|
British sports car manufacturer Ginetta launched a new championship in 2024 for its G56 GTA model.
The series is called the Ginetta Challenge 2024North American Race Series.
Ginetta was founded by the Walklett brothers in 1958. In 2005, entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson acquired the company and has grown it. Ginetta is also known for its driver development program. Alumni include Jamie Chadwick, the 2021 and 2022 W Series champion, and Formula One star Lando Norris. Ginetta has manufactured over 100 G56 GTA models since 2021. The car has a fully approved FIA chassis equipped with a high-performance race suspension and brakes. The G56 GTA uses a paddle shift with auto-blip, which controls the six-speed Quaife helical gearbox. The car also features a Motec LCD race dash, air jack system, air conditioning, and 18-inch diameter wheels with Pirelli tires. The Ginetta G56 GTA is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 Ford engine with a dry sump and race clutch. The motor produces 270 horsepower and 405 Newton meters of torque. Ginetta offers a prize purse of $20,000 to the top five drivers in the championship to encourage participation. In addition, the series winner will be awarded a free race weekend in a Ginetta G56 GTA during the 2025 British race season. The championship consists of ten rounds over five weekends.
The third weekend of the Ginetta Challenge 2024 North American Race Series was held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Drivers competed in two contests around the thirteen-turn 2.258-mile road course. The Ginetta Challenge cars were combined with SVRA's Groups 6, 8, and 12. A split start was used, with the Ginettas receiving the green flag first.
|
|
|
The first lap, Sunday morning, into Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's 'Esses' for round six of the Ginetta Challenge 2024 North American Race Series. The second-place starter, David Lecko, arrived at the corner first in the No. 89 Ginetta G56 GTA but carried too much speed and slid off the track. Fortunately, he stayed out of 'China Beach'; however, he was passed by the entire field before returning to the racing surface. |
|
|
Seth Henry swept the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course events. Henry qualified on the pole for the weekend's first event in the No. 44 Ginetta G56 GTA. On the first lap, he was passed by the No. 89 Ginetta G56 GTA driven by David Lecko. By lap 3, Henry was back in front and led the remaining ten circuits for his first series victory. On Sunday, Henry went flag-to-flag in treacherous conditions for the win and tops the championship standings. |
|
|
The No. 89 Ginetta G56 GTA is piloted by David Lecko. After four rounds of the Ginetta Challenge 2024 North American Race Series, Lecko has three runner-up results. He started on the outside of race one at the Mid-Ohio Sports Course and grabbed the lead on lap 1. Unable to hold off the pole-sitter, Seth Henry, he finished second. On Sunday, Lecko was first to arrive at the 'Esses' and spun. After a couple of more spins, he finished fourth. |
|
|
|
At the Ginetta Challenge 2024 North American Race Series opening weekend, Peter Heffring's best result was a seventh. The next event was at Virginia International Raceway, where his top finish was fifth place. The pattern had been set. The No. 77 Ginetta G56 GTA driver qualified fourth fastest for round fourth at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course but finished fifth. In the rain on Sunday, Heffring's performance was rewarded with a runner-up result. |
|
|
|
Gregory Arsenault drives the No. 04 Ginetta G56 GTA. He opened his 2024 campaign in the second weekend of the series at Virginia International Raceway with seventh and tenth-place results. At the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, he was gridded third for Saturday's contest. On lap-2, he lost the position to Mark Swain but retook it four circuits later for a third-place finish. Despite a spin in the final contest, Arsenault collected another third. |
 |
 |
 |
| FINISH | START | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Seth Henry | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 2 | 1 | David Lecko | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 3 | 3 | Gregory Arsenault | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 4 | 5 | Mark Swain | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 5 | 4 | Peter Heffring | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 6 | 6 | Eric Arms | Ginetta G56 GTA | 12 | - |
| 7 | 7 | Darryl Allen | Ginetta G56 GTA | 11 | - |
| FINISH | START | DRIVER | TEAM / SPONSOR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Seth Henry | Ginetta G56 GTA | 8 | - |
| 2 | 4 | Peter Heffring | Ginetta G56 GTA | 8 | - |
| 3 | 3 | Gregory Arsenault | Ginetta G56 GTA | 8 | - |
| 4 | 2 | David Lecko | Ginetta G56 GTA | 8 | - |
| 5 | 7 | Eric Arms | Ginetta G56 GTA | 7 | - |
| 6 | 6 | Darryl Allen | Ginetta G56 GTA | 6 | - |
| 7 | 5 | Mark Swain | Ginetta G56 GTA | 1 | - |
| Copyright Notice: |
| All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated. |
