RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography

Charlie Robertson has a double reason to be pleased today – 1 February – as he has confirmed his plans to return to the Ginetta Junior Championship with HHC Motorsport alongside a top three ranking in respected industry publication Motorsport News.

The weekly Motorsport newspaper has ranked the fifteen year old racer as the third British driver to watch out for in the forthcoming 2012 season – the ‘Fast 50 – Drivers to Watch 2012’ covers young drivers from all forms of Motorsport, including saloon cars, rallying, karting and single seater racers.

This is the second accolade which has fallen the way of the 2011 Ginetta Junior vice Champion; last month saw the Whyteleafe-based youngster included in the prestigious MSA Academy.

“It was a fantastic feeling opening Motorsport News today and seeing my name in the top three of this year’s Fast 50”, said Charlie, “It’s great to come out so high up the list compared to so many top young drivers. This year I’m aiming for nothing less than the championship title in Ginetta Junior, I’ve got a great relationship with the guys at HHC and we know we’ve got what it takes to win.”

Robertson proved himself as one of the fastest and most competitive drivers in the Championship with the Harrogate based HHC Motorsport team, and he set the record for the youngest ever winner of a MSA regulated race when he took the chequered flag first at Croft, and he secured a total of nine podiums during the season.

His pace was also evident as he set lap records at four out of the ten circuits the Ginetta Junior Championship visited in 2011.

Robertson was on for Championship glory in the season ending Winter Series – having won two out of the four races, but he lost out on the trophy after clutch failure in the second round. Despite the clutch failure, Robertson once again proved his clear pace and front running potential after a single year in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

“I’m really looking forward to testing getting underway and being back in the car, it feels like ages since the winter championship last November”, added the Surrey racer, “We know Ginetta Junior will be as tough as ever this year but, with a year’s experience under my belt, I’m well prepared and I’m confident we can fight for the title.”

The 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship will get underway at Brands Hatch in Kent over the 31 March/1 April, before visiting Donington Park, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, Snetterton, Knockhill, Rockingham, Silverstone and the season finale over the 20/21 October at Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Each race weekend features two Ginetta Junior races, meaning a twenty race calendar.

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography

Hillspeed have today announced that they have secured fifteen year old George Gamble to lead their title challenge in the 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship, having announced Nathan Harrison last week at the Autosport International Show.

Nottingham based Gamble will head into the 2012 campaign as one of the Championship contenders – having finished third in the main series in what was his first season of racing, he went on and secured the end of season Winter Series crown, his first car racing title.

In his maiden season, he secured three victories and multiple podium finishes and he joins the Hillspeed outfit who are looking for their third Ginetta Junior Championship drivers’ title on the bounce, having run Tom Ingram and Seb Morris to the title in 2010 and 2011.

Speaking about the signing of Gamble to the team, Hillspeed Team Principal Richard Ollerenshaw said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have George onboard for the coming season; he’s someone we kept an eye on from the outset of the 2011 season and the only driver that truly challenged Seb (Morris) throughout the year.

“George had an excellent result in claiming the Winter Series title with TJ, he performed very well indeed, so we’re pleased to have confirmed a deal with him this early as we make every effort to secure a third straight title.”

Throughout the 2011 campaign, Gamble proved himself to be one of very few drivers who could take the fight to second year driver Morris – he secured his maiden victory in the series at Thruxton, beating Morris by 0.036s in one of the closest finishes in the Championship’s history.

He backed up his Thruxton victory with victories at Croft and Knockhill and took eight podiums in total throughout the main series.

Speaking about his decision to join Hillspeed for the 2012 campaign, Gamble said: “I’m over the moon to be back in Ginetta Junior for a second season, especially off the back of winning the Winter Series. It’s great to be joining Hillspeed; the team’s record speaks for itself and we stand a really good chance of fighting for the championship.

“We didn’t decide to do Ginetta Junior last year until a couple of weeks before the championship started, so we didn’t have any real testing pre-season unlike the others. This year, we’ve got a deal done early so we’ll be able to have much better preparation.”

The 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship gets underway over the 31 March/ 1 April at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent.

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography

2011 Ginetta Junior Championship Champion and highly rated youngster Seb Morris is continuing to enjoy the fruits of his success as he became one of ten drivers to be selected for the 2012 MSA (Motor Sport Association) Academy.

The MSA Academy is one of the British Motorsport Governing body’s flagship schemes and sixteen year old Morris was one of ten circuit racers invited to join the scheme, which was announced on the second day of the annual Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Academy is intended to give aspiring professional racers access to top line coaching from MSA experts and sixteen year old Morris is looking to make the switch from the sportscar world of Ginetta and into the open wheel racing scene.

Morris, who is based in Marford, is delighted to have secured the MSA Academy position and intents to make full use of it as he looks to the next stage of his young career.

“Being selected by the MSA is a great way to begin 2012, it’s a fantastic opportunity and can only be good for my career as we move up the ladder”, said the Welshman, “I know the advice the coaches offer is invaluable and it really is a huge honour and a privilege to have been invited to be part of the MSA Academy. This only gives me even more confidence ahead of my move into single-seaters.”

As well as being invited into the MSA Academy for 2012, Morris also collected his Ginetta Junior Championship trophy in the annual Ginetta Awards ceremony, which took place in Birmingham Friday night.

Having secured the honours in the 2010 Ginetta Winter Series, Morris used his experience during the opening rounds to open up a sizeable Championship advantage and was never caught throughout the season.

At the end of the campaign, The King’s School, Chester GCSE student had secured eleven victories and sixteen podiums in total from twenty races – an impressive effort for his second season in car racing. His Championship efforts were rewarded when he secured the Welsh Racing Drivers Association Welsh Young Driver of the Year award.

His plans for 2012 are yet to be finalised but his intention is to compete in Formula Renault.

