Freddie Slater is on the cusp of being crowned the champion in the 2023 Michelin Ginetta Junior
Championship during the penultimate round of the season on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit
this weekend.
While Slater (R Racing) has unfortunately elected to sit out the final two rounds of the year,
including the trip to Kent this weekend, his phenomenal campaign so far means only a shock run of
results for his closest rivals could deny him title glory.
Slater is set to become the seventh driver in Junior history to follow up Winter Series title success,
achieved at Brands Hatch last November, with the overall drivers’ crown. He’s already written his
name into the record books this year with 16 race wins, more than anyone else in the series ever.
Only two drivers remain in mathematical contention, Hugo Schwarze (Elite Motorsport) and Mikey
Porter (R Racing). It’s a tall task for the talented duo though, as from the maximum 218 points still to
play for this season, they’d each need to score at least 200 points to overcome their deficits to
Slater.
Who will battle for the wins?
The absence of the champion-elect opens the door for a hugely exciting battle for the race wins this
weekend. Only two drivers on the grid have been on the top step of the podium this year; Donington
Park victor Schwarze and three-time race-winner Chase Fernandez (Assetto Racing).
Fernandez, the Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner for 2023, is in great form having scored his latest
win at Cadwell Park last time out. Porter is full of confidence too and couldn’t have come much
closer to a maiden win so far, having finished in second position in four of the last five races.
Elite Motorsport have three other drivers alongside Schwarze who are likely to be in contention for
race victories, with Finn Harrison, Alisha Palmowski and Charlie Hart having each finished in second
place on multiple occasions this year.
R Racing, who are on course for their third consecutive Junior drivers’ title, also feature potential
race-winners in Reza Seewooruthun and Luca Hopkinson. They both have multiple podium finishes
to their name, while Edu Robinson is targeting a top three breakthrough having scored a best finish
of fifth.
Mckenzie Douglass leads the challenge for Fox Motorsport as he bids to add to his sole podium finish
from Donington Park earlier in the year, while Preptech UK’s Henry Joslyn is knocking on the door of
an overall podium breakthrough having finished fourth and fifth overall at Cadwell Park.
Top ten finishers Thomas Spragg (Preptech UK) and Felix Livesey (MDD Racing) have been in the
thick of the action this season, while aiming for their first top ten race results will be Fox Motorsport
pair Holly Miall and Harry Moss.
Preptech UK and Fox Motorsport have both expanded to four car entries for this weekend. Alfie
Davies and Brea Angliss return to action with Preptech, while Fox welcome four-generation racer
Jack Robinson – one of two new drivers joining the grid alongside Nick Ellis (Elite Motorsport).
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
2023 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship Timetable
Saturday 09 September: Qualifying 14:10; Race One 17:30
Sunday 10 September: Race Two 10:55; Race Three 17:00
All three races will be streamed live on Ginetta’s YouTube channel, while live timing and results will
be available here: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/233605
