Xentek Motorsport have completed their exciting four driver line-up for the 2023 Ginetta GT5 Challenge with the signing of talented young driver Luke Garlick for his first full season of car-racing.
Garlick joins the previously announced Ella Lloyd, Sam Harvey and Bal Sidhu at the South Yorkshire team, who head into the upcoming campaign with the target of taking both an historic fifth overall GT5 drivers’ championship victory and a maiden title in the category’s Am class.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Conner, who has raced with Xentek in both the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and GT4 SuperCup in recent years, Garlick enters car-racing full-time following a number of successful years competing in karting.
The highlights last season for the 16-year-old rising star were podium finishes at Buckmore Park and Whilton Mill, alongside a good performance during the prestigious Kartmasters event, before he went on to make his car-racing debut in the GT5 Challenge season finale with Xentek.
After making great progress across that event, the Kent based racer will return to the grid this year with headline sponsorship from EU Tags. A productive pre-season testing programme means he’s ready to hit the ground running in the opening round at Oulton Park on Easter weekend (08-10 April).
Sarah-Jayne McKenna – Team Manager: “Having been racing with Conner on and off for the last four years, Luke has regularly been around and got involved with the team on race weekends. We’ve been looking forward to the moment it became his turn to go racing, and that time has come.
“Just as it did for Conner, the GT5 Challenge is the perfect platform for Luke to take his impressive karting experience and transition into car-racing. We’re pleased with how he adapted in his debut and after some good runs in testing, we’re confident he’ll be scoring some big results this season.”
Luke Garlick: “After overcoming the big changes and challenges that came during my GT5 debut at Donington Park, I’m feeling confident for the year ahead. Working with a successful team like Xentek Motorsport will give me a fantastic opportunity to compete well within the competitive championship.
“I am really looking forward to this season, as with the help and support of Xentek, I know that any challenges coming my way will be faced head on. My aims for this year are set high, but I will do everything within my power to achieve them. Bring on the new season!”
The Ginetta GT5 Challenge, which for 2023 forms part of the grid of the new Ginetta GT Championship, is a popular championship for aspiring GT racers. Renowned for producing great racing, the series will be contested over 23 races across eight events, six of which will be in support of the British GT Championship.
