Race Drivers Inc.

Ginetta Joins Forces With Race2Recovery To Support Our Heroes

Racing4Charity is pleased to announce that Ginetta has become the official title sponsor for The Celebrity Karting Challenge, to be held at the Autosport International Show on 12th January 2011.

The Celebrity Karting Challenge is organised in honour of Race2Recovery, a national charity which aims to rehabilitate injured British servicemen and women by supporting wounded soldiers in a series of motorsports events.

The generous sponsorship package, which has been brokered by joint organisers Race Drivers Inc., means the event will now become 'The Ginetta Celebrity Karting Challenge'. Managing Director of Race Drivers Inc. Baz Scott, who facilitated the deal said;

“It's absolutely fantastic news, the support offered by one of the UK's best loved motorsport names Ginetta, provides a synergy that would have been hard to match anywhere else.”

Head of Ginetta Sales and 4X Super 1 British Karting Champion; Mike Simpson comments

“Ginetta sponsoring the Celebrity Karting Challenge is a perfect synergy.  80% of the drivers that make up the Ginetta Junior grid have progressed from Karting.  We make sure we keep a close eye on future Ginetta stars that may rise through Karting and we're the proud title sponsors of the 2011 Super 1 Karting Series”

20 Teams will compete in the 1.5 hour endurance race with each team made up of four celebrities and 2 members of the public.  Confirmed celebrities taking part include top motorsport personalities, Le Mans champion David Brabham, triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, BTCC stars Gordon Shedden and Tony Gilham as well as Boyzone star-turned-pro-driver, Shane Lynch.

Ginetta Chairman and 2006 Le Mans Winner Lawrence Tomlinson will head up the first of 2 Ginetta teams competing Tomlinson will race alongside the 2011 Ginetta G55 Supercup Champion Adam Morgan.  The second Ginetta team will be led by 4X Super 1 British Karting Champion and 7X British Karting Grand Prix Champion Mike Simpson who will be joined by British Touring Car Championship star, Andrew Jordan and the 2011 Ginetta G50 Supercup Champion Tom Ingram.

Beamed around Europe courtesy of MotorsTV, the race will be started by current World Land Speed Record holder; Wing Commander Andy Green OBE – It will be preceded by a showcase of injured soldiers racing in specially adapted karts.

Bill Williams of Racing4Charity, the main organiser comments;

 “Events like this rely on the generosity and support of the industry. To have a name like Ginetta associated with the event means that this year's charity, Race2Recovery, will not only leave with great memories, but also a decent amount of cash to continue their endeavours.”

One of the founding members of Race2Recovery, Captain Anthony Harris adds; 

“For us it’s fantastic to be working with such an amazing racing car manufacturer. For them to be supporting us throughout this competition is just mind blowing.

“As always, we are genuinely so very grateful for the support we have received. We could not have gotten to where we are today without the support of the public. It never fails to amaze me how generous people have been.”

Race2Recovery aims to conquer something that hasn’t been tackled before, they pride themselves on allowing injured soldiers to prove to themselves that they can not only do ‘normal’ things, but also push themselves within the world of motorsport, to be the very best they can be.

Story : Ruth Harrison