British GT4 Champion Stuart Middleton make European GT4 move with HHC and Ginetta

British GT’s youngest ever combined title-winners,Stuart Middleton and team mate Will Tregurtha now aged 17 and 18, will graduate to SRO’s continental GT4 championship with the same HHC Motorsport-run Ginetta G55 they used to claim this year’s domestic crown, while their new status as junior works drivers recognises an outstanding 2017 campaign that also saw both become BRDC Rising Stars, Tregurtha named MSA’s Driver of the Year, and Middleton win the Sunoco Whelen Challenge.

The GT4 European Series stages six events in five countries next season, including one on the pair’s home turf at Brands Hatch. Unlike British GT’s multi-class format, Tregurtha and Middleton will battle for outright victories and the overall championship in a category typically featuring 30-plus GT4 cars.

For Tregurtha, 2018 offers an opportunity to win a third title in as many years with HHC and Ginetta after he beat Middleton to the 2016 one-make Junior title prior to their British GT graduation together.

“I am extremely grateful to Ginetta,” he said. “Stuart and I are both focussed on becoming professional race drivers and this is a great opportunity to learn and develop. Having started back in 2014 at the Ginetta Junior Scholarship, both of us are good examples of what can be achieved through the Ginetta ladder.

“We don’t want to stop here though. I am determined to win Le Mans and it would be fantastic to do that in a Ginetta car one day. Ginetta have some exciting plans and I want to be a part of them. For now, it’s all about trying to win the GT4 European Series in 2018 in a Ginetta G55 with HHC Motorsport. HHC did a great job last season and I’m sure we will form a strong package again. 2017 has been an incredible year and this news is a brilliant way to finish it off.”

While Middleton was narrowly beaten by his co-driver in 2016, the 18-year-old’s CV also makes for impressive reading after claiming the 2015 Ginetta Junior Scholarship and Winter Series titles. And, just like Tregurtha, he’s eager to add another with the Yorkshire manufacturer next season.

“I am incredibly grateful for this amazing opportunity Ginetta have given both Will and myself,” he said. “Ginetta has been fantastic to me throughout my racing career and I wouldn’t be in this position I am in today without them. Ginetta introduced me to car racing with the Ginetta Junior Scholarship back in 2014, where I won the chance to race in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2015 and these past three years have been truly amazing, sharing my success with the Ginetta family.

“I must say what a brilliant and formidable team-mate I have in Will Tregurtha. Our team, HHC Motorsport, are fantastic and collectively I’m relishing the prospect this role will give both of us working toward developing a professional motor racing career.”

Ginetta’s Young Driver Programme will support its new additions in 2018 as they take their next steps towards a career in professional motorsport. Both will be offered the chance to participate in development roles including testing and shakedowns – giving them the opportunity to interact with and learn from Ginetta’s expert engineers and testing teams – as well as being used as instructors at Ginetta’s private Blyton Park test track. The pair will also act as brand ambassadors for Ginetta.