Race winning Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge squad Total Control Racing will field a mix of youth and experience in the headline G40 Class this year after concluding deals with car racing rookie Callum Pointon and seasoned campaigner Neil Delargy.
Teenage racer Pointon, from Cheddleton in Staffordshire, arrives fresh in cars this year off the back of a strong season in Rotax Senior Karting. In 2011, the 18-year-old was fourth in the Rotax Junior class of the British Kartmasters Grand Prix, sixth in the Formula Kart Stars Championship and 14th in the Super 1 National Championship.
Its fantastic to be stepping-up into cars this year with TCR, the team has an amazing history and the guys are always at the front in any championship they compete in, said Pointon, Its going to be a big challenge coming straight out of karting, but Im really looking forward to learning as much as possible and hopefully being able to get up to speed as quickly as I can.
Delargy switched teams to TCR part way through the 2012 season and immediately noted a major improvement in the handling and performance of his Ginetta G40. Although some bad luck hampered the eventual results during his two race weekends with the Lee Brookes-led squad last year, he harbours hopes of challenging for a maiden category podium in 2013.
Last season was only the London businessmans second since a lengthy 16 year break from motor racing due to work and family commitments. Prior to his re-appearance in the sport in Ginettas in 2011, Delargy raced in Caterhams.
When I moved to TCR last year, the car was a completely different animal to what Id been used to and was a joy, he commented, I know with Lee and the team I have a car I can drive, in the wet Ive got the pace I just need to work on getting the maximum from it in the dry. I would love to get a podium this year, whatever happens I know I have a car that can deliver and a fantastic team too.
TCR has enjoyed great success in the ranks of the Ginetta GT5 Challenge since first racing in the series in 2011, taking Mike Robinsonwho is moving into the Britcar Production Cup with the squad this year along with team-mate Graham Johnsonto the Vice-Champions position last season.
Its great to be running in the Ginetta Challenge again this year and were delighted to have signed Callum and Neil, stated TCR team principal Lee Brookes, We all really enjoyed working with Neil during the final two race meetings last season, hes a great guy and were sure he has what it takes to be a consistent front-runner this year.
Its obviously Callums first year in cars but hes got a lot of good experience from karting, and hes had some great results there as well, so weve no doubts he should be a strong threat as the season goes on.
Oulton Park in Cheshire will host the opening event of the 2013 Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge on 30th March. The season will reach its conclusion in early October at Donington Park in the East Midlands.
