For 15 drivers, the 2026 Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels opener at Donington Park marked their first foray into the all-action world of Ginetta Junior competition.
Out of the new faces into the paddock, four drivers came away from Leicestershire celebrating trips to the podium and their first Ginetta trophies; Melvin Kalousdian, Harrison Mackie, Bailey Doughty and Ethan Brass. We caught up with them to get their thoughts on their Junior debuts.
The highest profile of the new recruits this season is Kalousdian; the latest young talent backed by the Red Bull Junior Team to join the grid as part of their collaboration with reigning champions R Racing.
While car-racing isn’t new to the Swedish racer, having competed in Formula Nordic single-seaters last year, he admits he had to get to grips with the cut and thrust nature of Ginetta Junior racing on his way to third overall in the final race.
“Our testing pace was good and I was a bit disappointed in qualifying,” said Kalousdian. “It’s learning by doing though, I’ve taken a lot from that session for the future, while I was pleased with my race performances.
“The racing has been really enjoyable. Coming from single seaters, you can get a lot closer in these cars, side-by-side, bump drafting. There is no dirty air, so you can run closer and tighter to the cars ahead. There’s always something happening, which is entertaining for people to watch, and I really like it.”
For karting graduates like Mackie, there was a lot to adapt to on their car-racing debuts. The Elite Motorsport racer had high hopes heading into the Donington Park weekend after a positive pre-season, and while he didn’t get all the results he hoped for, he walked away with a third overall and two rookie class trophies.
“It’s nice to get my first Ginetta Junior podium on the first weekend,” Mackie commented. “It would obviously be better to be one or two places higher, but we’ll keep fighting and try to get that first win soon.
“The first race caught me by surprise with how busy it was, there was a bit more chaos than I thought there would be. I’ve got a bit more used to it now though and I’m ready for the next ones.”
Within the Ginetta Junior Championship there is the Freshman’s Cup class, which includes drivers that have not previously competed in any national level karting championship or are new into motorsport entirely.
The class honours at Donington Park went the way of MK Racing duo Bailey Doughty and Ethan Brass, the former edging out his team-mates with two wins to one. For both drivers, taking home a trophy was the icing on the cake from weekend’s of great progression and potential.
“It’s been a day of highs and lows, but it’s been valuable experience,” said Doughty. “I’ve learnt so much over the three races, both with racecraft gaining places but also the conditions, running in the dry and then suddenly racing on a wet track with a dry setup when you didn’t expect it.
“I watched races from previous years on YouTube and I knew it would be busy out there. When you’re in it though, it’s not as bad as you think, you just have to keep your head down and go.”
Brass enthused: “I’m really happy to get a podium, it was definitely a really good race for me. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this competitive, but it’s very fun out there, having your own battles. It gets a bit chaotic at times, but it’s great racing and I’m improving on my racecraft every time.”
The 2026 Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels continues next weekend (25-26 April), with three races on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit as part of the opening British GT Championship event of the year.
