Rawlings moves into Mini Challenge with Jamsport

Monoposto 1000 frontrunner Tom Rawlings will graduate to the Mini Challenge with Jamsport this year.

Rawlings will race the Mini JCW campaigned by champion Ant Whorton-eales last season, having tested the machine at Snetterton and Donington Park before Christmas.

Seventeen-year-old Rawlings, who was third in the Formula 1000 Junior Rally Championship in 2017, endured a mixed debut season in circuit racing last year.

He took multiple pole positions, won twice and claimed a total of five podiums from the six races he finished, but suffered from poor reliability on his Suzuki-engined Speads. He is focusing on a career away from single-seaters.

“We looked at Formula 4, British F3, and there was just nowhere really after that to branch off,” said Rawlings. “With this, you’ve got GT Cup, British Touring Cars – there’s a bit more opportunity.”

Rawlings is planning some warmweather testing overseas before the new season, and will join the alreadyannounced Harry Gooding at Jamsport, alongside returnee Calum King and Excelr8 refugee Stuart Gibbs.

Luke Reade will also remain in the category this year, with the former Renault UK Clio Cup driver competing with Excelr8.

Cooper Pro class frontrunner Toby Goodman will race in the division again this season with Excelr8. He finished third in the standings in 2018.