> Motorsport families join forces in Silver Cup entry
Ginetta Junior graduates Freddie Tomlinson and Joe Wheeler will contest this year’s Intelligent Money British GT4 Championship with Assetto Motorsport.
The Silver Cup duo have known each other since early childhood as a result of their fathers’ friendship. Ginetta is owned by Lawrence Tomlinson’s LNT Group while Peter Wheeler oversaw TVR from 1981 until 2004.
Both manufacturers also boast rich British GT histories thanks to their current and former owners. Now Freddie and Joe, aged just 17 and 18 respectively, are eager to add to Ginetta’s record number of GT4 victories aboard Assetto’s G56, which debuted in 2021.
Previous incumbents Mark Sansom and Charlie Robertson finished third in the Pro-Am championship last season but this will be the first time that a G56 has featured an all-Silver crew.
Tomlinson and Wheeler finished ninth and 10th, respectively, in 2021’s Junior standings. The latter remains with Assetto for a third season, albeit his first in multi-class racing, while Tomlinson moves across from R Racing.
“Ginetta is synonymous with GT4 so to represent my family’s company in British GT – just as my father did – will be a really proud moment,” said Tomlinson. “But Joe and I are also here to do a job. After a few years in Juniors we feel ready for the next step, despite being one of if not the youngest crew on the grid. We’ve known each other since we were toddlers but this is the first time that we’ll have worked together in a motorsport environment. I’m really looking forward to that aspect of it.
“I remember attending British GT as a kid and hoping that I might be able to race one of my dad’s cars one day. I’ve been around the TOCA paddock thanks to Ginetta Juniors, which is a big deal, but this feels like something different, something special that I dreamed of as a child. It’s a great fit, both on a personal and professional level.”
Wheeler added: “Perhaps some people will focus on Freddie’s Ginetta links but I think my existing relationship with Assetto will also prove invaluable this year. The G56 is very different to the Junior car and neither of us have any experience at this level yet, but at least knowing the team and how they operate gives us something to work with initially. Silver crews have achieved a lot of GT4 success in Ginettas so hopefully we can continue that run with the G56.
“I was born after TVR’s British GT heyday but my father absolutely loved it. The Speed 12, Cerbera and Tuscan all won races and are legends of this championship, so for me to now be on the grid… wow! Unbelievable.”
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of this season’s Intelligent Money British GT Championship on April 16 & 18.