Tom Wrigley has described his debut outing in the Ginetta G57 prototype as “an amazing experience” after the current Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup points leader showed impressive pace in the V de V Championship Four Hours of Le Mans.
Qualifying fourth overall around the Le Mans Bugatti circuit, Wrigley and team-mates Bradley Ellis and Andrew Cummings were firmly in the running for a podium finish throughout the first two hours of the race, but time lost for a gearbox problem dropped them to ninth at the finish.
The #52 finished as the second G57 on the road, with Lawrence Tomlinson and Mike Simpson taking overall victory in their Team LNT machine, while the CWS entry of Charlie Robertson and Colin White set the fastest lap of the race before suffering an early retirement.
“The whole weekend was epic. The car in incredible and each time I got in I was able to go quicker and quicker,” said Wrigley.
“I started the race in fourth and was able to get us up to second early on, and all the drivers were producing highly competitive times lap after lap.
“We lost thirteen minutes with the unscheduled pitstop due to the gearbox problems though, which was a shame as we definitely felt like a podium result was on the cards.
“These things can’t be helped though, and it takes nothing away from such an amazing experience. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity and thank you to Lawrence [Tomlinson] and Ginetta for giving me the chance.”
The victory for Tomlinson/Simpson marks the first win for the G57 in European competition and moves the duo up to second in the class standings ahead of the next rounds at Paul Ricard on May 20-23, with plans to run six G57 prototypes at the event.