Flashman teams with Tollbar for Knockhill Ginetta Junior bow

Young autistic racing driver Flashman Finneran will team up with leading outfit Tollbar Racing this weekend when the Ginetta Junior Championship heads to Knockhill for the seventh meeting of the season.

Fresh from a solid performance at Snetterton earlier this month, the former kart star will now seek to push towards the top ten positions on what will be his first appearance at the challenging Scottish circuit - which is located in a picturesque setting overlooking the Firth of Forth.

Flashman’s performance at Snetterton came on a weekend where his family oversaw the running of his Ginetta G40, although he will now benefit from working with Tollbar during the upcoming Scottish meeting.

Headed by the experienced figure of former F3 engineer Mike Flounders, Tollbar has a long history of success in a range of championships, with BTCC race winner Rob Austin amongst its alumni.

Flashman will also run with a team-mate this weekend as a result of the agreement and he makes the long trip north from his Newmarket home in confident mood.

"Running with a team will really help me at Knockhill," he said. "It can be hard to learn things when you don’t have a team-mate so hopefully it won’t be as difficult when I get to Scotland because I’ve got someone to work with and the team has a lot of experience.

"I’ve not been to Knockhill before but I think it is a circuit that I’ll like. I have a test before the weekend to try and learn the track as much as I can and then I’ll do my best in the races.

"I’d like to try and get into the top ten and I think I have a good chance, but I’ll just have to see how it goes."

Prior to making the trip to Scotland, Flashman took on a starring role during a Ginetta media event at the Rockingham circuit near Corby.

Taking to the track with a number of passengers during the day as he carried out 'hot laps' for a lucky selection of friends and family, Flashman was able to thrill his supporters and give a first hand opportunity to witness his talents behind the wheel.

Flashman’s appearance at the event, and in the Ginetta series this season, has also resulted in another aspiring autistic driver signing up to take part in the Ginetta Junior Scholarship - leading to the possibility that he could join Flashman on the grid next year.

"The Rockingham event was fantastic and people who went out with Flashman commented on how impressive it was to be in the car with him," his father Ken explained. "It was great for Flashman to be able to show people what he can do in that way, and Lawrence Tomlinson and everyone at Ginetta should be applauded for putting the day on.

"It was also great to see that another young driver has been inspired by what Flashman is doing and we’re proud that he is now becoming an ambassador for youngsters with autism and showing them what is possible."


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