Ginettas aplenty at Silverstone

This weekend on November 4th presents the debut race in the UK for the new Ginetta G50 Sportscar. It will also be the opening of a two-weekend Ginetta G20 Winter Series.

So far the Ginetta G50 has raced in France at Nogaro and Magny-Cours as part of the European GT4 Cup and now Lawrence Tomlinson will pilot the recently launched car at Silverstone. Entering in the Secretary’s Challenge race, Tomlinson will race amongst other British Racing Drivers Club members including Rob Huff in an MGB, Oliver Bryant in a Jade Mk2 and Martin Short sharing his Le Mans Pescarolo Judd LMP1 car with Stewart Hall.

Lawrence Tomlinson out with the G50 at Donington Park in October

BRDC Rising Star Matt Nicoll-Jones took his second Ginetta G20 Championship at Thruxton in October but will also be in the Secretary’s Challenge race, driving a new-specification Ginetta G20. An engine upgrade is being enforced for the one-make Championship in 2008, but Nicoll-Jones will sample the new machine ahead of its introduction.

Accompanying the Walter Hayes Trophy Event, the Secretary’s Challenge will run over 12 laps on Sunday at approx. 3.45pm.

On the same day, 23 Ginetta G20 cars will line up in the single-make race for two 12 lap races. Prizes are awarded by Ginetta Cars for the top three overall winners of the two-weekend Ginetta G20 Winter Series event, but a separate Walter Hayes Ginetta Cup will be awarded to the points leader at the conclusion of Sunday’s racing.

Ginetta are pleased to welcome some new names to this event including former Sebring, Le Mans 24hr and Daytona 24hr racer Andy Hepworth and Assistant BRDC Club Secretary James Beckett.

Hepworth raced a Mussato Lancia SP90 Ferrari at Le Mans in 1990 and a Cougar C24S Porsche the following year. He is also of the Hepworth International outfit that runs in the PlayStation Ginetta Junior Championship with co-owner and brother Steven.

Steven himself has more recently been Historic Group C car racing at Monza, Spa and supporting the 24h Le Mans race, but also raced with LNT Automotive Managing Director Richard Dean in Formula 3 during 1990 and 1991.

New Ginetta Junior Champion Nigel Moore’s father Simon Moore is also joining in the fun as is Giles Dawson – son of Rally driver Andy Dawson.

Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship regular outfit Speedworks Motorsport will field nine cars – two of which will be new to Ginetta racing. As described on Speedworksmotorsport.com, Single-seater convert James Rigby is now looking to establish himself in sportscars and may run a full season in G20’s in 2008.

"Speedworks Motorsport have provided me with the perfect opportunity to get to know the car in racing conditions before lining up on the grid next year," he said.

Another single-seater racer, Mike Broadhurst is Speedworks’ second new recruit. The 19-year-old, who has raced in both Formula Ford and Formula Renault BARC, tested for the team at Silverstone earlier in October and is also evaluating a possible full campaign in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship next year.

“It’s definitely an option,” said Broadhurst. “I really enjoyed the test and it is a good route into sportscars. I’m still looking at single-seaters but if I can’t raise the funds for that Ginettas are the ideal choice."

Richard Sykes, Edd Straw, David Jackson, Tony Hughes, Neil Merry and Laura Addison will return with the Cheshire-based outfit; all having competed in the main 2007 Championship.

Championship 3rd place man Dan Laddiman stepped up to Ginetta racing from T-Cars in 2007, and will participate this weekend, plus Mark Wania, Paul Morgan, Steve Williams, Sarah Franklin and Paul Trowbridge will make a welcome return to the Ginetta grid.

Matthew Abbott is a familiar face around the Ginetta paddock, but is normally seen helping out Neil Houston and Jonathan Hawkins with their race cars. This weekend, Abbott will be making his racing debut at the wheel of Houston’s car.

At the conclusion of the Winter Series, the prizes on offer consist of:
1st:  2008 mandatory upgrade package
2nd: 2008 championship registration and BARC membership
3rd:  £200 Ginetta Gift Voucher.

See earlier story here

Terms and conditions of prizes are here