Report courtesy of Simon Hill

In one of the most thrilling races of the Total Quartz Ginetta GT5 Challenge, 18 year-old Brad Bailey took an unexpected victory in the final race of 2012 at Donington Park last Sunday, his first in the series and first since he began circuit racing in 2010.

Former Junior Rallycross Champion Bailey began racing in the Ginetta G40 Junior series in 2010, taking several Podiums and Pole Positions in 2011 before moving into the ‘Senior’ Ginetta G40 series at the beginning of this year.

After almost taking Podium finishes at Silverstone and Snetterton, Bailey knew that the Paul Bailey Cars entered machine would need to be spot-on for him to round out the season with a top-three finish, and free practice on Friday gave the team confidence that they would be on the pace.

Qualifying proved to be super-close, as the top seven drivers were covered by just 0.5 seconds over Donington’s full Grand Prix loop, with Bailey taking 7^thon the grid for races one and two, but confident the race pace would be strong.

“Donington’s a track I really like but it’s the first time I’ve driven the full Grand Prix Circuit, in Juniors we used the shorter National Circuit, and the Melbourne Loop and Gerards are really tricky corners so I’m pleased to be on the pace. I usually race well here so think we can go forward – and there’s usually some chaos too…I just hope I can avoid it ‘cos too many times this year I’ve been on the receiving end of things!”

At the start of race one Bailey good a good getaway and was in the thick of the action, with a battle developing with Rick Parfitt – son of the Staus Quo rocker – which raged throughout the race,  with Bailey maintaining his 7^th place to the flag.

“That was a good start – the car should be really good for race two – we always seem to get stronger as the race goes on – and in each of the later races in the weekend. I had a good scrap with Rick, and it’s all in one piece so we’re in good shape!”

With Graham Johnson missing from the grid, Bailey was promoted a place and started 6^th for race two, and again was immediately in the mix, fighting hard with Parfitt as up front Luke Davenport hit problems and ended up in the gravel early on.

Now running in closer to the leading pack in 5th, Bailey was putting in stronger and stronger lap times and looking good to get in the mix for the battle between Ratcliffe, Robinson,  newly crowned Champion Sean Huyton, and William Burns.

As the race progressed  it looked as though things were getting pretty fraught up front, and as Ratcliffe edged away slightly, Huyton lunged inside Robinson at the Melbourne Hairpin, the pair tangled and Burns was caught up in the melee too.

Reading the situation perfectly, Bailey sliced past on the inside and up into 2^nd place!

With only a couple of laps remaining Bailey pushed hard and began reeling in the leader, closing down Ratcliffe to get within striking distance of the Welshman – a former Ginetta Junior rival – who had already Won race one.

At the end Bailey was to cross the line just 0.3 behind Ratcliffe with the second fastest lap of the race, delighted to have taken his first Podium in the series, to back up the double Podium at Snetterton in August in his debut in the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup in a Ginetta G50.

 However there was to be a dramatic twist after the race…..

Earlier in the race when fighting with Huyton and Robinson, Ratcliffe was reported for overtaking when the Yellow Flags were being waved – strictly prohibited and taken very seriously by the officials.

Hence a surprised but delighted Bailey was sportingly presented with the Winner’s trophy by Ratcliffe who was excluded from the results for his misdemeanour.

“It was a mega race throughout – really good battle with Rick then after I got into 2^nd place I was pushing like mad and catching Ryan all the way – another couple of corners and I think I would have got past him anyway.

I’m so, so pleased to have ended the season like this – we are just a family run team – my Dad Paul, my Mum Michelle, me and my engineer Glen Gower all just get on with it – I prepare the car myself and Dad and Glen do a mega job running it. I wouldn’t be out racing without my Dad’s support so this is for him, my Mum and Glen – who has had a really tough time personally as his Mum was taken seriously ill over the weekend – they are all mega and I’m really proud of them all”.

Bailey will focus on a title challenge in the series in 2013, but for now will enjoy his victory, proving at Donington that The Only Way is Essex!

Report courtesy of Simon Hill

After taking his best-ever finish racing in the Ginetta Challenge in his Ginetta G40at Snetterton recently, Essex racer Brad Bailey made a welcome return to the BritishTouring Car paddock when he made his debut in a 300bhp Ginetta G50 – again atSnetterton – taking two superb podium finishes in the Paul Bailey Cars run machine.

