event last year and is riding high, hoping to continue his recent run of success.

Throw into the mix Daniel Rowbottom, Jack McCarthy, Bradley Burns, James Colburn and Dan Zelos, to name just a few, and picking a winner in the Clio Cup has never been tougher.

Teenage kicks will come from the Ginetta Junior Championship, which is open to drivers aged 14 to 17-years-old. Luke Browning heads into the weekend as series leader after picking up a pair of wins at Donington Park, however the chasing pack have him on their radars.

Adam Smalley and Louis Foster have both also won races this season and with two more wins up for grabs this weekend, they’ll be keen to add to their silverware collections. Ruben Del Sarte, Finley Green and Patrick Kibble have made waves this season too and will be looking to take the next step towards the front runners too.

Further Ginetta action will come from the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, which makes its first appearance on the TOCA package this season. Traditionally competing alongside the British GT Championship, the one-make category joins the fray with a captivating title battle unfolding.

James Kellett has momentum on his side as he arrives as the point’s leader, virtue of his two wins at Rockingham. Additional podiums at Oulton Park leave the former champion in the prime position to add another crown this year, and this weekend could be pivotal in doing that. Behind him, Geri Nicosia will be one to watch, as will Alex Toth-Jones, Morgan Quinn, Charlie Digby and Connor O’Brien.

Capping off the action will be the traditional single seater thrills from the British F4 Championship. Set to dazzle fans with another trio of races around the iconic circuit, Ayrton Simmons will look to extend his advantage in the championship battle.

Sebastian Priaulx, Kiern Jewiss and Johnathan Hoggard lead the charge of the chasing pack and can’t be discounted either.

TOCA support championships shine bright at Thruxton

The fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton, provided a fitting venue for the latest rounds of four championships on the TOCA support package this past weekend (May19/20) – with a bumper crowd being treated to plenty of on-track entertainment.

In scorching conditions, the home of the British Automobile Racing Club once again served up the perfect blend of high-speed thrills ’n’ spills that many have become accustomed to.

James Dorlin was once again the benchmark in the Renault UK Clio Cup, extending his run of wins to four with another double at Thruxton. Starting on the front row alongside Max Coates for race one, the Westbourne Motorsport driver was one of three drivers to lead the opening encounter, with Coates and Daniel Rowbottom the other pace-setters.

Producing a daring move at more than 110mph on Rowbottom, the youngster went on to take the win whilst Coates and Rowbottom scrapped for the remaining podium positions.

Dorlin further cemented his status as the man to beat in the series at the moment as he romped to a commanding victory in race two. Jumping pole sitter Paul Rivett off the line, Dorlin was never headed as he took his fourth win of the year and with it, the championship lead.

Spoils were shared in the Ginetta Junior Championship as Patrick Kibble and Adam Smalley took a win apiece. Never short of producing entertainment, the teenage racers tackled Thruxton in fine style. with Kibble taking his maiden win after Smalley was handed a time penalty.

The Elite Motorsport drive ensured he wasn’t to be denied in the second frenetic 12-lap race after battling with James Hedley to take the win and with it, the points lead.

Joining the TOCA package for the first time this season, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge proved to be a smash-hit. Two pulsating races saw Geri Nicosia and Max Bird each take a win whilst James Kellett and Alex Toth-Jones also scored podiums.

In the F4 British Championship, the action proved to be enthralling from the get-go, with a lively opening race seeing Kiern Jewiss score victory. Applying pressure to Dennis Hauger throughout the race, Jewiss snatched the lead in dramatic fashion at the final chicane, making contact along the way.

Race two of the popular single seater category saw Jewiss take victory again, setting him up to be in with a chance of winning ÂŁ10,000 if he completed a sensational hat-trick. Unfortunately, the Double R Racing driver was to fall short of the big prize as Jack Doohan bagged his first win of the year.

For the full classification of results from all sessions, click here.

The TOCA package returns, along with the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, on June 9/10 at Oulton Park.

Ginetta gears up for milestone year with launch of flagship championships

In what is set to be a milestone year for the manufacturer as it celebrates its 60th anniversary, Ginetta are set to hit the track for 2018 with its flagship championships.

Descending on Brands Hatch on Wednesday 14th March, the Yorkshire-based powerhouse officially launched the Ginetta Junior Championship and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup for the forthcoming season.

Both part of the highly-regarded TOCA support package, the two categories are set for another blockbuster year with bumper grids confirmed for both.

Catering for drivers aged 14 to 17, the Ginetta Juniors have made a name for themselves down the years for producing plenty of edge-of-the-seat thrills in front of the ITV4 cameras and huge trackside crowds.

This year, another crop of old and new faces are set to duke it out for the coveted crown, all looking to follow in the footsteps of Tom Gamble – who walked away as champion in 2017.

Notable names to look out for as the season goes on include Adam Smalley, Matt Luff and Fin Green, all of which are back for another season and set to battle against a wealth of rookie youngsters.

Elsewhere in the GT4 Supercup, a fascinating blend of youth and experience is set to go wheel-to-wheel with all eyes fixed on replicating Callum Pointon’s achievements last year.

Carl Boardley is set to be one driver many will be keeping a keen eye on having challenged at the front of the field on countless occasions. Harry King graduates from Juniors whilst the likes of Michael Crees, Charlie Ladell and Jac Constable are all ones to watch.

Speaking at Brands Hatch, Sales Manager Ian Fletcher, said: “We are looking forward to the 2018 season, one that is a commemorative one for Ginetta as a whole.

“This year we are celebrating our 60th anniversary and the culmination of our LMP1 FIA WEC programme as well as all of our other championships.

“Once again both the Junior and Supercup championships look to be in great shape and I am sure it will be another memorable year for all involved.”

For more information on Ginetta, head to www.ginetta.com