The Yorkshire-headquartered squad, who clinched the overall drivers’ title with Ollie Chadwick (2016) and Scott McKenna (2019), welcomes back Conner Garlick for a second season, alongside fellow GT5 returnee Josh Steed and championship debutant Mikey Doble.
Former Ginetta Junior racer Garlick made a long-awaited GT5 Challenge debut last season and immediately made his mark with a podium finish in only his second race. The 17 year old from Kent was a regular front-runner from then on and ended 2020 firmly inside the top ten.
Conner Garlick: “I’m delighted to be back with Xentek Motorsport for 2021. We had a promising year in 2020 – despite the challenges thrown up by the pandemic – and I’m hopeful for a strong showing and plenty of silverware. Bring it on!”
Steed meanwhile made his GT5 Challenge debut in 2019 and produced a number of impressive performances, including taking a breakthrough podium finish. Although the 18 year old from Hertfordshire only contested one event last year, he impressed to score a double top ten result.
Josh Steed: “I am really excited to be on board with such a credible and professional team for my 2021 title assault. I am here to win this season and it was obvious to me that Xentek were the team I wanted behind me to do it. With a great track record, they have lots of experience with everything I need to do to accomplish this.”
Completing the team’s Pro class line-up is Doble, who will be making his first step into Ginetta racing this year following three seasons in the BMW Compact Cup. After enjoying back-to-back top six points finishes during that spell, the 22 year old from Surrey will be one to watch.
Mikey Doble: “As an ambitious professional racer, the Ginetta GT5 Challenge is the perfect stepping stone to progress from club racing. I love racing in competitive championships, and to do it in front of a big audience is very exciting for me. I want to give myself the best shot at winning races and with Xentek Motorsport’s experience and past success, I feel confident they will provide me with the best opportunity going forward.”
Chris Richards, team manager: “Once again, we have an incredibly strong driver line-up going into the new season and as a team we’re incredibly excited about the potential within our garage. We’re looking forward to challenging for podium positions and collecting plenty of champagne and silverware throughout the year.”
Packed grids and close racing makes the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge a popular entry-level championship for many aspiring GT racers. In 2021, the series will compete across both British GT and British Touring Car Championship weekends, sharing a grid with the G40 Cup.
