With the two class champions crowned with a round to spare, it’s bragging rights up for grabs this weekend as the 2026 Ginetta GT Academy season reaches its conclusion on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit (26/27 September).
Luis Beilicke (Want2Race) wrapped up the rookie class title with a hat-trick of wins at Donington Park last time out. They were the latest successes of a phenomenal season so far, and he now heads into the finale with the chance to break some all-time championship records.
The German sim-racer, who won PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout to join the grid, has accumulated 13 victories in the 15 races so far. That puts him just two shy of the record for the most overall wins ever set by Ravi Ramyead, and one short of Matt Shaw’s total for the most rookie class victories.
Tom Walker joined Beilicke in becoming a champion in his first-ever season of Ginetta competition, emerging victorious in the GTA category. He secured his ninth class win in the final race at Donington, continuing his run of winning at least once at every event this season.
Walker, who became the third consecutive E3 Sport driver to win the GTA crown, has also finished on the class podium in every race so far. He’ll be aiming to complete a 100% season for podiums this weekend, and potentially add to his sole overall race victory back at Oulton Park.
Taking the fight to Walker all season has been Joe Ostholthoff (Want2Race), with some brilliant battles between the two. The American talent has secured the GTA vice-champion honours and will be hoping to sign off 2026 in style by adding to his tally of six class wins to date.
Will Fallon (Privateer) and Connor Blackburn (Performance One) have both been regularly fighting it out at the front of the GTA pack this season. They’ve accumulated seven and six class podiums respectively, and will want to be in the mix for maiden wins this weekend.
Ian Beaumont (SVG Motorsport) has been the only other driver than Beilicke to win in the rookie class this year and is on course to finish second in those standings. The successful short-oval racer has been mightily impressive in his first Ginetta campaign, with 12 class podiums to his name.
Lucas Theo (SVG Motorsport) enjoyed his best weekend of the season at Donington, picking up a rookie podium hat-trick to take him to eight for the campaign. Ben Wiseman (Want2Race) is only one trophy shy with seven, and they’re set to battle it out for third in the final standings.
Faye Goff (Want2Race), sister of newly-crowned Ginetta Junior champion Lewis, has been knocking on the door of the rookie podium this year with a quartet of fourth place finishes, and she will have silverware in her sights to sign off the season.
2024 GTA class champion Julian Wantling returns to the grid for his second appearance of the campaign. He’ll be part of the Chairmans Cup battle at Brands Hatch, alongside his E3 Sport team-mate Robin Grimwood and Damien Duffy (Want2Race).
Andrew Robinson (E3 Sport) tackles his second GT Academy event after a stunning Donington Park debut produced GTA class pole position and two podiums. On the grid for the first time this year is Lexie Belk (Want2Race), having impressed in a three-event run last season.
Follow @Ginetta_Motorsport on Instagram for all the latest updates across the weekend.
Provisional Timetable:
Saturday 26 September: Qualifying 10:35-10:50; Race One 15:45-16:05
Sunday 27 September: Race Two 11:45-12:05; Race Three 17:35-17:55
All three races will be streamed live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel, while live timing and results will be available via TSL Timing.