Making the step up to a car with twice the power of his regular race car, Bradimmediately looked at home during free practice, putting in ever-quicker times andsurprising the regular runners with his pace considering his lack of experience.

On Saturday morning in qualifying Brad put in some strong laps to qualify anencouraging 4th, starting the 7 lap race feeling confident of his race pace.

A furious battle with his former Ginetta Junior driver Louise Richardson – a raceWinner at Thruxton – saw positions swap between the two, and a late race mistake byher saw Brad sweep home to take a fantastic 3rd place in his debut race!

“I had a run in the car the other week, then we put in some good times in free practice,and racing with Louise was great fun. I am so, so pleased to get on the podium in myfirst ever race – the team have done a mega job and Ginetta have been brilliant!”

With grid positions for race two decided by the finishing order of race one, Bradcontinued his battle with Richardson, but this time Louise’s year-and-a half ofexperience told and she edged ahead, Brad taking a strong 4th in class.

For the final race of the weekend – live on ITV4 – some fierce battles ensuedthroughout the whole Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup pack, with championship leaderMark Davies edging away leaving the rest of the pack to fight over Second place.

With Richardson and Rob Gaffney hitting problems it was a delighted Brad Baileywho lapped quickly and consistently to take a fantastic Second place, despite a race-long battle with regular G50 racer Reece Somerfield.

“To get a second and a third in my first-ever weekend in the Michelin Ginetta GTSupercup is incredible – I had a mega scrap with Somerfield in the last race, and wegot some great TV coverage on ITV4 – so I am really, really happy! I wanna thankmy Dad Paul and Mum Michelle and of course the team for all their support!”

Brad completed his second full season of the Ginetta Junior Championship with a double pole position in the last 2 rounds of the championship held at Silverstone.  Brad showed a strong pace in both races but, as with much of the rest of the season, Brad’s efforts were thwarted by incidents caused by reckless driving on the part of other competitors.  Indeed, the story of the season was again played out in the final race, with Brad holding firm at the front and looking good for a podium 3rd place finish, only for team mate George Gamble to make a lunge up the inside on the penultimate corner of the final lap – ending with Brad being punted off the track. Gamble was penalised with a fine and penalty points, but Brad lost a podium place he really deserved.

Despite the season’s bad luck, Brad still managed to finish in 9th position in the Championship overall – and his skill and pace was widely acknowledged up and down the pit lane.

Brad, now 17 years old, no longer qualifies to compete in the Junior class and so will look at other Championships to continue his racing career next season – hopefully finding a class that better suits his driving style, with a more professional, mature and considered level of competitor.

The 7th and 8th rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championships were held last weekend at Oulton Park.  Brad, having finish a season’s best 4th in both races at Thruxton, was keen to be at the sharp end of the field again, but it wasn’t to be.

Qualifying on the Saturday saw Brad struggle for set up and pace, leaving him in mid-field grid positions of 8th and 11th for the two races respectively. It was going to be a tough task from there, but in round 7 on Saturday, Brad made his way to 6th place, which was a position he held until the last lap when a coming together with Max Coates saw him demoted to 7th place.

Sunday’s round 8 race again saw Brad make his up up through the field, only for him to be hit and sent into a spin. Brad got back on the track, and in a short 8 lap race did well to fight his way back up to 12th.

The next rounds are to be held at Croft in two weeks time.

Brad passes Collins to take 4th place

Brad competed in rounds 5 & 6 of the Ginetta Junior G40 Championship at Thruxton circuit in Hampshire last weekend. Having had bad luck and previous rounds at Brands Hatch and Donington Park, which left Brad with lowly point finishes, the team were anxious to see Brad finish at the sharp end of the order.

Brad again put in consistent qualifying laps to earn 5th position on the grid for both races. Race 1 saw Brad battle out 4th place with Myles Collins, and eventually Brad overhauled Collins with a few laps remaining.  However, by then, third place Max Coates was too far ahead for Brad to mount a challenge for the podium, but a 4th place finish was a real boost and laid to rest the disappointment of the previous rounds.

Brad's a front-runner at Thruxton

The second race, round 6 on Sunday, saw Brad move up to 4th in the early laps and then hold off a strong challenge from Struan Moore to equal Saturday’s seasons best result.

The strong haul of points from the two 4th place finishes lifts Brad to 9th place in the Championship, ahead of team mate Sennan Fielding.  The next round takes place at Oulton Park on 4th and 5th of June.

