Jude Peters has emerged victorious as the 15th recipient of the esteemed Ginetta Junior Scholarship, securing a fully-funded season in the highly competitive Ginetta Junior Championship for the upcoming year.
The 2024 prize package for Jude Peters includes all entry fees, the use of a G40 Junior race car for the entire season, a season supply of race tyres and fuel, and professional car preparation from an experienced team.
The event unfolded over three intense days at Ginetta’s Blyton Park circuit in Lincolnshire from October 27 to 29, featuring a pool of 60 talented young drivers vying for one of the most coveted prizes in UK motorsport.
A distinguished panel of judges, led by former Ginetta factory driver Charlie Robertson and comprising 2017 scholarship winner Adam Smalley, two-time Ginetta champion Jack Mitchell, Max Coates, Ben Green and Scott McKenna, plus experienced racer James Gornall.
The participants faced a series of challenging assessments, including driving evaluations, fitness tests conducted by Ginetta’s personal trainer Richard Chessman, and media assessments evaluated by motorsport commentator Richard John Neil.
Following two days of highly competitive qualifying, 23 drivers advanced to the final day, where the field was narrowed down to 12, then six, and finally the top four. After a last thrilling run in the Ginetta G40, the judges made their decision, naming Jude Peters as the 2024 Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner.
Jude Peters expressed his surprise and excitement, stating, “I really wasn’t expecting to win the Scholarship. We came along thinking it would be a good opportunity for me to gain experience in the car, with the media and the fitness, but we never thought about winning it.”
Peters added, “I’m so happy to have won. I will be looking to represent Ginetta in a professional way, do as best as I can through the 2024 season and prove that you don’t necessarily have to do karting to be successful, and can progress through sim racing like I have.”
Kelly Edmund, Ginetta Events Manager, and Ginetta Junior Scholarship juror, commended the high level of talent displayed by the young drivers, stating, “It was such an enormously competitive field this year and Jude’s consistency really stood out, both on track but also in the media and fitness assessments. He is a hugely deserving winner who will be a welcome addition to the Ginetta Junior Championship grid next season.”
Jude Peters now joins the prestigious list of Ginetta Junior Scholarship winners, including three-time W Series victor Jamie Chadwick, Dan Harper, and Adam Smalley, who have gone on to achieve success in the British GT and Porsche Carrera Cup GB championships respectively.
Peters is set to make his debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire over the Easter weekend next year (March 30-April 1), continuing the legacy of excellence fostered by the Ginetta brand in shaping the future stars of motorsport.