Ginetta developing new GT2 model

SRO's GT2 platform looks set to receive a boost in the form of a new model from UK sportscar manufacturer Ginetta.

Mike Simpson, Ginetta’s CEO of motorsport, has revealed to RACER that the company is developing a car that is scheduled to make its debut later this season in the SRO GT2 European Series.

The new GT2 from the Yorkshire-based company, which specializes in producing GT cars for the grassroots level of racing, is an evolution of its GTX model. That car made its race debut last year, winning the 2024 24 Hours of Dubai and the Middle East Cup.

“We announced that the GTX was coming, with a trial invitational race at Spa last year. Now we are a long way down the development plan for our GT2 car from that,” Simpson said.

“The car, which shares the core G56 chassis that is common across the Spec GTP8, GT4 Evo and GTX, boasts significant changes from its counterparts. It has a lot of power, a completely new front end with high levels of downforce and reduced drag.”

Ginetta hopes that its forthcoming car will appeal to both track day enthusiasts around the world and boost SRO’s GT America and GT2 European Series grids. 

To this point, the GT2 European Series has been the most prominent place to feature the cars in competition. While it has struggled to maintain healthy grids season to season since its inception in 2021, it has supported entries from teams racing with Audi, KTM, Maserati, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche's GT2 products, plus invitational cars from Brabham, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Simpson and Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson believe they can help put the GT2 ruleset on an upward trajectory with their forthcoming challenger, in a similar manner to their support for the very early days of GT4 and LMP3.

“GT2 for us is a fun place to be,” Simpson said. “They’re fun cars to drive, and in the European Series, you’re up against nice people, and you’ll have a great weekend. It’s a customer market, it’s not a place where a team will buy a car, it’s a place where amateurs buy it. There are a lot of people we can go to that would want to buy our GT2 and have a lot of fun.

“We see it as a huge opportunity for Ginetta to develop a mega bit of kit for amateur drivers. Look at the USA, race clubs like Thermal. This will be a great track car, and you can also race in an SRO series. It’s versatile.”

The pre-production prototype of Ginetta's GT2 is well into the build phase, with an initial batch of 10 cars set to be produced over the next year, with five of those to be manufactured before the end of 2025.

“Mechanically, we know a lot of it. After the GTX program, the main focus was a weight-saving exercise to meet the desired power-to-weight ratio of the championship,” Ginetta technical director, Clive Seddon, said.

“It will have a carbon body, a newly designed front bumper/splitter combination adding strength and downforce, with a new cooling package that will significantly reduce drag results. Behind the front wheels, a big emphasis has been on the utilization of turbulent air flow, which is now distributed to maximize efficiency in the new side sill and floor.

“The powerplant will also be different. Utilizing the in-house built 6.2 V8, it is coupled for the first time with forced induction, giving a significant power and efficiency increase. Dyno testing has produced nearly 800 bhp, proving the capability of the engine package. It will now be detuned to maximize fuel usage and hit around the target 630 bhp.”

Simpson, summarizing the new car, added: “I think we will offer a fantastic GT2 car, that is built to do the job and fit the SRO commercial requirements perfectly. It will be in the cost window, but people pay for what’s right. This doesn’t come from an expensive road car platform, which helps.

“GT2 holds a special place in LT’s heart with the 2006 GT2 Le Mans 24 Hours class victory. We will very much enjoy this car, as will the GT2 European Series.”