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Tom Lebbon

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Brands Hatch Indy

Lebbon crowned 2020 Ginetta Junior champion, Miller takes first win

by Bethonie Waring November 15, 2020

Tom Lebbon becomes the first Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner to take the overal Ginetta Junior title in his rookie season.

Lebbon came into the season finale five points ahead of title rivals Josh Rattican and Bailey Voisin after a time penalty for Voisin in race one.

Starting from the front row of the grid, Lebbon simply needed to stay ahead of his title rivals in order to take the title.

Race action was delayed after Will Vincent ran into the back of a stalled Freddie Tomlinson at the race start, then was hit from behind by Rowan Vincent. Despite heavy damage to Vincent and Tomlinson’s cars, all drivers were able to climb out of their Ginettas unaided.

The race was immediately red flagged and the field returned to the grid.

On the second start, pole sitter Josh Miller got a strong get away, and was pulling a gap to Lebbon when the safety car was brought out as Trennon Bettany slid into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend.

There was a lengthy safety car period to clear the vehicle, playing into Lebbon’s favour. Bailey Voisin had had a difficult start and dropped down to eighth on the opening lap, while Rattican hadn’t managed to find a way past Lebbon.

Action resumed with less than five minutes on the clock. Miller again got a strong get away, leaving Lebbon to fight with his title rivals.

Miller held Lebbon at arms length to take his maiden car racing victory, 0.674s ahead of his Elite Motorsport team-mate.

Voisin got a strong restart, immedietly pulling alongside Will Aspin in the battle for seventh. The pair came together and Aspin was forced wide, but managed to stay in control despite losing the position.

As Rattican brought a challenge to Lebbon, Voisin picked of Sebastien Hopkins into Druids.

The top three were running nose to tail heading into the final lap. Voisin managed a move around the outside of Rattican to take third, only for Rattican to fight back and reclaim the position.

Lebbon was just able to edge a small gap to Voisin and Rattican in the final corners as Voisin and Rattican ran side-by-side as they took the chequered flag. Rattican was 0.049s ahead of Voisin on the start-finish line, securing second in the championship standings.

Sebastian Hopkins held off Georgi Dimitrov to take fifth, while Tom Edgar finished seventh ahead of Tommy Pintos, Joel Pearson, and James Higgins.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Brands Hatch Indy 2020 Race 2

PR available: Ginetta Junior Update writer Bethonie Waring is available to supply PR and communications services to Ginetta Junior drivers and racers in other selected series. Visit the PR Opportunities tab for more details

November 15, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Brands Hatch Indy

Rattican victorious as championship fight tightens

by Bethonie Waring November 14, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Josh Rattican wins the penultimate race of the 2020 Ginetta Junior championship to make it a three-way battle for the title in tomorrow’s race.

Second place for Tom Lebbon leaves him just one point behind Bailey Voisin going into the final race of the season, with Rattican a further five points back.

Lebbon was the quickest starter off the initial grid, snatching second from Voisin and closing in on pole sitter Josh Miller for the lead. Rattican followed him past Voisin and stuck to Lebbon’s bumper, meaning Miller was shuffled back to third when Lebbon forced him onto the outside line.

Before Rattican could challenge for the race lead, the safety car was brought out as Tommy Pintos and Will Aspin ran into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend.

Pintos’ car was beached enough to bring out the red flags after a handful of safety car laps and the field lined up on the grid again.

Rattican got a good getaway on the restart, taking the lead from Lebbon before the first corner. The field didn’t get much further before the safety car came out again, this time for Trennan Bettany, who ran into the gravel at turn one.

The incident was cleared without the need for red flags and the single file restart meant the field avoided any more drama on the second restart of the race.

Rattican held onto the lead from Lebbon as Sebastian Hopkins and Miller battled for P3. Lebbon couldn’t stick with Rattican for the final few laps and was 1.2s behind his title rival when an off for Liam McNeilly brought out the red flags for a second time with half a minute on the clock.

The race did not resume and Rattican was awarded his fourth win of the season, bringing an end to Lebbon’s string of victories.

Hopkins started 11^th, but managed to avoid the drama on the opening lap to climb up to fifth before the first red flag period.

He managed to get the jump on Voisin on the restart and was running fourth when the safety car was brought out ahead of the final restart.

