Bailey Doughty has concluded an impressive first season in the Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels as the leading driver in the Freshman class.
The Freshman category features drivers who are new to motorsport or who didn’t compete in national-level karting. Doughty was a leading contender in the class throughout the season, with his competition including his MK Racing team-mate Ethan Brass and Performance One driver Dominic Darling.
The 16-year-old talent hit the ground running with double Freshman class wins in each of the opening three events, with a final tally of 14 victories for the campaign including hat-tricks at Zandvoort and the Brands Hatch season finale.
Doughty, who has aspirations to step up the GT racing ladder next year, was a regular in the competitive midfield battles throughout the campaign. After breaking into the overall top ten for the first time in the penultimate round at Donington Park, he saved the best until last at Brands Hatch.
An exceptional qualifying performance saw Doughty lap a seasons’ best fourth fastest overall. That put him in the leading pack for the first time and he acquitted himself well, running in the top three throughout race two until being eased off circuit on the last lap.
“This season has been a massive learning curve,” said Doughty. “I started off with little or no experience compared to some of the other drivers, but I’ve learnt every round and it’s gone really well. It’s all built up to the final round at Brands Hatch, qualifying in the top four and running second overall in race two.
“To end the season with our best results is great for me and the MK Racing team. They’ve been behind me the whole way, putting in the hard work and progressing up the order together. The Freshman class has been great and to be able to look back at all the trophies we’ve won, you know you’ve had a good season.”
