2019 Review: Ben Kasperczak and Frankie Taylor

A number of drivers ran in single car teams or as privateers in 2019 but only two, Ben Kasperczak and Frankie Taylor, completed the season as such.

Kasperczak was one of the last drivers to join the championship before the start of the season. Initially racing with In2Racing, the former Junior Saloon Car racer got a slow start to the season.The opening three rounds were particularly difficult as Kasperczak – who hadn’t tested the car before the start of the season – got to grips with the machinery and the championship.

He eventually broke into the top 10 at Croft, but it wasn’t until after the summer break that top 10 finishes became regular.

Running as a privateer from the Croft weekend onwards, Kasperczak began to regularly challenge at the front of the field, and picked up his first rookie podium at Knockhill.

The opening Knockhill race was the rookie’s best result of the season, and one of his best races. Kasperczak spent most of the race in a battle with Lorcan Hanafin and Joel Pearson, both drivers with more experience fighting at the sharp end of the field. He triumphed against both to take fifth overall and third on the rookie podium

Kasperczak still faced an up and down second half of the season, with a number of retirements hindering his progress. But, overall, he showed huge improvements throughout his rookie year, which will undoubtedly continue if he returns in 2020.

Frankie Taylor initially ran under the SVG Motorsport banner, a team with experience in other Ginetta championships, before switching to Team HARD in the closing stages of the season.

Taylor rose to the challenge of being part of a one-car team – which often has more disadvantages than advantages – and often brought the fight to some of the bigger teams in the lower half of the field. Though he only took one top 10 finish, Taylor was one of the most consistent rookies, finishing inside the top 15 more often than not.

2019 was a learning year for Taylor and, while he may not have been at the front of the field, his experience will be invaluable in the upcoming season.

Image Credit: Caroline Rhea

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