BTCC WELCOMES GINETTA JUNIORS ONTO SUPPORT BILL
British sports car manufacturer Ginetta will join the Dunlop
British Touring Car Championship’s support bill in 2008
with its junior race series for drivers aged between 14 and
17.
The Ginetta Junior Championship will be present at all ten
BTCC fixtures with two races at each event. In its third season
in 2007 it has emerged as the UK’s top junior race series
with grid sizes pushing the 24-mark. Another ten cars have
already been sold for next year’s championship.
Coincidentally, the Ginetta company will be 50 years old
in 2008 – the same year that the BTCC celebrates its
half century.
Ginetta Managing Director Richard Dean said:
“Being a part of the BTCC support race paddock will
enable us to continue our programme of re-launching and re-marketing
the Ginetta brand. In the last 18 months the Ginetta name
has enjoyed a huge resurrection in terms of car sales and
this further promotes us as the highest-profile junior race
championship.
“For a driver aged 14-17 to stand on the podium on
the same day as their heroes such as Fabrizio Giovanardi and
Jason Plato and in front of the huge number of spectators
who travel to BTCC meetings will be out of this world. We
are very grateful to TOCA which administers the BTCC for giving
us this opportunity.”
The Ginettas will add even greater variety to the BTCC support
package that already includes the hotly-contested Formula
Renault, Porsche Carrera Cup, Renault Clio Cup and SEAT Cupra
championships. And Dean believes the cars, powered by identical
1400cc engines and capable of 100mph, will provide the crowds
with plenty of thrills.
He added: “A British sports car series using front-engined,
rear-wheel-drive cars is fairly unique these days. They don’t
really rely on aerodynamics so stay close together through
corners meaning some very exciting racing. That will likely
become even more so as our young drivers sense an opportunity
to do well in front of the BTCC team managers and what are
Britain’s biggest motor sport crowds.”
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “We
are delighted to welcome Ginetta on board and I am sure its
championship is going to prove very popular among our crowds.
I’m particularly pleased that here we have a British
sports car manufacturer with a great heritage becoming a part
of Britain’s premier motor racing arena and in what
is also, of course, the BTCC’s own golden anniversary
year.”
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