REPORT by Chris Manning

WHEN is the bad luck afflicting young Maldon racing driver Brad Bailey going to end? Competing in the Ginetta G40 Junior championship, one of the British Touring Car Championship support races, the 16-year-old again suffered cruelly at the hands of others.

At Donington Park he qualified fifth on the grid for his first race on Saturday and was pushed into the gravel on the penultimate lap ending a points scoring finish.

His second race on Sunday saw him line-up third on the grid, a place which he held for the first five laps.

Ludicrous

But on lap eight fellow competitor Charlie Robertson attempted a ludicrous overtaking manoeuvre with Brad ending up in the gravel trap from which he recovered to finish in 14th place.

George Murrells, from Danbury, racing his Ginetta G55 finished fifth on Saturday went on to improve on Sunday saw him pipped at the post to finish third. Third place on the grid for his last race saw him slip back to finish in sixth place but hold on to his second position overall in this hotly-contested Championship.

Brad competed in rounds 1 and 2 of the Ginetta Junior Championship last weekend, and despite much promise, left the Indy Circuit feeling pretty battered and bruised.

A fantastic test on the Friday was translated into a breathtaking qualifying session on Saturday, which saw Brad head of the times for much of the session.  As the session ended, Brad eventually claimed 4th place on the grid for race 1 and 3rd place for race 2, a far cry from mid-order positions from last season, and confirming that Brad will be at the sharp end of the field in 2011.

However, race day proved to be a day to forget.  Brad again showed his promise, making his way up to 2nd place in the early part of race 1 before the race was stopped due to an incident. At the restart, Brad held his ground and challenged the leaders before being punted off the circuit by William Foster.  Foster was penalised after the race but that proved little consolation from Brad, with a heavily damaged car and bruised back and neck.

The TJ Motorsport Team worked tirelessly to ready Brad’s car for race 2, a Brad took his place on the second row of the  grid, only to find himself towards the back of the order after a spin at Graham Hill bend.  Brad eventually made his way up to 10th place to equal last season’s best finish, but clearly with a little less bad luck Brad will be challenging the top positions in future races.

The action now travels to the Midlands with rounds 3 and 4 of the Championship being held at Donnington Park on 16th and 17th April.

Croft racing circuit near Darlington staged rounds 9 and 10 of the Ginetta Junior Championship last weekend. Croft was a circuit that featured in the Junior Rallycross Championships and so there was some familiarity that Brad could benefit from (despite the Ginetta Juniors racing on 100% tarmac of course).

However, the weekend proved to be incident packed. After qualifying in a slightly improved 18th and 16th positions on the grid for the weekend’s two races, Brad’s car was badly damaged in Saturday’s race as it was rear-ended in a heavy shunt when Brad rejoined the track after a spin on the infield. Despite heavy damage to the car, Brad still managed to finish the race in 17th place.

The team made a remarkable effort o make the car presentable and race-ready for Sunday. Unfortunately, Brad was involved in a first corner incident and was launched air-bound leaving Brad at the tail-end of the field. Never to be deterred, Brad fought is way up from the back of the field to finish a credible 15th place.

The team now has the benefit of a summer break to further straighten out the car and get some testing in before the championship resumes with rounds 11 and 12 on 7th and 8th of August at Snetterton.

The Brad Bailey Racing Team made the journey from Thruxton on Easter Sunday night to compete in the second round of the BTRDA Junior Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill.

Brad takes Paige Bellerby down Hairy Hill at Lydden

As in round 1 Brad was briefly challenged by Paige Bellerby in both heats, but Brad was patient and took victories in both heats, setting himself up for pole position for the A final.  Again Paige put up a good fight, but Brad’s experience shone through to see him win the A final by over 5 seconds, despite a problematic clutch.

Brad now leads the championship by 6 points having won rounds 1 and 2, but won’t be completing in the next round at Knockhill as this clashes with the Ginetta Championship event at Rockingham. Brad will be back in Junior Rallycross action at Blyton on 9th May.

Brad took part in his first competitive race meeting of the 2010 season on 6th March 2010 at Lydden Hill race circuit in Kent. The venue played host to the first round of the BTRDA Rallycross Championship and Brad won all 3 heats before winning the A final comfortably from newcomer Paige Bellerby. After the long winter break Brad was glad to get back to winning ways.

The next outing will be unfamiliar territory as Brad switches cars and his attention turns to contesting his first ever Ginetta Junior Championship race, with the season opener at Thruxton on Easter weekend.