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography

Charlie Robertson has been selected to join the MSA (Motor Sport Association) Academy programme, after the MSA made their announcement at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Whyteleafe-based Robertson has yet to announce his plans for the 2012 season but his preparations have been boosted with the news that he has been selected as one of ten drivers to join the MSA Academy.

At fifteen years of age, the Surrey teenager is the youngest driver to be selected for the programme and this is proof of how highly he is rated after a single, successful campaign in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

Being a part of the MSA Academy, this will enable Robertson to benefit from first class coaching throughout the season. This coaching will come from a variety of industry experts, who will be working alongside the sport’s governing body, with sessions aimed to look at off track career progress and on track performance.

“I’m delighted to have been invited into the MSA Academy, it’s a huge honour and means a great deal to me – it’s the perfect start to 2012”, said Charlie, “Being able to benefit from guidance and coaching from the MSA is a real boost ahead of the new season and can only help me progress my career. I’m very proud to be representing the MSA Academy this year.”

Despite not having announced his 2012 intentions, Robertson is expected to once again race in the Ginetta Junior Championship and go for the outright title, after his maiden season of car racing saw him securing multiple podiums and race wins as he finished the season as Vice Champion. He also secured the honour of becoming the youngest ever winner of a MSA regulated car race.

Robertson received his Vice Champions’ trophy during the annual Ginetta Awards evening which was held in Birmingham last night. He was joined by the 2011 champion Seb Morris, George Gamble who finished third overall, Ginetta Cars Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson and Ginetta Junior Championship co-ordinator Max Gregory.

Photo by Chris Walker/Kartpix.net

Double Ginetta Junior Champions Hillspeed has today confirmed that fifteen year old Oxford-based karter Nathan Harrison will join the team for the 2012 campaign.

Harrison, who is a karting sensation in both Britain and Europe, will be making his car racing debut with the team, who took Tom Ingram and Seb Morris to Championship glory in 2010 and 2011 respectively. They head into 2012 looking for a hat trick of drivers’ titles.

Throughout his eight year karting career, Harrison has enjoyed tremendous success – 2009 saw him become the Super 1 ABkC Mini Max Karting Champion, Southern Karting Champion as well as West Midlands Karting Champion. In the MSA Kartmasters Grand Prix, he finished fourth in the Mini Max Class.

The last two seasons has seen Harrison competing in the Rotax Max Junior and he signed off his karting career by securing the Vice-Champion position in the Super 1 National Rotax Junior Championship, and he secured the same result in the Rotax Max Euro Challenge. In the world of Rotax Max karting, he finished sixth overall.

Speaking ahead of his debut season in the series, Harrison said: “I’m really looking forward to making my debut in Ginetta Junior – I really can’t wait. We always knew we’d come into cars when I was old enough, karting is the foundation and there wasn’t much else we could do there really. This is most definitely the right time to make the step-up and take on a new challenge.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great year driving with Hillspeed. We know it’ll be tough, there are going to be some very experienced second and third year drivers in the championship, but we’re aiming for a strong debut and focused on fighting at the front.”

With Harrison being the first confirmed driver for Hillspeed, team principal Richard Ollerenshaw is pleased to have secured his first driver signing ahead of the 2012 campaign.

“We’re incredibly pleased to have signed a deal with Nathan for his first season in cars and we’re confident he’ll make strong progress and become a real force in Ginetta Junior”, said the Hillspeed boss, “We can’t wait to begin our pre-season testing programme with him, it’s fantastic to have the chance to work with a driver boasting such a superb karting pedigree.

“This deal with Nathan only came about because, thanks to Ginetta, he’d had the chance to test a G40 at Bedford Autodrome just before Christmas. It’s that level of support and commitment from such a proactive manufacturer which helps the championship thrive and stand-out from the competition, Lawrence Tomlinson (Ginetta Cars Chairman) and his team deserve a lot of credit.”

Lawrence Tomlinson from Ginetta welcomed the former Mini Max Champion into the series: “It’s great to see Nathan taking his first step into sportscars. The Ginetta Juniors provide a great platform for young racing drivers at the early stages of their career, the benefits and experience they gain prepares them for any series. I wish Nathan all the best for his first season as a Ginetta Junior driver and I look forward to watching him progress.”

The 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship gets underway at Brands Hatch over the 31 March/1 April, with the opening two rounds taking place on the Indy circuit.

Fifteen Year Old Charlie Robertson will take to the Live Action Arena at the world famous Autosport Show over the 12/13 January as he looks to demonstrate his talents – and show why he is one of the brightest prospects in UK motorsport.

Robertson, who made an instant impact during his maiden season of racing – he competed in the British Touring Car Championship supporting Ginetta Junior Championship – and finished as the series Vice-Champion having secured three wins and nine other podium finishes. He then backed up his main series form in the season ending Winter Series, where he secured another two victories.

While his plans for the 2012 season haven’t been fully confirmed, he is expected to rejoin the Ginetta Junior Championship and launch a full tilt on the Championship.

The company have asked Robertson, who turned fifteen on New Years’ Day, to demonstrate a Ginetta G40 in the Live Action Arena, which is part of a specially organised demonstration by the manufacturer.

Speaking about the announcement, Whyteleafe based Robertson said: “I can’t wait to get back in a car and have some fun at Autosport International.

“It’s a fantastic show, the true start to the motorsport year, and it’s a real privilege to have been asked by Ginetta to be involved. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and really looking forward to it.”

Declan Jones concluded his maiden season in the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship at Silverstone last weekend in fine form, with a strong showing in rounds nineteen and twenty.

Declan, who made the step up to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season, after several successful years in the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone Formula One Management-backed Formula Kart Stars Series and in the Super One Rotax Series, was slowed by severe engine problems last time out at Brands Hatch. However with no such issues this time he was able to show great pace around Silverstone’s 1.639-mile National Circuit.

