ASSETTO THE LATEST TEAM TO JOIN THE GINETTA JUNIOR WINNERS’ CIRCLE
For much of the past three years, the
Ginetta Junior victories have been shared by the leading Elite Motorsport and R Racing squads, with some triumphs for the Fox Motorsport and Richardson Racing outfits. But now there is a new name among the winners’ circle following Harri Reynolds’ Donington Park brace.
Assetto Motorsport was founded by 2000 Renault UK Clio Cup champion Jim Edwards Jr and his son-in-law Simon Traves in 2017, originally successfully competing in the Ginetta G40 Cup. But, for 2020, the team expanded into Ginetta Junior with a single entry for Joe Wheeler. Four cars followed for 2021, including Reynolds, and the operation continues to run four drivers this year.
Prior to last weekend, Assetto’s best series result was third, but Reynolds bettered that in style by winning race two in Leicestershire. Edwards then noted how the successes were “like buses” as his young charger doubled up in the finale. “It’s so nice to see the rewards of the hard work,” said a delighted Edwards of the victories. “We’re a family team and I’m so pleased for everyone involved in Assetto Motorsport.”
Reynolds’ impressive weekend – he was also in contention for the win in the opener before ultimately finishing third – therefore means he has grabbed the initial points lead.
But Edwards is not getting carried away by the early-season success.
“We’re keeping our feet on the ground – we’re racing against such well-established teams in the championship,” said Edwards. “We won’t take anything for granted, we will keep our heads down but this is such a long championship.”
There may be a long way to go, but it was a thrilling start to the season, with Edwards describing the Donington action as “a great advert for the championship”. “They put some of the adults to shame!” he added of the teenagers.
But the team’s 2022 campaign is about far more than Ginetta Junior, with the squad expanding into GT3 racing for the first time. “We’ve got an involvement with Jade [Edwards’ daughter] in touring cars, we’ve got the Bentley in GT3, we’ve got drivers in the Ginetta GT Academy – we’ve got so much going on,” Edwards said.
Preparing for a possible Ginetta Junior title campaign is therefore just one element of Assetto Motorsport’s hectic season ahead.