Sexton finalists 2017
Motorsport Ireland has announced Charlie Eastwood, James Roe Jr and Jordan Dempsey as the three finalists for the prestigious Sexton Trophy award. Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Eastwood and successful Formula Ford 1600 racers Roe and Dempsey are in contention to win €50,000 (£44,300) towards their racing budget for next year. The winner will be announced next month.
Ginetta has announced a number of changes to its roster of championships for 2018, including a tightening of the engine regulations in the Junior series.
Three drivers from the leading JHR Developments team were initially excluded from the Thruxton round this year over alleged engine irregularities, before the team was later suspended from competing in Ginetta categories while its conduct was investigated.
Now all Junior drivers for 2018 will have to run a brand new engine from Ginetta in a bid to make certain they are equal, with the new motors being distributed at the media day. The cost of the new engine will be included in the entry fees for next year.
“At Ginetta, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure complete parity between the cars competing in our championships,” said Ginetta motorsport manager Ash Gallagher. “The Junior Championship is arguably one of the most closely-fought junior series in the UK, with 14 of this year’s races decided with a winning margin of under a second. We feel this next step in our scrutineering process will continue to uphold the level playing field and integrity our series is built upon.”
Other changes include the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club series switching to a one-day format for next year, with a concierge service available for drivers that will assist them in a number of ways, including with suggesting hotels and restaurants.
The GRDC+ series will also be renamed the G40 Cup with a ‘Chairman’s Cup’ added to both it and the GT5 Challenge for drivers aged over 45.
Testing rules in the GT4 Supercup will be tightened for next year too with all drivers unable to test at a circuit in the four weekends before a race there.