Indeed the Chicago Soft-backed youngster was right at the front in practice on Friday, a switch to TJ Motorsport paying early dividends. He then maintained that momentum on Saturday morning, finishing third overall in the official free practice session – his best lap a 1 minute 10.533 seconds, which left him just 0.087 seconds off P2.

Qualifying was just as positive and while he slipped to ninth, he was just three tenths off third and a place on the second row.

The first race saw the Liverpudlian storm up to sixth at the start in his Ginetta G40J. Unfortunately though, going into Becketts, he got taken out by one of his rivals and while he could continue, with the steering damaged, he did well to make it to the chequered flag, eventually classified in 14^th.

“It has been great with TJ Motorsport from the word go,” Declan said. “It is a nice team and everyone is really welcoming.

“We were good in practice and the car felt strong on Saturday and we had really high hopes. I felt I should have been a bit higher in qualifying but I just couldn’t quite hook up a lap with a really good tow.

“Then in the first race we went from ninth to sixth at the start. It was going well. But after the contact the steering was destroyed – you have holding points for the steering wheel and they were literally bent the opposite way they should have been – and all I could do was bring it home.”

The next day in the second race, which was screened live on UK television on ITV4, Declan made another great start and was up to fifth at the end of the first tour. Although he slipped back to sixth on lap two, he re-gained P5 on lap six, all the time running right up with a gaggle of cars that trailed eventual race winner, Niall Murray and 2011 Ginetta Junior Champion, Seb Morris.

With one lap to the ‘flag, he looked set to at least equal his best result of the year. However, it wasn’t to be and when two of his rivals made contact in front, the 16-year-old was left with nowhere to go. He finished 13^th.

“I had a fantastic start again, probably one of my best of the year,” Declan continued. “I was able to do the same lap times as everyone in front of me and I was running right up with them.

“But then it all kicked off directly ahead of me on the very final lap with three corners to go – and I was taken out, again. I guess it was a racing incident. It is racing at the end of the day and you have got to get on with it, although it is obviously disappointing.

“It has been an eventful weekend and while the results might not show it, it was very positive.

“With a bit of better luck we could definitely have got a podium, but still the pace was there. I have learnt loads this year. The set-up is now very good and with fine tweaking I think it could easily be a winning car.”

Declan ends his rookie campaign 13^th in the standings – having notched up 172 points and having scored in 17 of the 20 races.

It is not quite over however, as he will take in the stand-alone Ginetta GT Winter Cup event at Snetterton next month (November 5-6) and with four separate Ginetta Junior races on the bill, he could yet end 2011 with a rostrum.

“I am really looking forward to the Winter Cup,” Declan added. “This weekend has been another massive confidence booster.

“It will be good to go back to Snetterton having raced there in August too. It is a nice track. I will be going into it hoping to come away with some trophies. I’m determined to try and get a podium there.”

Declan’s dad, manager and chief mechanic, Kelvin Jones meanwhile felt there were many positives to take from the Silverstone finale.

“The race today was probably Declan’s best of the year,” Kelvin stated. “Knockhill may be his best results wise, as he was fifth, but today he was extremely fast. He has been very quick throughout the weekend and I think we could have had near-on-a-podium in both races. Dec was just unlucky to be twice taken out. The positive though is the speed. We knew we were going to get there and we most definitely have.

“We have the Winter Cup to focus on now and we will again run with TJ Motorsport. I wanted to get a feel for them this weekend and we will do the same at Snetterton. We will then look to finalise our plans for 2012.

“I am convinced with the right package Declan can be a championship contender next year.”

Anybody that would like to get involved and support Declan should contact Kelvin on +44 (0)7989 585186.

Pics: Jakob Ebrey

Liverpool-based teenager battles engine woes and rivals en-route to two top-ten finishes in the latest rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championship

Declan Jones took two top-ten finishes during rounds seventeen and eighteen of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch last weekend, despite severe engine problems that left him down on power.

Declan, who has graduated to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season and who went to the Kent-based circuit still buzzing following a strong showing last time out at Rockingham, began well on the Friday and was right in the mix in practice for Westbourne Motorsport.

However on Saturday morning the engine began to play up and while changes were made prior to qualifying, the issue persisted with the Chicago Soft-backed youngster having to settle for the 13th best time.

Although a new engine was purchased in a bid to solve the issue, there was no time to fit it for the first race later that day.

However the Liverpudlian got on with and was eventually rewarded with yet another top-ten.

“It was frustrating knowing we were basically running on three cylinders,” Declan said. “The day before we had been something like P6 or P7 in the first practice session and we were really happy.

“Then on Saturday we had the problems with the engine and we just didn’t have time to change it for the race.

“I just had to drive the best I could in the end and tenth wasn’t bad in the circumstances.”

The next day with a fresh engine fitted, Declan was hopeful he would be able to bounce back, but much to his disappointment his Ginetta G40J remained down on power.

Never one to give up though, the 16-year-old persevered, and in another action-packed Ginetta Junior race screened live on UK television on ITV4, he made his way through to claim his second top-ten of the weekend, eventually classified in ninth.

“Obviously I had high hopes on Sunday,” Declan continued. “I thought with the new engine I’d have a lot more power and so to go out and have less power was really frustrating.

“But my dad kept saying to me: ‘Bring it home, bring it home and collect points’. And that is what I did again.

“Overall it has been difficult weekend and at times quite tough. But considering all our problems the results were still really good. I’ve come away with a lot of points and so there is a lot to be positive about.”

Indeed in the end, Declan scored 23 points – his second best haul of the season – and that increases his total to 157, bumping him up to joint 12th place in the championship.

He will now conclude his debut season in the Ginettas in two weeks time (October 15-16), when the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series heads to Silverstone for rounds 19 and 20, and he is looking forward to getting back out on the National circuit.

