Elf Renault Clio Cup front-runner Mike Robinson has announced he will switch to the Ginetta Challenge for 2011. Robinson will stay with Total Control Racing for the move, making it his fourth year of competition for the Wednesbury-based team.
The 28 year old enjoyed three seasons in the Clio Cup, finishing in the top six of the championship over the last couple of years. He has now decided to try and something different for the new season and will race a Ginetta G40 in the series, which supports the British Formula 3 International Series and British GT Championship series.
Robinson is looking forward to the new challenge and hopes he can challenge for the title and the prize of a funded drive in the 2012 Ginetta GT Supercup.
Robinson said: “I'm really looking forward to racing in the Ginetta Challenge. I had the chance to test the car at Silverstone briefly last year and it felt great, I could tell Ginetta wanted to produce a really top class car. The eventual champion is also being offered the chance to race in the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2012 so that will attract a number of really good drivers I'm sure.
“As soon as I made the choice to compete in the Ginetta Challenge I knew I wanted to continue to be part of TCR. They are one of the most successful and experienced teams in the Clio Cup and after seeing how quickly they hit the front of the Ginetta G50 Cup over the past two years, I know they will give me a car capable of winning in the Ginetta Challenge.”
The new deal will be TCR's first run on the F3/GT Package and the team are hoping to impress on yet another package as it looks to expand away from its home on the British Touring Car Championship package.
Team principal Lee Brookes said: “We're delighted Mike is staying with us for his move into the Ginetta Challenge, it's an exciting time as it marks a new venture for us and also a new chapter in Mike's career. He's been a very strong, consistent front-runner in Clios over the last couple of years and we're sure he'll be a real threat for the championship this year in the Ginetta.
“Since we sampled the Britcar GT race at the end of last year, we've been looking at a range of opportunities to expand the team's operations. To be able to go into a different championship with a very talented and quick driver like Mike is a huge bonus, I'm confident we'll be very competitive.”
