The Ginetta Challenge kicks off at Oulton Park this Saturday, with a full grid of G40 and G20 models squaring up against each other.
The Ginetta Challenge has been synonymous with full grids and close racing for many years now, but for 2011 it is set to be even better. A broader spread of the new G40 models to take on the older, yet lighter, G20 will add to the spectacle while the entry boasts newcomers, a former champion and a host of competitive drivers.
Mark Davies (Optimum Motorsport) was the Ginetta Challenge Champion in 2009 and spent last year at the wheel of a G50 in the TOCA-supporting championship. He drove a G40 at Snetterton last season and is set to contest a full season to try to add a second Ginetta crown to his CV, but is set to come under huge pressure from last year’s championship runner-up Sean Huyton (Academy Motorsport) who graduates to a G40 for 2011. Against them will be former Caterham champion Clive Richards (Colards Motorsport) and fellow former Caterham ace Neil Delargy, while Phil House heads the HHC Motorsport attack. House, a former double Volkswagen Racing Cup Champion should be on the pace in these cars, as will team-mate Richard Sykes and Ryan Ratcliffe (Piranha Motorsport) who steps up from the detuned G40s in the Junior Championship and former Renault Clio pedaller Mike Robinson (TCR).
The G20s won’t be outshone by their newer cousins and their battles will be as fierce as ever. Gary Simms, a Ginetta stalwart with GT, G50 Cup and G20 experience under his belt is set for another season and must be a favourite within the class in his Optimum Motorsport-run car. Stuart Pearson bagged a win at the end of last season and will be one to watch, while Matt Flowers will be another front-runner in his self-run entry.
Keep an eye, too, on the progress of Rick Parfitt junior as the son of the Status Quo rock legend makes his Ginetta debut in another of the HHC Motorsport fleet and will be keen to be up with the leaders rather than Down Down the field…
Practice takes place at 9am with qualifying at 11.30 for 15 minutes. Race one starts at 14:25 and race two at 17:20, both over 20 minutes.
