Five-year Ginetta deal for Robertson

Rising star Charlie Robertson will abandon his plans to graduate into LMP2 racing this year after inking a five-year deal to become a factory Ginetta driver.

The 19-year-old from Surrey was announced as a works driver alongside marque regular Mike Simpson last week. Robertson will join the Leeds outfit to head-up test and development of the new G57 sportscar, as well as taking on a coaching role. He is expected to race the G57 when its programme is decided.

Robertson won last year’s LMP3 title in the European Le Mans Series alongside Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy. The pair tested an LMP2 machine late last season, but any plans to move up will now be put on hold.

“I have to think about the bigger picture and becoming a factory driver for one of the world’s biggest race car manufacturers is too good a chance to turn down,” said Robertson.

“It’s disappointing that LMP2 won’t happen now. There still may be a chance for Le Mans if Nissan [Hoy’s main backer] decided to field a car for Chris. But there was a limited future in doing LMP2 and eventually the money and the chances would run out. This way I can have a full racing programme and get paid for doing what I love.”

The ex-mclaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist won the Ginetta Junior title in 2012 before lifting the 2014 GT Supercup crown.