“When we tested there at the start of the year in the wet I was really quick. Hopefully it will rain again when we go back,” Declan added. “I like Silverstone and I really want try and get on the podium there.”

Declan’s dad, manager and chief mechanic, Kelvin Jones meanwhile is also looking forward to the finale.

Furthermore with Ginetta due to examine the car this week in a bid to diagnose why it was so down on power at Brands, he is also hopeful Silverstone will prove rewarding.

“It wasn’t an easy weekend for Declan or the team,” Kelvin reflected. “Between qualifying and the first race I went and bought a new engine. We fitted it overnight for the second race but it was actually worse.

“It has got to go back to Ginetta on Wednesday now and they are going to have it for the day on the dyno to try and find out what the problem is.

“Despite all that though, for Dec to still bring it home tenth and ninth in the two races, was very good. We think he has done extremely well given he was fighting with one hand tied behind his back.

“We are now looking forward to Silverstone. It will be the last round and it is going to be one to watch.

“Declan is praying for rain. We were quickest there in pre-season testing in the wet and that was with them all on track. If we give him the right equipment, I know he is capable of doing really well. We will be out to end the year on a high before then starting to think about our plans for next year.”

Photos: Jakob Ebrey

Liverpool-based youngster keeps his head and puts in ‘absolutely brilliant’ performance in the latest rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championship

Declan Jones put in some sensational overtaking manoeuvres and secured his best finish yet in the Ginetta Junior Championship during rounds thirteen and fourteen at Knockhill last weekend.

Declan, who has graduated to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season and who was recently accepted onto the MSA Academy AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) programme, once again had to learn another new circuit, but he put that to one side and overcame a sizable off in qualifying, to comeback to take eleventh in the first race and a sensational fifth in the second.

The Chicago-Soft-backed youngster warmed up by setting the 13th quickest time in free practice and was looking good early on in qualifying until he made a mistake at Turn 1 and went off into the barriers.

“It was difficult coming here. It is not an easy track to learn. You have got to have real guts in certain parts of it otherwise you are off the pace,” Declan explained. “I was getting quicker and quicker in qualifying and was probably running around P6. I was quickest through sector 1 at one point and was really fast.

“I was trying and trying to run a little bit more kerb at the first corner and then I guess I took a bit too much!

“It just pitched me sideways and I then slid all the way down the hill and hit the wall side on.”

However, while the Liverpudlian suffered a pulled muscle in his neck as a result and had to settle for 14th on the grid in family-run Kelvin Jones Motorsport Ginetta G40J, he set about fighting back in the first race and recovered to finish just outside the top ten.

“It was hard in that race. The car wasn’t quite right because we just didn’t have enough time to get everything just so. But we were determined to collect points and it was nice to make up a few places,” Declan continued.

The following day though, with his car back to full health, he pulled off a number of stunning moves in the second race, which was screened live on UK television on ITV4. He went from 14th to 10th in the first phase of the race, before the Safety Car phase halted his charge. Once racing resumed though, the 16-year-old pushed on, and over the final three laps went from 9th, to 7th and then to fifth, a position he held all the way to the ‘flag.

“I just kept my head today,” Declan added, “and towards the end when they all started battling that was when I got them. I just put the car in where I thought was the right position to put it and it paid off.

“I was actually three abreast three times and every single time I came out on top. It was exciting, especially the time I was in the middle of Max [Coates] and Oliver [Chadwick]. It was a real hold your breath moment as I went the deepest into the corner. I also went around the outside of Myles [Collins] on the final lap.

“Overall it really was a good day and I have to thank the team and Bradley [Ellis – my ‘coach’] for his help. Turning up on the Wednesday I hadn’t even seen the track and to come away with a fifth place is really good.

“It has been hard at times this weekend and I have obviously still got a sore neck from my off in qualifying. But it ended really well and we are all leaving on a high. That is a good thing.”

In the end Declan took 30 points from the weekend and as a result moves up from 15th to 13th in the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship standings with 118 points on the board. He will now continue his campaign in the Ginettas in two weeks time at Rockingham (September 17-18), when the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series will resume for rounds 15 and 16. Before that though, he will also make the trip to Le Mans next weekend, where he will test an LMP2 car.

“That should be good fun,” Declan noted. “We are also hoping to do a track day at Rockingham a few days before the next round. That will help for the next Ginetta event, but again I know I am going there and going up against people that will have done days and days of testing and who have raced there last year.”

“I really feel I am starting to get use to the car now, however,” Declan continued. “I know how it will react in different situations.

“It is just about seat time really. Every time I go out I get quicker and quicker and feel more and more confident.”

Declan’s dad and boss of Kelvin Jones Motorsport, Kelvin Jones meanwhile was delighted to see son come back and take fifth.

He remains concerned about the standard of driving in the Ginetta Juniors though and has confirmed that Declan will test a Formula Ford car in November, as they ponder various options for 2012.

“We are really happy to get this result, especially as we have never been here before,” Kelvin said. “It was a bit of a crash-fest at times again and that is not good. Aside from the danger element there is also the cost issue. For those of us footing the bills all these smashes make things really difficult. That is one reason we are looking at Formula Ford.

“We managed to get through the races though today and despite the fact the bigger teams had been testing all week, it was very satisfying to come here and beat some of them.

“Declan’s overtaking manoeuvres were really impressive and total respect to him on that one when he went up the inside on Oliver [Chadwick] and Max [Coates]. He also drove around the outside of Myles [Collins] and Seb [Morris] – another unbelievable pass.

“It was superb to watch – absolutely brilliant to go from 14th to 5th. We have been waiting for this to happen and all of a sudden it has clicked. He is getting to grips with the car and I feel I am getting to grips with the car too – set-up wise I don’t think we are far away.

“We have just got to move on now. We are determined to get a podium this year, but we will have to wait and see what we do in 2012.”

