The opening round of the 2026 Ginetta GT Academy season at Silverstone last month saw no less than nine drivers making their debut in the championship. There were some standout performances by the newcomers across the two races, and we caught up with a few of them to get their thoughts on their first taste of Ginetta competition.
The most impressive display came from Luis Beilicke, who produced a perfect set of results around the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. The German racer topped the timesheets in qualifying and converted his double pole position into a pair of lights-to-flag victories overall and in the rookie class.
Beilicke has joined the grid after winning PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout in America, with his only previous experience coming in sim racing. That’s meant he’s had a lot to adapt to making the transition to car-racing on track, but he’s been relishing the Ginetta experience so far.
“It’s been pretty great,” he said. “The technique I feel has been transferred over quite quickly, and the feeling is 1,000 times more exciting in real life. It’s been pretty natural getting into the real-world racing.
“The G56 GTA has been great, it is so much fun to drive. It’s a great paddock and everyone has been really competitive, especially Joe [Ostholthoff] who is great to have as a team-mate. I’m excited to explore all the British tracks this season and I’m looking forward to having a competitive season.”
Joe Ostholthoff is another international racer who enjoyed immediate success on his GT racing debut, celebrating a GTA class victory in his first race. The American, who came in with a background in single-seaters, says he thoroughly enjoyed competing in the UK and within the Ginetta paddock for the first time.
“It’s better than America, but don’t tell them I said that,” he joked. “It’s really remarkable. It’s been nice to settle into this community, it feels like a big family. That’s where I think, you know, God has placed me here for a reason, so let’s see why.
“The first race was good. Had a little bit of a send into Stowe, which set me up for an around the outside move into the following chicane, then they wrecked behind me. Maybe we scared them off or something. The hope is for more podiums this season, that’s the plan.”
The other GTA class win at Silverstone went the way of Tom Walker, as part of a great pair of overall top three finishes on his Ginetta debut. The E3 Sport driver admits his focus is firmly on personal progression in the early stages of the season, though trophies are an added bonus.
“I’ve been interested in my pace and focusing on improving that side of it,” he explained. “Luis [Beilicke] has been pretty fast and I want to match that pace, so I’m working on my intensity in the car to maintain a quicker pace all the way through a race.
“Racing is still new to me. A couple of years ago, me and my Dad were sat talking and thought: ‘wouldn’t it be fun to have a go in a racing car?’ I started in Mazda’s last year and it has ended with me racing in a Ginetta which is great fun. It’s an amazing paddock; everyone here is into their motorsport, everyone is easy going, and the whole thing is enjoyable.”
One of the most intriguing entries this season comes from Ian Beaumont, who is switching from huge success in short oval racing to GT competition for the first time. The Romford-based racer impressively qualified second fastest overall and scored a rookie podium at Silverstone, and says he’s enjoying the challenge of adapting to a new style and environment of racing.
“I do have to be a bit mindful that it’s non-contact and I can’t move people out of the way. I have to be reasonable with it and get to grips with this style of racing,” he said. “The whole experience of this racing is so different to what I’m used to. It’s a good different though. I don’t have to work on the car, I just leave everyone to it and it’s nice to turn up, race and go home.
“I’m glad to get on the podium in my first race and being there consistently, and winning, is the aim. I’m going to be working hard to make the progress needed to get on to the top step.”
Taking on a big challenge this season is Will Fallon, who is running his Ginetta G56 GTA as a privateer entrant. He was straight on the leading pace at Silverstone picking up a pair of GTA class podiums and overall top five results, and admits he’s surprised but elated by the results at the start of his Ginetta journey.
“I was quite shocked to get on the podium in my first race actually. I was fifth overall, but didn’t know who was in what class, so when Kelly came over carrying a cap I was pleasantly surprised,” he enthused.
“We’re running the car ourselves, which adds a whole new level of challenge to it. It’s been good though, starting from scratch and progressing a lot already. Having put all the hard work in ourselves to get the car and myself to where we are now, it incredibly satisfying.”
The second round of the 2026 Ginetta GT Academy season takes place later this month, with the Spring bank holiday action (23-25 May) on the Oulton Park International circuit.