Miller put up a good defence against his fellow Elite Motorsport driver, but couldn’t keep Hopkins behind him. Hopkins came through to take his second podium of the season and extend his advantage over Tom Edgar in the championship standings.

Miller took fourth ahead of Voisin and Edgar.

Aston Millar and Edgar had spent much of the race battling. Millar was ahead at the final restart, but Edgar just managed to edge him out. Millar bounced back just before the red flag was brought out, but was classified seventh as the positions were counted back a lap.

Georgi Dimitrov had a mixed race. After a difficult qualifying, he had managed to climb up the order and was battling Voisin, but couldn’t hold the position and dropped back to eighth.

Freddie Tomlinson and Will Jenkins completed the top 10.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Brands Hatch Indy 2020 Race 1

November 14, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Snetterton

Lebbon secures rookie title with Snetterton victory

by Bethonie Waring October 25, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Tom Lebbon seals the Ginetta Junior rookie title and closes in on Bailey Voisin in the overall championship fight with his third victory of the weekend at Snetterton.

Despite starting on pole, it was far from a lights-to-flag victory for Lebbon, who spent most of the race in a five car battle for the lead.

Josh Rattican, Bailey Voisin, and Tommy Pintos all took turns at the front of the order and Lebbon dropped as far down as fifth at one point before fighting back up to P1.

In the final laps of the race, Lebbon was able to break free from the fight behind him. Once clear of the tow, he built a comfortable gap to finish more than 7 seconds ahead of the battle.

Rattican held off former team-mate Voisin to take second, while an incredible climb up through the field allowed Joel Pearson to snatch fourth on the final lap.

Minor contact damaged the bonnet of Pintos’ Elite Motorsport run Ginetta, causing it to come loose. He was able to continue, but dropped slightly back from the fight for second and finished fifth.

Sebastian Hopkins spent the race at the back of the battle for the lead and finished sixth, ahead of Tom Edgar and Freddie Tomlinson.

Aston Millar, Will Jenkins and William Vincent completed the top 10.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Snetterton 2020 Race 3

October 25, 2020 0 comment

Snetterton

Lebbon takes two wins from opening day at Snetterton

by Bethonie Waring October 24, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Tom Lebbon claimed a pair of victories from the first day of action at Snetterton.

Lebbon spent both races battling title rival Bailey Voisin in different conditions. After swapping positions multiple times in both races, Lebbon just edged out Voisin in the dash to the flag.

Voisin qualified on pole position for both races, but he wouldn’t hold the lead for long before Lebbon swept past him at the start of race one.

Lebbon initially got a good gap but a series of flying laps brought Voisin back on his tail.

The pair rain side by side for a handful of corners before Voisin got back ahead. Again, it wasn’t long before Lebbon swept back past on the Bentley Straight.

The championship contenders swapped positions twice more before the final lap. The battle drew Georgi Dimitrov onto their tail, making it a three car fight for the win. Lebbon held them both off to finish 1.273s ahead of Voisin, with Dimitrov a further 0.177s back.

Their championship rival Josh Rattican had a race to forget. He was forced to pit with an issue on his right rear early on. He got out without dropping a lap but, with no safety car periods, was unable to close in on the rest of the field and finished last.

Tommy Pintos managed one of his best performances of the year. After passing Sebastian Hopkins for fourth early, he spent the remainder of the race defending against his Elite team-mate.

Will Jenkins initially closed in on the fight for P4, but fell back to finish a comfortable sixth ahead of Tom Edgar and William Aspin.

Joe Wheeler and Aston Millar completed the top 10.

Race two was no simpler for the championship leaders.

Voisin, Lebbon, and Rattican were immediately battling for the lead. Hopkins and Dimitrov soon joined the fight and Lebbon was shuffled back to fifth.

Pintos made it six cars at the front, the order changing at almost every corner.

Before long, Lebbon had moved back into the race lead but couldn’t shake Voisin.

The top two managed to break away while Rattican, Pintos, Hopkins and Dimitrov continued to swap positions further back.

Voisin and Lebbon resumed their two-way fight for the lead from race one. Voisin briefly took first, but couldn’t hold on and finished 0.175s behind.

Pintos picked up third late on to take his first car racing podium. Rattican and Hopkins took fourth and fifth while William Aspin snatched sixth from Dimitrov late on.

