The first of the Ginetta G50 ‘customer’ sportscars had a successful debut outing at Mallory Park last Thursday and Friday (14th/15th February).

Christian Dick (Speedworks Motorsport), Rob Austin (Rob Austin Racing), Tom Sharp (IDL/Academy), David Dove (David Dove Racing), Frank Wrathall (Dynojet / Will Hoy Scholarship) and Nigel Moore (Tockwith Motorsport) all received their G50 sportscars and tested their 300bhp machines over the two days.

Furthermore, the two Factory cars were on hand for those G50 customers who have deposits on cars, to sample the car for the first time (right).

Fortunately the weather stayed fine, although temperatures were very low so getting heat into the Michelin slicks took more than just a couple of laps…!

Everybody (without exception) emerged from the newly-developed sportscars smiling with words such as “awesome”, “mega”, “amazing” echoing around the Mallory’s pit lane.

Lap times were around the 48 second mark compared to 54 seconds in a Ginetta G20.

Rob Austin exclaimed “it’s nice to be in a ‘proper’ car again…” and Ben Elliott commented that “it’s very much like a Porsche GT3, but the weight distribution’s right – without the engine being at the back, but very much the same sort of thing.”

Young Toby Newton – a double Radical Champion in 2007 – also tested with a view to competing in the Ginetta G50 Cup this year with Dave Beecroft and his Xero crew.

Rob Austin Racing also ran a couple of interested drivers in their G50 who had other Championships in their sights, but are now considering a switch they were so impressed. Lee Birkett, Rod Carman and Richard Austin climbed aboard to do a few laps.

Frank Wrathall (left) and Rob Austin		Christian Dick

“The main aim of the test was simply to shake down the car and make sure everything was as it should be," Christian Dick told Speedworksmotorsport.com. "But it ran absolutely perfectly, which for a brand new car is unusual and credit to the work Ginetta has put into the development and build of these cars.”

The line of G50s ‘in-build’ continues to expand with work in full flow to produce this week’s batch of six cars to leave the factory (below).

The first Ginetta G50 group shot - ever!		Tom Sharp

A comprehensive image gallery is here