James Nicholas is the PalmerSport Ginetta Shootout race scholarship winner. He impressed judges at the final assessment day at Donington Park on Monday 11 March. James has earned a fully financed drive in the 2024 Ginetta GT Academy as part of a total prize estimated to be worth £100,000.
50 people took to Bedford Autodrome for the initial selection phase, driving three fantastic cars, the Caterham PalmerSport edition, G56 GTA and JP-LM. Entrants not only had to adapt between cars but also three different circuit configurations. From the 50 entrants, two were chosen for the final shootout at Donington. They will take their ARDS test and embark on a final evaluation. The winner will receive a fully funded season of racing in the Ginetta GT Academy.
Of the two, James Nicholas impressed the judges to beat fellow finalist David Williams on 11th March 2024. On 15th March, James completed his first media day as a racing driver and on the weekend of the 30th March will compete for the first time.
James said: “I’m so unbelievably happy, I’m trying to contain myself a little bit, I’m over the moon. I didn’t expect to win, it was an amazing day and hopefully I don’t let anyone down. Everyone dreams of winning, but deep down you never think you’re going to. It still feels a bit of a whirlwind. I’ve been on an adrenaline rush for days waiting for this.
“My target for Oulton is experience, get through it unscathed and try and improve. Everyone wants to come first, that always is the aim, but for my first race ever, at a track I don’t know, I need to get through it, don’t do anything silly, hopefully improve and build up the championship as it goes.”
From recent testing, James looks in the mix with the GT Academy field. We’re excited to see his progression this season. James will line up on the grid at Oulton Park on Saturday 30 March, supporting the prestigious British GT Championship. He will compete in seven events, a total of 21 races. He’ll race in the PalmerSport-branded Ginetta G56 GTA race car, which will be run by the Ginetta factory team.
