Tom confirms step up to Ginetta Junior Championship 2016

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photos courtesy of Ebrey Photography Donington Park-backed racer Tom has confirmed he will be racing in the 2016 Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship with the experienced squad from Elite Motorsport. Wood dominated the F1-backed Formula Kart Stars Junior Championship in 2015, and the move up to Ginetta Juniors means the 14-year-old will race cars for the first time. Having enjoyed great success in karting since the age of nine, with multiple championship titles to his name, Tom was a finalist in the Ginetta Junior Scholarship in 2015, and has since enjoyed several test sessions at the wheel of a Ginetta G40 Junior machine, which boasts top speeds of 120 miles per hour and 100 horsepower. The move means Castle Donington native Tom will be competing in front of thousands of spectators in the 25 races across 10 rounds on all the UK’s top racing circuits, including Tom’s home rounds at Donington Park on 16-17 April, the first time he will have raced at his home track. Most of these Ginetta Junior races will be shown live on ITV4 in front of annual TV audiences of over 20 million, in a championship that has become renowned for producing motorsport stars of the future. Tom’s chosen race team, Elite Motorsport, based in Norfolk, has already enjoyed success in Ginetta Juniors, having won the Top Rookie title in the 2015 Ginetta Junior Winter Series, and will run two cars in the championship this year. Tom commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship with backing from Donington Park and newest sponsor, Cool Milk. It’s always been an ambition of mine to compete on the big circuits around the UK, and I’ve really enjoyed working with the team so far, and can’t wait to go racing, especially on my home track at Donington Park! It feels great to be stepping up to cars, and I’m looking forward to showing what I’m capable of in front of thousands of spectators.” Edward Ives, Elite Motorsport Team Manager commented: “We are really pleased to add Tom to our driver line-up for the 2016 Ginetta Junior Championship. His karting record demonstrates that he’s an incredibly talented young driver and I’m confident with our engineering and management support, he will develop strongly as the year goes on. Testing has gone well and he’s shown a lot of promise, so it should be a strong year for us.” Donington Park Managing Director Christopher Tate added: “We are thrilled that Tom will be making the move up to cars this year. He has had an exceptional career in karting and it was only natural that he should make the move up into cars, and Ginetta Juniors is a proven destination for young up and coming racers. Thanks to partners like Cool Milk, and as ever in search of further sponsors, Tom is now set to thrive this year. We obviously can’t wait to see him in action here at Donington in April.”  Tom’s season will kick off at Brands Hatch on 2nd/3rd April, before his home round at Donington on 16-17 April, with eight further race weekends following that.

Advertisement