In recent years, the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship has established itself a key feeder series into the British GT Championship, with a number of talented Ginetta graduates going on to enjoy success on their transition to endurance racing.
Since its introduction in 2023, the Ginetta GT Championship has been focused on accelerating driver development. Close, competitive racing in powerful Ginetta G56 GTP8’s increase on-track ability and off-track engineering knowledge, to produce ready-made GT drivers.
SRO Motorsports Group taking operational control of the Ginetta UK Championships for 2026 and beyond has served to further strengthen the position of the GT Championship as an important feeder series into British GT and the wider SRO pyramid.
The GT Championship has become one of the first steps on the SRO GT Academy talent development programme. The 2026 class champions will receive prize money towards a GT4 entry into British GT next year, moving them up the ladder and establishing new career progression opportunities through the academy.
Two of the leading lights from the 2025 Ginetta GT Championship have put themselves in GT4 title contention in British GT this year; reigning vice-champion Jack Collins with Century Motorsport and front-runner Hadley Simpson with Innovation Racing.
Collins made his car-racing debut in the GT Championship and enjoyed a brilliant season, taking three wins en-route to vice-champion honours. His transition to British GT has been a positive one, already establishing himself as a race-winner in Century’s BMW M4 GT4.
“The Ginetta GT Championship was really good and set me up perfectly for British GT,” said Collins. “The racing was great, while being in the same paddock at British GT allows you to get a real feel for it and make connections.
“The G56 GTP8 is essentially a GT4 car in one-make format, so you can learn your racing in a proper car. It is very on the nose, you have to learn how to deal with a rear happy car and manage the tyres, which are the same as British GT. It was the perfect pathway for me.”
Simpson meanwhile sits second in the British GT4 standings heading into the final two rounds of the season, with two wins under his belt in Innovation’s Ginetta G56 GT4. He was a regular podium finisher during his season in the GT Championship.
“Competing in the Ginetta GT Championship was a good decision for me,” Simpson reflected. “It taught me a lot about GT cars and motorsport in general. The support you get from Ginetta in making the step up, they give you an arm round your shoulder and guide you the right way.
“Having that year in the GT Championship, racing the G56 GTP8, was the best stepping stone for me. It was very competitive, with aggressive and intense racing, which gave me experience that made my life a lot easier coming in to British GT.”
Another leading GT Championship driver competing in British GT this year is Blake Angliss. A four-year spell on the Ginetta UK Championships ladder culminated in a superb GT Championship campaign in 2023, securing four wins and 11 podium finishes from 12 races contested, and he’s celebrated multiple class podium finishes in British GT in recent seasons.
“The Ginetta UK Championships were a proper proving ground for drivers with aspirations for GT careers. They give you the foundation skills and knowledge you need to take in to endurance racing,” commented Angliss.
“The Ginetta G56 GTP8 were really good, with the aero and no ABS or traction control. It’s a raw driving experience and that teaches you a lot as a driver. It’s a good stepping stone into GT4 racing and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my time in Ginettas.”
Two other drivers on the 2026 British GT grid came through the Ginetta GT Championship. Luke Shaw was crowned the AM class champion last year and has made his British GT debut this year, while James Townsend has a wealth of Ginetta experience under his belt and secured GT Championship AM podiums in 2024.
Callum Davies and Luke Garlick are both former overall race-winners in the GT Championship. Davies then secured a GT4 podium finish in British GT in 2024 and stepped up to the GT4 European Series, while Garlick has impressively picked up British GT class silverware in both GT3 and GT4 machinery.
Two rounds remain in the 2026 Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship season, with a trip to Donington Park next weekend (05-06 September) followed by the finale at Brands Hatch (26-27 September).
