Media Release: Walkinshaw Set For Brands Hatch GP Debut With Century Motorsport

9/23/2011 4:49 AM EST

Following his impressive form at Rockingham where a stellar charge from the back of the grid equalled his best result so far with fifth in class, Walkinshaw will join former Ginetta G50 champions Century Motorsport for the final two race weekends of the Ginetta GT Supercup season.

Walkinshaw joined the fiercely competitive domestic sportscar championship over halfway through the season in August after building his own Ginetta G55 at Ginetta Cars HQ in Leeds.

The Oxfordshire racer proved his potential from the outset, delivering a pair of eighth place class finishes on his series debut at Snetterton as a privateer. Running with FML, he then qualified third fastest at Knockhill and took fifth in class in round 19 before matching that top season result at Rockingham.

Lady luck, however, has hardly been on Walkinshaw’s side preventing him from recording a full weekend of race results. An unavoidable spin on an oil slick put him out of the running for race one at Snetterton. Non-fault contact, clutch failure and a broken carbon intake ruined his Knockhill chances and a broken driveshaft left him on the start line for the opening Rockingham round.

Consequently the Oxford Brookes University automotive engineering student heads to Brands Hatch hoping to complete all three races under the auspices of Century Motorsport where Walkinshaw joins seasoned Ginetta racer, 2009 G50 Champion and Team Principal team-mate Nathan Freke.

Tackling the historic 2.65 mile Grand Prix circuit for the first time, Walkinshaw will be looking to make the most out of mid-week testing to get to grips with learning the track and continue the development of his self-built sportscar under the Century Motorsport awning.

The introduction of a new harder Michelin tyre compound for Saturday qualifying promises to make things even more interesting but the 20 year-old will take everything in his stride in his bid to climb the result sheets and score his first class podium before the season end.

Walkinshaw commented: “The penultimate series rounds at Brands Hatch should be pretty exciting. I’m really looking forward to my first race weekend with Century Motorsport as they have such a strong Ginetta pedigree.

“The Brands Hatch Indy circuit isn’t one of my favourites but I haven’t raced on the Grand Prix layout before, so that will be a new challenge I hope to enjoy. We have some good testing time scheduled in before the race which will be invaluable in helping set up the car. However, come qualifying we’ll be running on a completely new tyre compound without any previous track time, so that could throw up a few surprises throughout the field.

“I’m hoping for a bit of a change in fortune as I’d actually like to be able to finish all three races for the first time this season. I can’t quite believe my misfortune so far and circumstances beyond my control. They say bad luck comes in threes, so with my first three race weekends complete I hope I can now move on and get some good results in every race.”

The Brands Hatch race weekend starts on Saturday morning with the 20 minute qualifying session at 10:50 followed by round 23 of the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup at 15:05. The first of Sunday’s two 14 lap races will take place at 10:40 while round 25 will be televised live on ITV4 at 16:15.

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