The Ginetta GT Winter Cup will take place on the new Snetterton 300 circuit in November (5th -6^th) and will feature two 2hr endurance races, plus a 30 minute qualifying session open to all current Ginetta models.

The 4 tier class system will be made up of G40s, G50s, G55s and an ‘all-comers’ open class from Ginettas competing in GT racing across the globe.

Combining the Ginetta GT Supercup and Challenge grids for the first time, alongside other Ginetta GT racers from international championships and endurance series racing, the 2011 Ginetta GT Winter Cup – Ginetta’s first one-make endurance race – will be open to either 1 or 2 driver teams and feature two mandatory timed pit stops. GT Winter Cup prizes are still to be announced.

Ginetta Chairmen – Lawrence Tomlinson said: “This will be Ginetta’s first one-make endurance race and a great opportunity to amalgamate the Supercup and Challenge grids creating the first Ginetta GT Endurance Championship. Ginetta Teams and drivers who have never done endurance racing will experience the mandatory pit stop, refuelling and driver changes common in GT endurance racing at all levels.” “It will be fantastic to see all of our championships and GT drivers/teams from GT4/GT3, and international series’, together in the same paddock for the first time. We want to push the Ginetta GT career ladder further so endurance racing is an important step and something we may look to do more of in the future.”

Also announced is a separate ‘Junior Winter Series’ which will consist of four 20 min races plus a 15 minute qualifying session and will run alongside the GT Winter Cup on the same weekend. Previous winners include Josh Hill 2008, Aaron Williamson 2009 and Current Ginetta Juniors Championship point’s leader Seb Morris in 2010.

Tomlinson went on to say: “The Junior Winter Series is an excellent prospect for 14 – 17yr old drivers looking to get into motorsport for the first time, or step up from karting, to drive a race car at one of the UK’s most prestigious circuits.”

“For older Juniors exiting the Ginetta Junior Championship this year, the senior GT Winter Series will be a great opportunity for anyone looking to progress their careers to try a bigger car alongside existing Supercup drivers, it will also offer a great entry point for licence holders looking to enter the GT Supercup Championship in 2012.”

As a precursor to the GT Winter Cup endurance event the next GT Supercup outing at Rockingham (Sept 17 – 18) will see a slight change in format. In place of the usual three 20min races, Rockingham will see two extended races of 30 minutes, a sprint race on Saturday and a 1 x pit stop race on Sunday, which will include a mandatory 2 x wheel change. The championship season closer at Silverstone International (Oct 15-16) will also run a similar extended-race pit stop format to Rockingham, details to be confirmed at a later date.

Pics: Jakob Ebrey

Declan Jones put in a brilliant performance at Oulton Park last weekend in rounds seven and eight of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship, running as high as fifth in the second race and eventually finishing ninth, despite a puncture.

Declan, who has moved up to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season, went into the event again gunning for a top-ten to match what he had managed last time out at Thruxton, and the 15-year-old duly delivered – and in some style too.

Indeed despite a tough start to his home event, with the Chicago-Soft-backed youngster slowed by a differential issue in unofficial practice on Friday, he bounced back the next day and with a new diff fitted he was almost two seconds a lap quicker and a solid 13^th in practice.

His mechanical woes however were not over and in qualifying brake problems meant he was unable to set a representative time in his family-run Kelvin Jones Motorsport Ginetta G40J, leaving him only 17^th on the grid.

Declan put his head down though, and in the first race hauled his car up the order to twelfth, less than six seconds off the top-ten.

The following day saw the weather take a turn for the worse, but in drying and gloomy conditions, the Liverpudlian immediately made headway in the second race, which was screened live on UK TV on ITV4, and he was ninth by the end of the first lap.

He then got up as high as fifth and was fast closing on fourth, until slowed by a puncture, a result of getting caught up in a clash between his former team-mate, Paddy McClughan and Niall Murray on lap 3.

“My old team-mate spun in front of me through Lodge and I clipped him. It ripped off part of the front left of the car and then something started rubbing on the tyre,” Declan explained.

Despite being hindered by the puncture though, which later went flat, the Ginetta Junior rookie hung on and still got a top-ten, eventually crossing the line in ninth, to equal his best result thus far in the championship.

“We had a really difficult start to the weekend with the diff going,” Declan continued. “But as soon as we changed that we found something like 1.7 seconds. Obviously that was a big boost. But then the brake pedal went long in qualifying and I really struggled.

“Race 1 was okay but we got the set-up really good for today’s race. On lap 3 I was the quickest on the track and by lap 5 was fifth and catching fourth and third. But then the puncture came in and it was hard towards the end as it had gone completely flat. It wouldn’t go around right-handers properly and I just had to try and keep people behind me and collect as many points as possible.”

Declan eventually added another 21 points to his tally in total – his best haul thus far – and he will now go to Croft in North Yorkshire in two weeks time (June 18-19), for rounds nine and ten of the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series, with 59 points on the board.

“I obviously want to try and improve at Croft,” he continued. “I know I can do it now and know I can be fast there and right up with the quick boys. A top-ten is definitely the target again.

“This weekend has been eventful and a bit bittersweet. There have been lots of ups and downs. But some points have been really good and that is what I want to remember.”

Declan’s dad and boss of Kelvin Jones Motorsport, Kelvin Jones meanwhile labelled his son’s latest performance in the second race ‘brilliant’, adding it was just what the youngster needed as he continues to learn in what is only his first season post-karting.

“What a drive!” Kelvin added. “That was unbelievable! We knew once it was wet he was going to be good today and he got right up to fifth. He was fastest on the track on lap 3 and nearly a second faster than Seb [Morris]. I thought he was on his way to the podium, he was that fast. But then obviously the tyre went flat and he had to battle his way to ninth.

“It is still a great to finish the weekend though, especially after what happened on Friday and Saturday.

