Following on from a record-breaking season which featured the largest ever grid and the closest race finish in Ginetta Junior history, the latest group of rising stars are ready to make their mark and battle for championship glory over what are sure to be 25 action-packed races this year.
R Racing had a 2021 season to remember as they won both the drivers’ and teams’ titles. They return to defend their crowns with a capacity six car entry led by Josh Rowledge, who ended a brilliant rookie season last year with the Winter Series title.
Ian Aguilera stays with R Racing for his second season, while Luke Watts and Sonny Smith are back after selected appearances in 2021. Completing their entry are Luca Hopkinson, who joined them on the Winter Series grid, and racing rookie Akshay Bohra.
Aiming to go one better than last year is Liam McNeilly, who finished as the overall runner-up with five wins to his name. He’s joined at Fox Motorsport by sophomore drivers Jacob Hodgkiss and Maurice Henry, who both scored regular points finishes last season.
After winning every drivers’ title between 2017 and 2020, Elite Motorsport will be determined to get back on top this year. Aqil Alibhai and Joe Warhurst are ones to watch, having scored a maiden overall win and podium respectively in the Winter Series.
Elite are also running four rookie class contenders. William Macintyre and Mckenzie Douglass both debuted in the Winter Series, while Kanato Le and Shravan Shanmugavel will be making their Ginetta debuts.
Harri Reynolds is targeting a title challenge in his second season with Assetto Motorsport, having scored multiple rookie podiums last year. He’s joined in the team by Winter Series debutants James Wyres and Liona Theobald, plus fellow rookie Ella Lloyd.
Fergus Chalmers was another driver to pick up rookie silverware in 2021 and he’s back for a second season with Peptech UK. Joining him is fellow sophomore driver Zac Meakin and rookie duo Flynn McHardy and Alisha Palmowski.
Palmowski is the latest winner of the coveted Ginetta Junior Scholarship. She beat a field of more than 60 young drivers to secure a fully-funded season in the championship, becoming the first female scholar since Jamie Chadwick in 2013.
The grid for the season opener this weekend is completed by second year drivers Adam Brown (Ultimate Speed Racing) and AJ Rock (Team HARD), as well as Winter Series newcomer Oliver Cottam (Alastair Rushforth Motorsport).
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 23 April – Qualifying, 09:10; Race One, 14:25; Race Two, 17:30
Sunday 24 April – Race Three 12:30 (Live on ITV4)
Live timing and results across the weekend: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/221603