Pearson climbed up from the tail end of the grid to take eighth, ahead of Edger and Millar.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Snetterton 2020 Race 1

Snetterton 2020 Race 2

October 24, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Snetterton

Voisin on pole for penultimate round at Snetterton

by Bethonie Waring October 24, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Bailey Voisin secured a double pole for the penultimate round of the 2020 Ginetta Junior championship at Snetterton.

Championship rival Tom Lebbon set the pace early in the session, but it wasn’t long before Voisin topped the order.

The R Racing driver managed a 2m21.017s lap around the Snetterton 300 circuit, ending the morning 0.412s quicker than the next closest driver.

A late improvement from Lebbon put him second, ahead of Joel Pearson and Josh Rattican.

Sebastian Hopkins placed fifth overall, but his second fastest lap time was enough to put him third on the grid for race two, behind Voisin and Lebbon.

Tommy Pintos put in one of his best qualifying performances of the season to put himself P6, ahead of Will Jenkins and Georgi Dimitrov.

William Aspin and Trennon Bettany rounded out the top 10.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Snetterton 2020 - Qualifying

Second Fastest Times

October 24, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Croft

Rattican pips Lebbon to Croft victory

by Bethonie Waring October 10, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Josh Rattican denied Tom Lebbon the race win in the opening Ginetta Junior race of the weekend at Croft after a last lap move to snatch the victory.

An incident for Rowan Vincent further back brought out the safety car in the closing stages of the race. With less than a minute on the clock, the safety car returned to the pits and Lebbon brought the field round for one last flying lap.

Lebbon made a good restart, but he couldn’t shake Rattican and the Rattican made a move around the outside to snatch the lead.

With Tom Edgar now breathing down his neck, Lebbon was forced to defend P2 and couldn’t attempt to retake the position.

At the end of the lap, Rattican came through to take the win 0.723s ahead of Lebbon.

Second place was still enough for Lebbon to move into the championship lead, as title rival Bailey Voisin could only manage 10^th.

Voisin had qualified on pole, but was disqualified from the session after scrutineering. He was sent to the back of the grid and forced to climb back through the order.

His progress was hindered at the end of the opening lap, when an incident for Josh Miller caused the Elite Motorsport driver to stop on track.

The safety car was brought out while Voisin was 15^th, running behind Aston Millar and Will Rochford.

Voisin continued to climb forward after the restart, briefly setting the fastest lap of the race before the time was beaten by Rattican.

He had climbed up to 11^th by the time the second safety car came out, and was just able to take 10^th from Joe Wheeler on the final lap.

At the top of the order, Tom Edgar took a well earned podium after spending much of the race defending against Will Jenkins. Jenkins pushed Edgar hard, only for a small mistake to send him wide and drop him back down the order.

Jenkins recovered to take fifth from Freddie Tomlinson but ran out of laps before he could bring a challenge to Will Vincent.

Joel Pearson took seventh ahead of the Elite Motorsport duo of Tommy Pintos and Sebastian Hopkins.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Croft 2020 Race 1

October 10, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Silverstone

Lebbon penalised for race one contact

by Bethonie Waring September 27, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Race one winner Tom Lebbon was handed a 10 second penalty for his part in an incident that knocked Georgi Dimitrov out of the race.

Lebbon took the race win, but not before contact with Dimitrov dropped him out of the lead fight.

The Richardson Racing driver was forced to pit due to the damage, recording his second DNF of the season.

Lebbon’s victory allowed him to further extend his championship lead over Bailey Voisin, who also fought back after contact in the opening laps to finish second on track.

Due to the close nature of the race, the 10 second penalty drops Lebbon back to 11th in the corrected timings. Voisin inherited the race win and moves him ahead of Lebbon in the championship standings.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

September 27, 2020 1 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Silverstone

Lebbon victorious in frantic Silverstone opener

by Bethonie Waring September 26, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Tom Lebbon snatched the victory a frantic opening Ginetta Junior race of the weekend at Silverstone.

Lebbon started from third but, in typical Ginetta Junior fashion, was immediately challenging Georgi Dimitrov and Bailey Voisin for the race lead.

An incident dropped Voisin back down the order and Lebbon fell to fifth by the end of the opening lap, though he quickly rejoined the battle at the front of the field.

Dimitrov, who had had the strongest start of the field, took the race lead, but had the R Racing trio of Joel Pearson, Freddie Tomlinson and Aston Millar on his tail. Lebbon rejoined the leaders to make it a three way fight for the lead.

