Lifestyle: Motoring – Ginetta Racing Drivers Club; Jaguar; Jordan F1

BRITISH race and road car manufacturer Ginetta has launched its Racing Drivers Club. TheBusinessDesk.com’s Ellie Newton-Syms finds out what it’s all about.

The Ginetta Racing Drivers Club is designed for drivers with limited track experience – the invitation is extended to anyone with a road car licence. It’s an all-inclusive package which begins with the delivery of a new, road registered Ginetta G40 Club Car and includes everything from one-on-one driver tuition at dedicated track days and a National B racing licence, to entry into a four round racing championship, plus a number of exclusive member events.

Lawrence Tomlinson, the chairman of the LNT Group, which is based in Leeds and encompasses five businesses – Ideal Care Homes, LNT Construction, LNT Software, LNT Solutions and Ginetta – bought Ginetta in 2005. 2014 is Ginetta’s 56th year of manufacturing British race cars and Tomlinson runs his operation from a state-of-the-art, 75,000 sq ft factory. The company has grown to become one of the most significant players on the global motorsport scene, producing around 200 hand-crafted cars per year, for customers across the globe.

Ginetta recently held a track day at Oulton Park in Cheshire and TheBusinessDesk.com reader Amy Robinson tested the new Ginetta Racing Drivers Club car with her partner Scott Bevin. She trialled a G40 Club, alongside experienced instructors Adam Morgan, and British GT racer, Jamie Stanley.

The Racing Drivers Club already has an 11-strong grid, which includes Yorkshire’s Guy Redwood (founder of Simple Usability) and Peter Brook (managing director of both Oracle Finance and Lawton Brook) as well as retired airline pilot Andy Bradshaw and a team from the University of Bolton.

Tomlinson says: “The Ginetta Racing Drivers Club is an all-inclusive package designed to provide drivers who have limited track experience, with everything they need to begin competing in motor racing – from their own road legal Ginetta G40R, to tuition and their National B Racing licence. We understand many people need guidance when entering the unknown, which is why our track days with tuition are the ideal place to test the water.”

Ginetta has been building British road and race cars since 1958 and, as one of the few remaining British sports car manufacturers, is historically responsible for some of the most iconic race and road cars.

Employing around 55 staff, from car and engine designers to mechanical engineers and fabricators, Ginetta’s production line currently includes the G40 Junior car, G40 Senior car, G50 cup, G50 GT4, G55 Cup, G55 GT3, as well as the G40R ‘race car for the road’ and the G60 supercar, as well as the 2014 Ginetta Racing Drivers Club car.

Team LNT has competed at some of the world’s most prestigious long distance and historic race meetings including the Petit Le Mans in Atlanta, Sebring Florida, Goodwood Revival, Silverstone 24 hours and the 24 Heures Du Mans, with Lawrence winning the GT2 class in 2006.

Confirmed Ginetta Racing Drivers Club calendar for this year includes events at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby; Silverstone, Northampton; Snetterton, Norfolk; and Donington Park, Derbyshire.

Jaguar recruits David Beckham to boost Chinese sales

ONE is a dashing British sporting icon capable of running rings around the opposition; the other is a former footballer.

Jaguar in its quest to popularise the brand in its important Asian markets has enlisted the help of David Beckham.

The former England captain, one of the most famous faces in the world, has joined Jaguar as its brand ambassador in China. The collaboration will see the footballer support forthcoming Jaguar product launches in China and feature in above-the-line marketing campaigns for the brand.

Bob Grace, Jaguar Land Rover China Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that David will be an ambassador for Jaguar in China. David Beckham is a Briton whose achievements mean he has global popularity and he is someone who embodies contemporary British style and sophistication. He is a truly modern, British individual with a genuine passion for design, innovation, performance and driving.”

As part of a long-term partnership, Beckham will star in a series of print adverts and TV commercials exclusively in China.

His role will initially see him feature alongside the new Jaguar F-Type coupé. His role will develop and will see him feature in many Jaguar brand and product campaigns in the coming years, including those for the Jaguar XJ, the company’s flagship.

Beckham said: “I’ve always been an admirer of Jaguar – from the styling and design to the feel and roar of the engine, every element feels uniquely British. I love the classic E-Type of the 60s and today this legacy is alive in the F-Type, a car that epitomises British craftsmanship. It’s an honour to support a brand with such an amazing heritage and I look forward to being part of Jaguar’s exciting future in China.”
 

F1 enthusiasts offered the chance to own a piece of sporting history

ON the eve of the new F1 season, former team owner turned TV pundit, Eddie Jordan, is selling off two of his former cars to raise money for charity.

The cars, together with a collection of memorabilia, are being sold off with the proceeds going to CLIC Sargent and the Amber Foundation.

Jordan said: “These two F1 cars were kept because of their history, the good memories and what they meant to the team. But it’s time to let them go and the money will be used to good effect helping young people and their families cope with cancer (CLIC Sargent) and getting young adults back on the straight and narrow (Amber Foundation).”

The collection includes the first Jordan Grand Prix car ever built, chassis number 01. Designed by Gary Anderson, 191 is a highly significant car as it was driven by Michael Schumacher. It comes complete with the seven-time world champion’s original helmet, signed and given to Eddie Jordan personally by the driver to express his gratitude for his first Grand Prix racing opportunity.

The second car in the collection is the first Grand Prix winning Jordan – chassis 198. This car was driven to victory by Damon Hill ahead of team mate Ralf Schumacher in the 1998 Belgium Grand Prix and comes complete with the Constructor’s World Championship trophy won on that historic day, as well as Hill’s race suit and his helmet.