Chicago Soft and The London Perfume Company Limited-backed youngster stuns series regulars on Ginetta GT Supercup debut.

Liverpool-based teenager Declan Jones produced an impressive performance to stun the series regulars on his debut in the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup at Oulton Park (10/11 June).

The 17-year-old went into the weekend with just a single day of testing at the wheel of his Ginetta G50, which was being run by series front-runners Century Motorsport.

Despite his relative lack of experience compared to his rivals, Declan was on the pace from the outset when on-track action kicked off with Friday testing, posting the quickest time amongst the G50 drivers by more than a second.

Maintaining that pace into Saturday’s qualifying session, Declan secured the G50 class pole in twelfth overall on the grid, putting in him the ideal position to showcase his talents in the opening race of the weekend.

Sadly, Declan’s hopes of challenging for victory in the opening 15 lap encounter came to nothing when a mechanical issue on the green flag lap
forced him into retirement before even taking the start, which also meant he was left at the back of the grid for race two.

Despite the disadvantage of his grid slot being on the uphill section of the Oulton Park start-finish straight, Declan made a solid start and
then set about working his way up the order – making up one position on each of the opening four laps.

Closing onto the rear of the car of Reece Summerfield, Declan made an impressive move at Cascades on lap nine to move into third amongst the
G50 drivers and 13th overall; a position he would hold through to the finish to secure silverware on his first weekend in the series.

“My pace in practice on Friday when the track was wet was really strong,” he said, “so I was confident that I could run towards the front. Qualifying went really well and I got a good lap in before I tried to really push, although I got held up and couldn’t improve my time. Despite that, I was still on class pole although the gap could have been bigger.

“The opening race was obviously disappointing but race two was fantastic. I had a lot to do from the back of the grid and it wasn’t easy to get the car away from the line because it was an uphill start, but it was a good race and I’m pleased to have finished on the podium on my first weekend.

“Given the amount of time I’d spent in the car before the weekend, there are a lot of positives that I can take away it.”

Declan, who is also competing in V de V this season, is due to make his next appearance in the Ginetta GT Supercup at Rockingham later in
the year.

Anybody that would like to get involved and support Declan should contact Kelvin Jones on +44 (0)7989 585186.