Over 300 drivers have taken part in the contest with the ambition of coming away with a fully-funded season in the UK’s most prestigious and successful Junior series – with eight talented teenagers earning the honour of starting their career as a manufacturer backed driver.
A host of drivers to have entered the scholarship have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the UK, Europe and around the world across a range of Motorsport disciplines, including single-seaters, touring cars and GT competition.
Arguably the most decorated Scholar so far has been Jamie Chadwick. Getting her break with Ginetta in 2013, she spent two years in the Juniors before sensationally winning the British GT4 title in 2015 and becoming the first ever female British F3 race-winner last year
Since then, Chadwick’s career has skyrocketed. After winning the 2018-19 MRF Challenge title, she was crowned the inaugural champion of the high-profile W Series, become a development driver for the Williams Formula One team and be named as a finalist for the BRDC Autosport Young Driver of the Year award.
Jamie Chadwick: “Winning the Scholarship was a pivotal moment for me, and remains one of the most memorable days of my career. Racing on the ‘big stage’ in Ginetta Juniors, on live TV and in front of huge crowds, was my opportunity to learn my craft and promote my name – the Scholarship made this possible for me.
“Ginetta are a bedrock of British motorsports, particularly at ‘grassroots’ level, and it’s no exaggeration that I would not be where I am now without Ginetta. My gratitude to them is immense. I still follow the Junior racing on TV and it’s probably one of the most entertaining race series in the world!”
Daniel Harper meanwhile enjoyed the most successful Scholarship season to date, with two race wins and the Rookie Cup title in 2016. After contending for the overall crown the following year, he’s since starred in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and won the title in style this season.
Daniel Harper: “Winning the Scholarship was the starting point of my career and without it I may have never been able to race. It gave me the opportunity to show what I could do in front of a huge audience and build my profile as a driver to get the sponsors needed to return to the grid in 2017.
“The advice and support I received from Ginetta was second to none. Once you become part of the Ginetta family, you never leave it and they’ve continued to support me in recent years. I couldn’t recommend the Scholarship enough to aspiring drivers.”
The roll call of Scholarship winners include two-time McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist and 2016 British F4 vice-champion Sennan Fielding, 2013 Ginetta GT5 Challenge champion Oliver Basey-Fisher and current Euro NASCAR star Alex Sedgwick.
Stuart Middleton finished as Junior vice-champion in 2016 and teamed up with fellow Scholarship entrant Will Tregurtha to become the youngest ever British GT champions, while Adam Smalley became the first Scholar to go on and win the overall Junior title.
Adam Smalley: “I’d always dreamed of racing cars and when I saw some karting friends progressing into Ginetta Juniors, I knew that was something I wanted to be part of. My Dad got me an entry to the Scholarship as a Christmas present and it went from there.
“I can’t thank Ginetta enough for what they’ve done for me. Winning the Scholarship, you were immediately in the media spotlight and racing on the biggest platform in the UK, which has helped open so many opportunities for me. It’s a fantastic initiative for young drivers and can literally change your life.”
Plenty of talented drivers have missed out on the Scholarship too, with former finalists including 2015 Junior and 2017 British F4 champion Jamie Caroline, 2019 British GT4 runner-up Seb Priaulx, current Ginetta GT4 SuperCup title contender Harry King and World Touring Car race-winner Mikel Azcona.
Are you the latest undiscovered racing talent ready to make your name in motorsport and follow in the footsteps of our Scholarship alumni? Entries remain open for the chance to compete for one of the biggest prizes in UK motorsport and win a place on the 2020 Ginetta Junior grid.
Taking place at Ginetta’s own race track, Blyton Park, from the 28-30 October, the three-day event features driving, fitness and media assessments for all entrants, with the 20 most promising drivers being invited back for a final day of assessment before a winner is announced.
For more information and to make your entry, visit: https://www.ginetta.com/js
