Ginetta has become the third manufacturer to support SRO’s GT Academy initiative, which will run in the GT2 European Series next season.
Unveiled ahead of this year’s 24 Hours of Spa, the SRO GT Academy will reward the fastest and safest Silver-graded driver under the age of 30 in the 2026 GT2 European Series. The winner will receive a funded drive in a customer GT3-spec Mercedes-AMG in the 2027 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
On the eve of the race debut of its new G56 GT2 at Barcelona, Ginetta has become the latest manufacturer to support the GT Academy.
Currently, only drivers competing in Maserati, Mercedes-AMG or Ginetta machinery will be eligible for the prize, although SRO has teased on social media that additional manufacturers are set to join.
A similar scheme already runs in SRO’s FFSA French GT Championship, where the winning driver in 2026 will earn a seat on the 2027 GT2 European Series grid. The 2025 winner, Gaspard Simon, has received €150,000 towards a GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup drive for next season.
“Seeing a Ginetta proudly standing alongside the other factory GT2 marques is a vindication of our ethos,” said Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson. “We’ve long championed driver development; now, with SRO recognising GT2 as a gateway to GT3, the Ginetta family has even more purpose in shaping future champions.”
Mike Simpson, Ginetta Motorsport CEO, added: “At Ginetta, we believe motorsport should be a ladder and this partnership with SRO’s GT Academy ensures that a young Silver driver can truly travel from any level of motorsport all the way up to GT3. We’re proud to offer the GT2 stage as the next stepping stone in that journey.”
“I am delighted to share the news that Ginetta will join the SRO GT Academy next year and support the development of future racing talent,” concluded Stéphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder & CEO.
“We are very excited by the new ladder system that is being put in place and welcome the presence of another major name. Ginetta, Maserati and Mercedes-AMG all bring immense competitive heritage and a history of encouraging young talent. I am excited to see the next generation of GT racers that they will help to unearth.”
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
