During the Donington Decider weekend, Ginetta Junior front-runner Liam McNeilly was confirmed as the first driver on the grid for the 2023 GB4 Championship, with his family-run Fox Motorsport team also joining the series.
For both team and driver, it’s a first venture into single-seater racing, but there’s plenty of pedigree to suggest this will be a potent combination.
McNeilly has enjoyed two years in the hustle and bustle of Ginetta Junior racing, and a front-runner almost from the word go, finishing inside the top-three in both of his campaigns, taking seven wins and a total of 21 podium finishes.
Fox Motorsport meanwhile has established itself as a front-running operation in every category the Maldon-based team has competed in. Champions in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Ginetta GT4 Supercup, the team has also tasted victory in British GT, International GT Open and 24H Series, in addition to its successes in Ginetta Juniors.
With his campaign in Ginettas now at an end, McNeilly is now fully focused on his single-seater switch.
“I’m so happy to be moving into single-seaters for the next chapter of my career,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it and seeing what we can achieve next year.
“It’s going to be a challenge for the team and me obviously, the team hasn’t done any single-seater racing before, but I think with a good winter testing programme, I think we’ll be strong next year.”
The 16-year-old has already enjoyed stints in the Tatuus F4-T014 GB4 car, with several tests at the championship’s Bedford Autodrome headquarters. He’s looking forward to the start of winter testing.
“We’ve already had a good few sessions at Bedford, just getting used to the car. The amount of grip and power compared to the Ginetta Junior is immense and I can’t wait to get back in it.
“As long as we get a good strong winter testing programme and a lot of days, and some good seat time, that’s all I need. With slicks and wings I’m not used to it, but I’m sure we can get used to it pretty quickly.
“This is a good step up from Ginetta Juniors, everyone wants to go into single-seaters, and I’m really glad for the opportunity.”
