A record-breaking 29-car grid has come together for the opening round of the 2026 Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels at Donington Park this weekend (11-12 April).
The UK’s longest running and most prestigious junior series, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last season, has launched the careers of countless racing stars including reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris, IndyCar ace Louis Foster and British GT champions Kiern Jewiss, Dan Harper and Seb Morris.
The latest group of talented teenagers looking to make their mark in motorsport will be contesting an eight event, 25 race campaign this year. That begins with the largest-ever grid for the start of a Ginetta Junior season, as 29 drivers get ready to battle it out in identical Ginetta G40 Junior Evo’s.
R Racing return to defend their clean sweep of the 2025 titles with a capacity six-car entry. They guided Red Bull Junior Team driver Rocco Coronel to the overall crown last year, and hoping to follow in his footsteps is the latest talent backed by the Formula 1 giant, Melvin Kalousdian.
Jesse Phillips is one to watch heading into the new season, having ended 2025 with title success in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series. Lewis Goff and Riley Cranham won races in that event, while Max Murray and Sebastien Leusch also contested some Junior races last year.
Former champions Elite Motorsport are bringing the iconic papaya colour of McLaren to the Ginetta Junior grid for the first time this year, as part of their new talent pathway with the British manufacturer.
The team’s line-up features the latest winner of the coveted Ginetta Junior Scholarship, Devon Hagelen. Jacob Ashcroft, Daniel Oliver, Harrison Mackie and Vladislav Tomenchuk join him as rookie entrants, while Henry Cameron returns for his second season in the championship.
Harry Bartle is the highest placed driver returning from the 2025 championship, with the Winter Series podium-finisher forming part of a strong Pace Performance entry that also features rookies Henry Carter, Pearce Wade and Kai Veitch.
Performance One Motorsport house a couple of second year talents of their own in Josh Watts and Noah Young, the latter having also picked up silverware for the first time at the Winter Series. They’re joined by Ginetta newcomer Dominic Darling.
GT racing squad Paradine Competition are a new addition to the grid with Vicky Farfus and Samuel Del Gaudio. They’ll both be making their Ginetta debuts this weekend, as will RABsport Racing pair Oscar Stockley-King and Anesu Maphumulo, and Project R recruit Jorn Helder.
MK Racing return to the grid for their second season in the Juniors with Ethan Brass and Bailey Doughty. Race-winners E3 Sport and MDD Motorsport return with Andrew Robinson and Addison Smith respectively, while Orion SPR debut with Jake Woods.
Head to @Ginetta_Motorsport on Instagram for all the latest updates across the weekend.
Provisional Timetable:
Saturday 11 April: Qualifying 15:45-16:05; Race One 18:40-19:00
Sunday 12 April: Race Two 11:10-11:30; Race Three 16:25-16:45
All three races will be streamed live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel, while live timing and results will be available via TSL Timing.
