Freddie Slater has established himself as the driver to beat in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship heading into three races this weekend at Donington Park (27/28 May).
The UK’s longest running and most prestigious junior series has produced some sensational races at Donington Park over the years, with Jake Hill, Tim Gamble and Luke Browning amongst the former race-winners there, however this weekend will mark the first time ever the championship will race on the full Grand Prix circuit.
After making history as the youngest ever Ginetta champion in the Juniors Winter Series back in November, Slater is targeting more title glory this season as he leads the charge for reigning champions R Racing. He won the opening five races of the season in style, and only a time penalty ended his 100% winning start.
Leo Robinson benefitted to take a maiden victory at Silverstone on his first outing with R Racing, capping off a breakthrough weekend for him. Another milestone moment came for team-mate Reza Seewooruthun, who picked up his first podium finish in the main championship.
Following a podium hat-trick on his car-racing debut in the Oulton Park season opener, Hugo Schwarze (Elite Motorsport) added another podium to his tally at Silverstone, while team-mate Alisha Palmowski continued his own impressive start with a pair of second place finishes.
Fellow Elite contender Charlie Hart has started his rookie campaign in impressive fashion with a podium finish at each meeting, while the other driver in the field to have picked up silverware so far is Finn Harrison (Assetto Racing) at Oulton Park.
Amongst a talented group aiming to break onto the podium this weekend will regular top six finisher Mikey Porter and his R Racing team-mate Luca Hopkinson, while Mckenzie Douglass, one of the leading rookies in 2022, will be aiming to fight at the front as he switches to Fox Motorsport.
Henry Josyln (Preptech UK) is one to watch this weekend having scored a pair of top ten finishes on his car-racing debut last time out, joining his team-mate Thomas Spragg and Freddie Allum (Elite Motorsport) within a group of drivers to have been on the cusp of joining the lead group.
Chase Fernandez (Assetto Racing) will be aiming to make his mark this weekend as the latest winner of the coveted Ginetta Junior Scholarship, following in the footsteps of former scholars like Jamie Chadwick, Adam Smalley and Dan Harper.
A competitive 19 car entry is completed by five more talented rookies, Edu Robinson (R Racing), Brea Angliss (Breakell Racing), Felix Livesey (Xentek Motorsport) and Fox Motorsport duo Harry Moss and Holly Miall.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 27 May – Qualifying, 11:50; Race One, 17:10
Sunday 28 May – Race Two, 09:10; Race Three, 15:20
All three races will be streamed live on Ginetta’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, while live timing and results will be available here: www.tsl-timing.com/event/232105
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
