2020 has been a different sort of year for everyone and it was not the season SVG were expecting. Early on there were doubts there would be a season at all. The Ginetta racing did not start until the beginning of August, but a full season was completed in only a few months.
Three rounds at each of the five events meant a 15 round championship was achieved. The team visited Oulton Park, Donington Park twice, Brands Hatch and Snetterton. SVG drivers competed in the GT40 Cup, Chairman’s Challenge, GRDC, GT5 Challenge and also Britcar.
2020 was probably SVGs best yet in Ginettas. They have enjoyed a lot of podiums, race wins and a series win. Young drivers Owen Hizzey and Rory McKean have been outstanding.
Rory, a winner of multiple karting titles in Kenya, was taking part in his first-ever year of car racing. It was always intended to be learning year for Rory, but it has been made harder due to covid restrictions preventing him from being able to do any testing.
Going into the first meeting Rory had not only not raced cars before, he had never sat in the Ginetta either. The first round resulted in a badly damaged car. A car ahead span off the track and smashed into Rory as it came back onto the circuit.
Strong and improving performances throughout the season culminated in a credible 8th overall in the championship, only four points less than the 5th place finisher. Without the first round accident 5th could so easily have been achieved. (Read more about Rory here.)
Owen completed two years in the JSCC before switching to SVG and Ginettas. Owens first year with SVG was a stellar one with nine visits to the podium from 15 starts. The season culminated in a race win at the last round at Snetterton and third place in the GT40 Cup championship.
Owen’s potential is clear and is backed up by him having been chosen for the Motorsport UK Acadamy. Only 27 people are given this opportunity. It is a talent development pathway that equips the UK’s most promising young drivers with the knowledge, skills and attitude needed to maximise their performance.
Mark Lee and Neil Wallace competed in the Chairman’s Cup championship with great success finishing first and third respectively. Graeme Bishopp and Stephen Moore ran in the GRDC category finishing third and fourth respectively.
SVG ran another Ginetta for Peter Spano in the GT5 Challenge which runs as part of the Britcar series. Running in the trophy category, this series consists of 20-minute qualifying sessions and two 50-minute races. They include a mandatory pitstop, allowing cars to be shared with two drivers.
After five rounds and ten races, Peter finished sixth overall in a field of 31 cars. He racked up five podium places, and most importantly, finishing every one of the races. Critically, in an endurance championship SVG had prepared a reliable car born out of their experience running Ginettas. SVG has quickly become a front running team in Ginetta racing, having only entered the series in 2016. It is seen as a friendly team, something that is often commented upon in the paddock at race meetings. It is the way they like to go racing and believe it is not just more enjoyable that way but beneficial too. The drivers work together in this environment and help each other to improve. Next year SVG hope to have another two Ginetta’s joining the fold – they are going to need a bigger transporter!
