As 2018 champion Adam Smalley moves up the Ginetta ladder to the GT5 Challenge, the team that guided him to the title Elite Motorsport are back to defend their crown. A three-car entry is led by James Hedley, who won the Ginetta Junior Winter Series at Brands Hatch back in November.





Each of the last six Winter Series champions have gone on to finish as overall champion or vice-champion the following year, so Hedley will certainly be one to watch as he shares an awning with second year contender Tom Emson and rookie talent Joel Pearson.





After finishing in the top six of the championship last season, James Taylor is the highest placed returning driver as he goes for the title with Richardson Racing. The Corby-based team are also entering Will Martin for his second season in the series and quick newcomer Casper Stevenson.





Lorcan Hanafin and Gus Burton impressed during partial campaigns last year and they are back for a full challenge this season with Douglas Motorsport. Bailey Voisin, Zak O’Sullivan and Freddie Tomlinson will be their team-mates and they are set to compete for the coveted Rookie honours.





Premiership Academy Racing return for their second season in the series with a quartet of Ginetta G40’s. Alongside rookie entrants Charlie McLeod and Molly Dodd, they will house the experienced duo of Ben O’Hare and Harry Dyson, with the latter having previously won here at Brands Hatch in 2017.





Ethan Brooks is the latest winner of the Ginetta Junior Scholarship, which has previously launched the careers of Jamie Chadwick, Daniel Harper and Stuart Middleton amongst others. The Essex racer is making his racing bow as part of a bumper six car entry from Total Control Racing (TCR).





Two more championship debutants join him in the TCR ranks, Will Rochford and Kuwait racer Haytham Qarajouli. Ethan Hawkey, Daniel Gale and Theo Edgerton complete the line-up meanwhile, each having gained some experience in 2018.





Two new teams join the grid this year. SVG Motorsport are experienced Ginetta racers and will run debutant Frankie Taylor, while In2Racing expand their presence in the BTCC support paddock with rookies Roman Bilinski and Josh Rattican, the latter in partnership with R-Racing.





The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is sure to serve up some thrilling racing this weekend at Brands Hatch and you can keep up-to-date with all the action via our social media feeds, @ginettacars.

Weekend Timetable:

Saturday, April 6 – 11.00 to 11.15, Free Practice; 14.15, Qualifying; 17.05, Race One

Sunday, April 7 – 12.10, Race Two (Live on ITV4)