“On Friday the car just got worse and worse as the day went on and it then started to labour out of Knickerbrook and up Clay Hill. Ginetta loaned me another diff for the Saturday and we put it in and went about two seconds quicker. Then in qualifying the pedal went long and as Declan braked it just locked the front. We knew then his qualifying was over.

“In Saturday’s race, again he did well. We finished twelfth. That was a bit of a s*** fight, but there was a lot to do having started right from the back.

“Returning to today’s race though, I thought Dec put in a great performance. It is a good confidence lift for him. He realises now he can race these guys. We have made steps forward with the car too. The team is getting to know it a lot more now. But the main improvement is just Declan and his confidence and even though he was only ninth, I thought it was one of the best drives I have seen him do. It was a brilliant performance.

“Now it is on to Croft in two weeks time and that will be mega. It will be a new track for us. We haven’t tested there. We will be going for more top-ten finishes. Let’s pray for rain too!”

Pics:Jakob Ebrey

Liverpool-based youngster improves upon first-ever top-ten Ginetta Junior finish and secures a ninth place in the latest rounds of the series

Former kart star Declan Jones took his best result to date at Thruxton last weekend in rounds five and six of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship.

Declan, who has graduated to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season, had never been to the 2.356 mile Hampshire circuit before, but he made the most of the track time and following a confidence boosting double finish at Donington Park two weeks ago – in only his second ever Ginetta Junior event – he got progressively faster and faster as the weekend progressed.

The Chicago Soft-backed youngster started by posting the 14th best time in practice and he then improved slightly and took 13th on the grid in qualifying in his family-run Kelvin Jones Motorsport Ginetta G40J, his best lap a 1m 33.265s.

“I hadn’t seen the track before the weekend. I didn’t know what way it went. Didn’t know what it was like. People were saying it was really fast. I wasn’t sure if I liked it at first, but then it started to grow on me and every time I went out, I just went quicker,” said the 15-year-old.

“After free practice and qualifying I knew where I was losing out. I just had to keep chipping away at it.”

In the first race, Declan showed great pace, but ultimately the Liverpool-based teenager had to settle for 13th at the flag. His third race finish in a row though was a boost and he put that mileage to good use the next day in race two.

Indeed he gained three positions on the opening two laps and while he slipped back on the next tour, he fought back to eleventh on lap 5 and moved up to P9 on lap 6, a position he held all the way to the finish.

“I had a pretty good start and just kept it in there,” he reflected. “Then I was battling all the way through. I really, really enjoyed it.

“I was catching Williams Foster [who finished 8th] at one point – but I made a mistake and out-braked myself at the Complex. He then pulled away from me and with about 2 laps to go I just decided to stay where I was and just finish.

“Overall I think it was a really good weekend. Getting a couple more finishes under my belt is critical at this stage and it was good to learn another track too. I’d like to thank my team, everyone did a great job this weekend and I’d also like to thank Bradley [Ellis – my ‘coach’] for his help and advice. I got told to go into this weekend and finish with no damage and collect as many points as I could – and that is what I did.”

In the end Declan took 20 points from the weekend and increased his tally to 38. He will now resume his campaign at Oulton Park next month (June 4-5), his ‘home’ circuit, where the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series will resume for rounds seven and eight.

“I really am looking forward to that. I think it will be another weekend where I have just got to finish however, because I haven’t done much around there. The only time I have driven there is in the wet,” Declan added. “To race there in the dry will be completely different. Again hopefully I can get another top-ten though, and collect some more points.”

Declan’s dad and boss of Kelvin Jones Motorsport, Kelvin Jones meanwhile was delighted to see his son have another encouraging weekend.

“We knew we were going to be up against it a bit this weekend but Declan still came good,” said Kelvin. “The game plan was to learn the track and each session he went out in, he just found more speed up until the point we were the fastest car through the speed trap.

“The second race was obviously the highlight. Dec was 13th on the grid and he had a great start. He was on the pace throughout. There was nothing in it and in the end ninth was a good result.

“We said to him before just keep it tidy, keep it smooth, stay out of trouble and you will get the results. That seems to be especially so in this championship.

“There were a lot of unnecessary incidents in the two previous events at Brands and Donington. But it was nice to see that the driving standards over the last two days were a lot better. The other boys seemed to get the nature of this track. It doesn’t accept mistakes or people being pushed off at high speed. The consequences of that sort of driving could be great.

“I haven’t heard of any penalties as yet and it was encouraging to see some clean racing. I really hope this carries on. Fingers crossed.”

Looking to the future, Kelvin is convinced that Declan will be able to start making real inroads now he has three events – almost a third of the season – under his belt.

“We really felt that after Thruxton the season would start to come to us and after our home race at Oulton Park next month, Declan will then be going to tracks that he has been too before. Hopefully this is going to be a good turning point for him,” Kelvin added.

“I want him to try and push on from ninth now and just keep moving up the grid. That is what we want to do and that is what we will be looking for at Oulton.”

Pics: Jakob Ebrey

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

Declan Jones took a confidence lifting first-ever top-ten Ginetta Junior Championship finish at Donington Park last weekend, in rounds three and four of the series.

Declan, who has graduated to the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this season, following several successful seasons competing in the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone Formula One Management-backed Formula Kart Stars Series and in the British Super One Rotax Series, began the weekend solidly and he was 13^th in qualifying in his Kevlin Jones Motorsport family-run car.

“I thought that was a pretty good effort,” said Declan, who had a hard debut weekend at Brands Hatch earlier this month. “13^th wasn’t too bad – especially considering it was only my second qualifying session and I am obviously still getting use to the Ginetta G40J.”

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

The Chicago Soft-backed youngster then maintained that momentum in the two races, finishing 14^th in the first race and scoring seven precious championship points, despite losing a lap early on when he had to pit when his front nose got damaged.

“I had a coming together on the second lap and that popped my bonnet,” explained the 15-year-old. “We had to come in and get that fixed.

