Ginetta has played a pivotal role on the support package for the British GT Championship once again in 2019, with a thrilling year of racing across the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Ginetta G40 Cup and Ginetta Racing Drivers Club.
While the GRDC season came to a close at Brands Hatch last month, the GT5 Challenge and G40 Cup enjoyed an enthralling season finale at Donington Park last weekend (14/15 September) to cap off one of the busiest seasons to date for all three championships.
No less than 77 different drivers competed across the championship’s this year, with just shy of half of them (37) visiting the podium and taking home silverware across the campaign. 43 races were contested, producing 359 racing laps with a combined distance of almost 1,000 miles.
Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge:
2019 has seen the GT5 Challenge strengthen its reputation as one of the best proving grounds in the UK for budding GT drivers, courtesy of a sensational season full of packed grids, exciting wheel-to-wheel racing and fascinating title battles.
Leading the way was a pack of five talented drivers that produced some of the closest and most exhilarating racing seen in the UK this year – eventual champion Scott McKenna, Adam Smalley, Geri Nicosa, Gordie Mutch and Josh Malin.
There was strength in depth throughout the grid, with no less than 24 different drivers having finished inside the top ten. Alongside that, the competitive Am Class featured a three way title battle that was settled on the final weekend in favour of Dale Albutt.
Ginetta G40 Cup:
The G40 Cup produced one of the most dramatic and exciting season finale’s in Ginetta history. After over 366 miles of racing, the destination of the championship title was decided at the penultimate corner of the final lap of the season, with Chris Salkeld emerging as a deserving champion.
The competitiveness of the championship was shown by four drivers from four different teams fighting for the overall title across the campaign, as Rob Keogh, Daniel Morris and Alistair Barclay joined Salkeld in the battle for supremacy.
There were plenty of twists and turns through the campaign on the way to Salkeld’s title victory, while the championship’s Chairmans Cup class for drivers aged 45 and over was won in superb fashion by Roy Alderslade.
Ginetta Racing Drivers Club:
The popular GRDC entry-level series, designed for drivers who are brand new to Motorsport, has proven to be a hit once again in 2019. Great entry numbers has led to another 17 drivers starting their motorsport careers with Ginetta, and some of those look set for an exciting future.
Michael Kidson came away as the winner of the series with four wins in the eight races contested, with Mark Sansom, Chris Threadgill and Harry Mangion also tasting the winner’s champagne across a fiercely contested campaign.
The quality in the championship’s entry has been shown further by some drivers already making an impression further up the Ginetta ladder this year with guest outings in the G40 Cup and GT5 Challenge – Craig Cornick for example took an overall top six finish in his fifth G40 Cup race.
Ashley Gallagher – Ginetta Motorsport Manager: “It’s been a fantastic season across the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Ginetta G40 Cup and GRDC. We’ve had a strong turnout of drivers and a great atmosphere and camaraderie in the paddocks.
“The finale race to the G40 Cup shows exactly what Ginetta racing is; competitive championships with talented drivers in equal machinery producing close, exciting action on track. That’s been the story across all three series throughout the season.
“Congratulations not only to our deserving champions, but also to every driver and team that enjoyed success on track with us this year, whether that be by winning trophies, making progress through the year or achieving their own personal objectives.
“We’ve already received lots of enquiries for all three championships for the 2020 season, so we’re set for packed grids once again, while our provisional calendars offer entrants an exciting variety of circuits to compete on and the benefit of racing on the biggest race packages in the UK.”
Drivers and teams interested in competing in Ginetta competition in 2020 are recommended to get in touch with Steph Bush (Championship Manager) Steph.Bush@Ginetta.com or Ashley Gallagher (Motorsport Manager) Ashley.Gallagher@Ginetta.com.
