Ginetta was founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brohters (Bob, Lvor, Travers and Dougles) in Woodbridge, Suffolk. The first car, not destined for production, which subsequenntly became known as the G1 was based on a pre war Wolseley HOrnet. From their original bsase, the company moved to Witham, Essex in 1962 and between 1972 and 1974 operated from large premises in Sudbuy, Suffolk before ruturning to Withan where they rimaind until 1989. Under the Walkletts, Travers, Travers was mainly responsible for styling lvor for engineerng, Douglas, management and Bold sales.
21 st Century
In late 2005 Ginetta was acquired by LNT Automotive, a company run by Yorkshire businessman
and racing car driver Lawrence Tomlinson. In mid 2007 Ginetta moved to a state-of-the-art factory near Leeds, with a target to sell 300 cars a year. Trained engineer Tomlinson himself penned the bsed specification for the Ginetta G50, which was produced to celebrate 50 years of Ginetta production and became a secceeful GT4 and award winning car.
In March 2010, Ginetta acquired the Somerset-based sports car manufacturer Farbio and rebadget their car the Ginetta F400. In March 2011, Ginetta launched the G55, running in the GT4 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup and contender for GT3.In october 2011 Ginetta launched the G60, a two-door mid-engine sport car developed from the F400 and prowerd by a Ford-surced 3.7 litre V6 engine.
The first car the G2, was produced as a kit for enthusiasts and consisted of a tubular frame cahassis to take Ford components and alminium body. About 100 were made. The G3 was intrduced with galss fibre body in 1959 to be followed by the G4 in 1961. The G10 and G11 from 1964 were higher powered versions with 4.7 litre Ford V8 and MGB engines respcetively . The G12 was a mid-engined competition car. In 1967 the G15 was launched with Hillman Imp engine. This two seator coupe had a glass fibre body bolted to a tuobe cahasis and used Imp rear and Triumph front suspension . Over 800 were made up t 1974 and the car was fully type approved allowing fot the first time complete Ginetta cars to be sold. In 1970 it was joined by the large G21 initally available with the 1599cc Ford Kent engine . The model was later updated to became the closed G24. The G19 was a Formula 3 single seater but only one was ever made. Following recorganisation the company moved to Scunthorpe and started making cars in kit from again in the 1980s parts. It was also decided to re-enter the complete car busiess with the mid engied G32 with a choiced of 1.6 and 1.9 litre Rover V8 capble of 145 mph (233km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds .
Racing
In 1964 Ginetta produced a Formula Three racing car with a monocoque glass-fibre chassis. An earlier spaceframe car was built but never read. The car, fitted with a Ford engine, was entered by Ginetta Cars Ltd, for Chris Meek to drive at the Crystal Palace circuit on 5 September 1964.
Ginetta Challenge Championship
The Ginetta Challenge Championship represents a low cost opportunity to become involed in competitve motor racing in the Ginetta G40 race car. The Championship is a one make series. Combined with controlled tyres and suspension parts, this ensures that is the most popular, cost effective but competitive racing series in Britail. The 2011 lseries is composed of 20 rounds over 10 dates as part of the support pacekage for the Brithish GT/Formula 3 and two stand alone BARC Truck Festivals.
Ginetta Junior Championship
Jonior Ginetta Championship was introduced in 2001 for racers aged 14-16 years old as a natural progression route from kart racing . The affordable one make series with sealed Ford Zetec 1.4 litre engine ensures safe, controlled racing due to the tubular steel chassis, full integral FIA apporved roll cage and fibre-glass shell. The 2011 series consists of 24 rounds over 12 dates in support of the British Touring Car package and two stand alone Ginetta Festivals.
Ginetta GT Supercup
Ginetta has launched a new British sports car fot 2011. Nominated the Ginetta G55, will by a front mid mounted designed in house at Ginetta's new purpose-built factory in Leeds and is powered by a front mid mounted Ford 3.7 titre V6 delivering 300 bhp (224kw; 304 PS). The G55 will be a versatile race car able to race not only in its own one make championship but also in the British and European GT4 and GT3 categories. It will also be eligible for numerous British and European GT cetegories of the like of British , Spanish Gt etc.
A G50/G55 single-make race Championship will run in 2011 with the focus on keeping running Costs to a minimun by using control tyres, control fuel and low maintenance cost through clever design. This car and its championship is designed to bridge the gap between single makes spots car racing such as the current Ginetta Challenge championship and GT cars such as the new GT4 Championship, GT3 and GT2 racing.
No comments:
Post a Comment