“Then I went back out and my aim was just to finish and I did, even though I had another coming together with another kid, who just came across my nose and just cut me up.”

The highlight of the weekend though came in the second race and he put in a good run. Indeed he gained a number of places at the start and was running sixth, until a mistake dropped him back.

Despite that however, he still managed to bring his car home in eleventh, gaining a further position post-race when one of his rivals was disqualified for what officials described as overly ‘robust’ racing.

“The second race was a lot better,” Declan continued. “I was actually lying sixth at one point and just made a mistake and spun. That was a bit annoying. But other than that I thought it was a really great race.”

Declan thus finished the weekend with 18 points on the board and he was pleased to have opened his account and he is now looking forward to the next event in two weeks time when the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series heads to Thruxton (April 29-May 1).

“It was a massive learning weekend,” added the Liverpool-based teenager. “But we still came out of it with a lot of points. I now feel a lot more comfortable – really comfortable with the car. I felt it was a really, really good weekend and the second race obviously pleased me most. I will be out to finish again at Thruxton and get some more points. That is what I need to do.”

Declan’s father and boss of Kelvin Jones Motorsport, Kelvin Jones meanwhile was delighted to see his son bounce back after a rather tough baptism at Brands Hatch.

“I think Dec drove really well. After what happened at Brands, with two DNFs, his confidence had taken a bit of a knock. So what we really wanted this weekend was two finishes and that is exactly what we got,” Kelvin continued.

“In the first race his nose came off after a coming together and it was rubbing on the wheel. He had to come in. But we got him out and at least he got to the end and got lots of precious miles under his belt.

“Then in the second race he had a good start and was up to sixth or seventh, before he made a mistake and fell back to twelfth. But then he made his way back up to tenth.

“Overall two finishes was good and I was really pleased with him. His confidence is back up. He just needs more time, more time in the car, and we will just keep working away now and working our way up the grid.

“For him to finish in his second-ever weekend and to finish in the top-ten was a very good result.

“We are now looking forward to Thruxton. Dec has never been to that track before. He will have to arrive and learn it. There is no pre-testing there. It is a very fast circuit. But I want him to show the same sort of form.

“I want him to use the Friday to learn the track, then qualify as best as he can and then try and collect some points until we go to our home race at Oulton Park on June 4-5.”

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

Patrick McClughan put in a determined performance and notched up more points at Donington Park last weekend, in rounds three and four of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship.

Paddy, who is taking in his second season in the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 year-olds this year and who equalled his best result of 2010 at the season opener at Brands Hatch two weeks ago, was eleventh in practice in his Kelvin Jones Motorsport-run car.

He then proceeded to take an encouraging eighth place in qualifying, his best Q performance to date: “We didn’t get the maximum out of the car but we still qualified eighth,” said Paddy, who attends Campbell College in Belfast. “We know there is so much more to come.

“But it was still extremely positive to see that we have definitely made improvements and I have made improvements in terms of my driving. It was very good and we were very happy.”

The 15-year-old then came through to take ninth in the opening race at the Leicestershire-based venue, persevering despite a number of skirmishes that left his Ginetta G40J in less than pristine condition.

“It was another very action packed race. There was lots of carnage and battles going on. But unfortunately I got taken out quite a lot by a lot of different cars,” Paddy recalled. “The car was in a very bad state by the end. It was damage limitation basically. But we still finished in P9 and got some points and I was happy to be able to bring the car home.”

The second race was a similar tale, but once again another resolute performance netted the Cimpina Ltd-backed youngster a top-ten and his second ninth place of the weekend.

“We got a really good start, but then at the end of the first lap there was an accident and the safety car came out. At this point I was running seventh or eighth,” he continued.

“Then the safety car went in and at the chicane, at the end of lap 5, someone spun and to avoid it I had to go over a massive kerb. I think I actually bent the steering arm on the car [as a result]. The car was undriveable after that. It was unfortunate as I was right in the thick of the action and could have ended up with another good result. But again, like the first race, it was a case of damage limitation and I just wanted to get the car home.”

Despite all that though, Paddy was still happy with his weekend and was particularly encouraged by his form in qualifying: “Overall it was very good. We made even more steps than we did at Brands and did well in qualifying. That we were able to get so easily into the top ten and we knew we could have got more from the car was very positive,” he added.

“But it was just unfortunate about the races because we did have some good pace to show. However unfortunately we couldn’t maximise on that because of the damage. That is racing though. We will just have to go to the next round and hopefully have more luck.”

Paddy will head to Thruxton in two weeks time now with 38 points on the board and he is keen to try and get a top-five finish there, when once again the Ginetta Juniors will take their place on the support bill for the MSA British Touring Car Championship.

“I had my first race weekend at Thruxton last year,” Paddy recalled. “We started off quite well in both test sessions on the Friday. It was very positive considering I had so little experience. But unfortunately in free practice I made a tiny error. It was wet and I touched the kerb and the car speared off. Things like that happen though and I have no fears about going back – not at all in fact.

“I will go hard at it. A top-five finish would be nice, or possibly a podium. You never know we could go for a win too. But I have to be realistic. I think we can easily get a top-five, without a doubt.”

Team owner Kelvin Jones meanwhile believes Paddy has made definite progress in the two Ginetta Junior events so far this year.

“Paddy qualified well at Donington and but for a mistake, which I think cost him around four or five tenths, he probably could have been fifth or sixth on the grid,” Kelvin stated. “I comfortably feel that is where he is now. He has just got to start stringing laps and results together because, as I have said before, the speed is there.

“Looking to Thruxton, Paddy knows the track and while he had a big accident last year, I am still expecting him to qualify comfortably in the top ten and to be at least sixth or seventh on the grid.

“I think the more time I work with him, the better he seems to be getting. He is getting some very good results now compared to what he had last year and is moving up the grid.”

