Reigning champions R Racing will be continuing their collaboration with the Red Bull Junior Team this season as they mount a capacity six-car entry into the Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels.
R Racing won the 2025 title with Red Bull-backed talent Rocco Coronel and aiming to follow in his footsteps will be Melvin Kalousdian. The Swedish racer has won multiple championships in karting and single-seaters to date, including record-breaking success in Formula Nordic last year.
Joining him in entering 2026 with title-winning experience in car-racing is Jesse Phillips, who won the Ginetta Junior Winter Series. In only his second event, Phillips picked up a maiden podium finish and two further top six results at Silverstone to secure the Winter Series crown.
Two drivers who won races at the Winter Series will be on the grid this year. Lewis Goff followed on an impressive three-event spell in the main championship with a breakthrough performance in the Silverstone season-closer, taking a maiden victory and a fourth-place result.
Riley Cranham meanwhile remarkably emerged victorious in only his third-ever Ginetta Junior race. After reaching the final four of the hotly-contested Ginetta Junior Scholarship event, he linked up with R Racing to enjoy a successful start to his car-racing career in the Winter Series.
Max Murray will make an exciting return to competition this year after seeing a strong start to his Ginetta Junior career cut short last season. After scoring a great top ten finish on his debut at Snetterton, an injury suffered in an incident at Brands Hatch ruled him out for the rest of 2025.
Completing R Racing’s six-car entry will be another of their Winter Series debutants, Sebastien Leusch. The karting graduate reached the final 11 of the Ginetta Junior Scholarship, before securing a best result of sixth overall in the Winter Series at Silverstone.
R Racing have picked up a total of 17 title successes in Ginetta Junior competition so far. They are currently on a record-breaking run of five consecutive drivers’ titles, as well as securing the teams’ crown in five of the last six seasons contested.
Jamie Ross – R Racing Director: “We’re incredibly proud to unveil our six driver line up for the 2026 Ginetta Junior Championship and once again, proudly competing as a Red Bull Junior Team. With five drivers’ championship titles in the last five years and the most teams’ championships to date, we are officially the most successful team in Ginetta Junior history and arguably, the most successful junior team in Europe. That record sets the standard for everything we do, and this year’s squad has all the ingredients to continue that legacy.
“Jesse Phillips returns as the 2025 Winter Series champion, bringing momentum and confidence into the new campaign. Riley Cranham and Lewis Goff have already demonstrated their race winning ability in the Winter Series, proving they know how to fight at the front. Melvin Kalousdian joins us as a Red Bull Junior driver, highlighting the calibre of talent within the team, while Max Murray’s experience as a returning 2025 driver adds further strength and continuity. Completing the line-up is Seb Leusch, an exciting 2026 rookie who has shown tremendous promise ahead of his debut season.
“It’s a powerful blend of champions, race winners, manufacturer backed talent and rising stars. We’re excited to see them represent the team in 2026 and to continue building on a legacy that has redefined success in Ginetta Juniors.”
The Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels is the UK’s longest running and most prestigious Junior series, offering the first step on the motorsport ladder for 14-17 year old racing drivers as they compete on the support bill for the British GT Championship.
