Saddleworth student, Chase Fernandez, has been crowned the youngest ever winner of the coveted Ginetta Junior Scholarship, securing himself a funded season in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship next year.

The Ginetta championship has launched the careers of some of the world’s best known drivers such as F1’s Lando Norris.

Now, 14-year-old Chase Fernandez will follow in their tracks, racing next year in 23 rounds at circuits including Silverstone and Brands Hatch with the Assetto Motorsport team in a Ginetta G40 race car. 

The scholarship battle attracted 60 of the most talented young racing drivers aged 14-17 to compete for one of the biggest prizes in UK motorsport during the three-day event in October at Blyton Park circuit in Lincolnshire, with the entrants completing a number of driving, fitness and media assessments. 

A series of race circuit tests was led by Ginetta factory driver Charlie Robertson and a team of judges including two former winners of the Scholarship, Adam Smalley and Sennan Fielding, and current GT4 champion James Kellett.

Chase’s on-track driving skill shone through with the fastest lap times of the day even in treacherous wet conditions.

Off-track, ITV commentator Richard John Neil evaluated the teenage entrants’ media and communication skills, while F1 driver trainer Richard Chessman pushed their fitness and determination to the limits with a range of physical challenges.

Chase impressed the judges across all three days of the competition and on the final day was named winner of the 2023 Ginetta Junior Scholarship.

Steph Bush, Ginetta Championships Manager, said: “Every year we are hugely impressed by how talented the young drivers contesting the Ginetta Junior Scholarship are, and this year was no exception with a high standard being set across all the assessment areas on both qualifying days.

“We ended up with a high number of finalists and they continued to raise the bar. Chase stood out to our judging panel and is a hugely deserving winner. We’re very excited to have him racing with us next season.”

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