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

Patrick McClughan maintained the momentum from the end of last season to make a strong start to the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship last weekend at Brands Hatch, running as high as fifth in the second race.

Paddy, who made his debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship for 14-17 years old twelve months ago and who is racing as part of a two-car Kelvin Jones Motorsport line-up this year, made a solid start to the weekend and was ninth in free practice and 13th in qualifying, only four tenths of a second off a place in the top ten.

The 15-year-old, who was the youngest runner in the Ginetta Juniors last year, then made good progress and hauled himself up to eighth in the first race, successfully avoiding the first lap carnage that left three of his rivals on the sidelines and brought out the red flags.

“Race 1 was very dramatic,” recalled Paddy, who attends Campbell College in Belfast. “I got a very good start, even though I got boxed in a little bit. There was a massive incident at the first corner, which I was really close to getting tangled up in. But fortunately I managed to miss it and then the safety car came out. I think we were running around 13th at that stage.

“Once the race re-started we just basically took one position at a time and I carved my way through the field and got up to eighth place. I just drove as quickly and hard as I could.”

Paddy then went even better in the second race, moving up to tenth on lap 2, ninth on lap 5 and eighth on lap 6, before then catching the leaders on lap 14 and running as high as fifth. Sadly though a mechanical failure put him out on the final lap, and while the Cimpina Ltd-backed youngster was disappointed, he still had plenty to be positive about. Indeed not only did he equal his best result from 2010 having finished eighth in race 1, but he also got under last year’s lap record, his quickest lap a 56.773 seconds.

“I was driving the car as fast as I could in race two and I eventually got up to fifth,” he continued. “There was a four-way battle for the lead and I caught up to be right on the back of it. However on the last lap with one corner to go we suffered a mechanical failure, which put me out of the race. I was gutted not to finish and very gutted for the team because I wanted to repay them with a really good result. But next time we will do that.

“Overall I think the weekend was very positive despite some of the hiccups we might have had.

“This year I feel a lot more comfortable and a lot more relaxed. We did a lot of pre-season testing with the team and we learned more about the car, the new gearbox and the new tyres – and we were very confident we could be amongst the top guys come the end of the weekend, and so we were.

“We made a lot of steps and during the course of the weekend we got quicker and quicker. Everyone at Kelvin Jones Motorsport were absolutely brilliant – they never stopped from the word go and were always making sure the car was perfect. The mechanics were just awesome.

“For me though, I think what pleased me most was that over the last race I was able to keep up with the leaders and not let them get away and at the end I wasn’t far off getting the fastest lap either. That was very pleasing.”

Paddy will now be back in action in two weeks time when the MSA British Touring Car Championship-support series reconvenes at Donington Park on April 16-17. Paddy scored his first-ever Ginetta Junior points there at the end of 2010 and is looking forward to returning to the Leicestershire-based track.

“Last year in the practice sessions we were sixth quickest. I learned the track very quickly and we had a good race there too. I was able to come pretty much from the back up to ninth place,” he stated.

“It is a circuit I enjoy very much. It is a drivers’ circuit and is very fast and quick. You have to be very committed. That is what I love about it. Hopefully we can aim for a podium there and possibly even a win.”

Team owner Kelvin Jones meanwhile was really encouraged by Paddy’s speed at Brands Hatch and he also has high hopes for rounds three and four at Donington Park.

“I think Paddy did well last weekend. His times were consistent and in the second race he was brilliant and caught up with the leaders,” Kelvin stated. “When we looked at the times the leaders were actually slower at that point. I thought maybe it was because they were battling and slowing each other down. But it wasn’t. Paddy was just very quick.

“Then when he caught up to them he eventually made his way up to fifth. However on the last lap the car cut out. That was really disappointing for him. But on the plus side he still went very well. I have always thought the speed was there. He just needs more time in the seat and with that – and the experience that will give him – he will move him up the grid.

“I am expecting more of the same at Donington now. It is one of his favourite tracks. We are not far off either what I think the set-up should be to suit him. Hopefully we can carry on from where we left off in that second race. I am really looking forward to it.”

This time of season, the calender is packed full of Media Days.     What is a Media Day is a question often asked, and they are a time for motorsport journalists and photographers to get up close and personal with the series, in a more laid back atmosphere that you would find at a race weekend.      Cars and Drivers get an opportunity for some all-important pre-season track time as well.

Occasionally there are opportunities for passenger rides where you get the be’jesus scared out of you, the opportunity for photographers to get tracking shots – usually three photographers wedged into the back an MPV which is driven round the circuit and race cars buzz around.      There are presentations and the opportunity to interview and ask questions, sometimes in an open forum, sometimes on a one-to-one basis.

Today was the turn of Ginetta.   Ginetta is a company of long standing, founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers, set up only a couple of years after Colin Chapman founded Lotus.     Since 2005 it has been owned by Laurence Tomlinson’s LNT Group and has expanded considerably.    Two race series are support races to the BTCC – the Ginetta G50 series which is now the Ginetta Supercup following the launch of the new G55, and the Ginetta Juniors which use a version of the G40.     There are other one make Ginetta series, and the G50 and G55 are sold in various GT forms for entry into British GT, Britcar, GT Cup and GT Trophy where they have been very successful.    In fact, for the Britcar 24 hours of 2010, a predominately road spec G40 drove from the Leeds factory, raced hard for the full 24 hours and then drove back to the factory, with only minor adjustments between road and race made at the circuit.

Ginetta doesn’t just produce racing cars: recently Ginetta aquired the Farbio GTS as well as its carbon-fibre technology, renaming it the Ginetta F400, the first Ginetta to be given a designation other than a G-number.    This Supercar is sold as a road car, list price £ 95,000.   A road version of the G40 is currently under development.

All photographs kindly provided by Gary Parravani of Xynamic Motorsport Photography