Charlie Robertson, the youngest ever finalist in the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, will make a welcome return to the British Touring Car Championship support package this year, having agreed a deal with HHC Motorsport to race in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup.The 17-year-old, who won the 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship title with Harrogate-based HHC, is turning his attention back to ‘tin top’ sportscar racing with continued key backing from long-standing sponsor Investigo.Charlie’s debut in Ginetta’s flagship UK category comes off the back of an impressive maiden season in single-seaters last year in the BRDC Formula 4 Championship. Ending the F4 campaign third in the driver standings, with three victories and six other podiums, the Whyteleafe racer justifiably earned a coveted slot in the end-of-year McLaren Autosport finals.Although initially considering a possible graduation into European single-seater racing for 2014, the Scottish teenager recognises the increased career potential offered by sportscar competition and is now determined to make an impact in the hugely competitive Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup.“It’s going to be fantastic racing on the BTCC weekends again and I’m really looking forward to being back as part of the Ginetta family, especially with Investigo’s continued support”, said the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Star, “We’ve thought long and hard about the best route forward for my career and we’ve settled on sportscars, the GT4 Supercup is the perfect place to learn.“We’ve obviously got a strong link with Ginetta, I started out in the Juniors in 2011 and won the championship in my second season and we’ve stayed in contact since. Formula 4 was great, I learned a lot and it was a fantastic experience, but sportscars offer a much more realistic opportunity for a professional career.”Charlie’s fourth season of car racing this year will also be his fourth with HHC, the Surrey teenager having established a tremendous working relationship with team principals Charlie Kemp and Jody Hemmings through two extremely successful years of Ginetta Junior and last season in BRDC F4.“Staying with HHC was always the plan”, added the Scotsman, “We’ve worked so well together over the last three years and Charlie and Jody run a fantastic team, they gave me a winning car in Ginetta Junior and Formula 4 and I know the same will be the case this year in the GT4 Supercup. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel now in testing.”The powerful, rear-wheel drive Ginetta G55 which Charlie will race this year is also eligible for racing in the GT4 class of categories such as the British GT Championship. Powered by a 3.7-litre, front-mid mounted V6 engine, the car punches out 370bhp – almost 200 horsepower more than the Formula 4 single-seater he raced in 2013.Speaking on Charlie’s return to the Ginetta ranks, company chairman Lawrence Tomlinson said: “We are delighted to welcome Charlie back to the Ginetta paddock, and it’s great to see him stepping up into the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup after claiming the Ginetta Junior Championship title in 2012.“It means we have yet another highly-competitive young driver on the grid, I have no doubt it’s going to be a closely fought and highly exciting season.”HHC Motorsport’s Charlie Kemp added: “We are delighted to welcome Charlie back for his fourth season with HHC Motorsport, we could not have asked for a better driver to join us as we look to make our mark in the GT4 Supercup in what looks set to be the most competitive year yet. Charlie has become a valued part of the HHC family and the whole team is looking at getting back to ‘work’ and putting him on the podium.”Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent, Charlie’s ‘home’ track, will host the opening event of the 2014 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup on 29th/30th March. Before then, the annual championship Media Day will take place at Silverstone in Northamptonshire on Tuesday, 11th March.
Click here for the Official Charlie Robertson web site - designed and built by Racecar
