THE LATEST RISING STAR TO EMERGE FROM GINETTA JUNIOR
Ginetta Junior has long been established as a good proving ground for drivers as they make their first steps from karting into car racing. And recent series graduates are among the star performers in the early stages of the other British Touring Car support categories.
While last year’s Junior runner-up Zak O’sullivan’s initial lead in British Formula 4 and Harry King’s impressive opening two events in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB were on the cards, the surprise ex-junior driver to star has been Gus Burton in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup.
Burton did not enjoy much success in his year and a half in the Junior class, often showing quick pace and running in the front group, but rarely able to convert that into strong results. In fact, Burton took just four podiums from his 41 races.
But he has already exceeded that tally after moving to the GT4 Supercup with Century Motorsport, instantly mastering the Ginetta G55. He has finished all six races on the podium and took his maiden win at Donington Park.
Burton admits squeezing his tall frame into a Ginetta Junior machine left him at a disadvantage, and his height is less of a factor in the more powerful GT4 Supercup car.
“Juniors wasn’t really a good year for me because of my height and weight,” said Burton, who still believes Ginetta Junior is a good learning category. “But it’s [the G55] got grip and speed – it’s great to get in a car with grip!”
Burton has been putting that increased grip to good use and is just three points behind leader Tom Hibbert in the standings. He says it was always the target to have a strong start to the season. “That was the goal and I knew I could do it, I put pressure on myself,” he said. “We were well prepared for this year, especially with the lockdown. But it’s going to be really tight.”
What makes Burton’s performances all the more impressive is that his fellow early-season title contenders – Hibbert and Will Burns – both have significantly more experience of racing the G55.
“That’s the comfort blanket for me because Burns has been in the championship for four years and so has Hibbert, while I’m still improving,” Burton added.
And if there is indeed more pace to come from Burton, he will stand a good chance of adding to the successes that Ginetta Junior graduates have gone on to achieve elsewhere.