Pearson briefly snatched the race lead, only to run wide a few corners later and drop down the order. At the same time, contact between Lebbon and Dimitrov knocked them both out of the lead fight and Dimitrov was forced to pit with heavy damage.

William Vincent managed to avoid the drama to emerge in the race lead ahead of Tomlinson and Millar, and put up a good defence against the two R Racing drivers. Before they could put up much of a fight, though, the two team-mates made contact with one another, falling backwards.

Lebbon recovered to take third from Sebastian Hopkins and quickly closed in on Vincent as Bailey Voisin recovered after his earlier incident.

The Scholarship winner quickly took the race lead from Vincent and built a small gap to the rest of the field as Vincent defended against Voisin and Rattican.

Vincent, Voisin and Rattican ran three wide in the battle for second, with Vincent squeezed between the two R Racing drivers. He lost both positions as Voisin took second and closed the gap to Lebbon.

Lebbon held onto the lead to extend his gap at the front of the order.

Voisin finished 0.834s back in second, while Rattican picked up the final step on the podium and Vincent picked up his best result of the season in fourth.

Hopkins also made the most of the drama to finish fifth ahead of Zak Taylor, who enjoyed a strong drive up through the order after starting 17^th.

Josh Miller finished seventh ahead of William Aspin and Tom Edgar, who was handed an eight place grid penalty for track limits infringements at Thruxton and during qualifying.

Millar recovered from the earlier incident to complete the top 10.

UPDATE: Tom Lebbon was handed a 10 second penalty post-race, dropping him to 11th in the overall standings and promoting Bailey Voisin to the victory.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Silverstone 2020 Race 1

September 26, 2020 1 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Silverstone

Voisin bounces back with Silverstone pole

by Bethonie Waring September 26, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Bailey Voisin bounced back from a difficult Thruxton weekend to take pole for the opening Ginetta Junior race at Silverstone.

The R Racing driver topped qualifying early on, setting the early benchmark at 1m11.489s.

While the entire field would improve on later laps, Voisin stayed at the top of the order, consistently setting fast laps to stay out of reach.

He ended the session with a 1m11.085s lap time, almost half a second quicker than the next fastest driver.

Georgi Dimitrov returned to the front of the field with the second fastest time in the session, and will line-up alongside Voisin for races one and two.

Championship leader Tom Lebbon could only manage third quickest overall, 0.093s slower than Dimitrov and starts ahead of R Racing trio Joel Pearson, Freddie Tomlinson, and Aston Millar.

After a strong performance at Thruxton, Tom Edgar managed to put himself seventh on the grid for the opening race of the weekend, ahead of Will Jenkins.

Jenkins may have qualified eighth overall, but his second fastest lap was enough to earn eighth on the grid for race two.

William Aspin and Josh Rattican will also start higher in the second race of the weekend. The pair qualified ninth and 10^th for race one, but will start 8^th and 7^th in race two.

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography

Silverstone 2020 Qualifying

2nd Fastest Times

September 26, 2020 0 comment

2020 Ginetta Junior Championship Thruxton

Rattican victorious as Lebbon takes championship lead

by Bethonie Waring September 20, 2020

written by Bethonie Waring

Josh Rattican avoided the drama to pick up his second Ginetta Junior victory of the season after team-mate Bailey Voisin was wiped out of the race in a multi-car accident.

The second race of the weekend at Thruxton was red flagged just after the midpoint as the multi-car pile up left debris strewn across the track.

Freddie Tomlinson had picked up the race lead off the line, ahead of pole sitter Tom Lebbon, Tom Edgar, Zak Taylor and Rattican.

Voisin, who started third, dropped backwards but was trying to make his way back up through the order when he collided with William Rochford and Rowan Vincent, severely damaging the front of his R Racing run car.

Lebbon had reclaimed the race lead just before the safety car was brought out after Freddie Tomlinson was forced wide and dropped down the order.

The field ran behind the safety car for a lap before the red flag was brought out and the remaining 14 cars lined up on the grid.

Rattican, who started second on the restart, got a good start to take the led from Lebbon and immediately pulled away from the rest of the field. Lebbon initially came under pressure from Joel Pearson, Edgar and Miller, but was eventually able to shake th tio and began to catch Rattican.

Though he set the fastest lap of the race, Lebbon couldn’t close the gap to Rattican and had to settle for second. It was enough to secure the championship lead, putting himself 24 points ahead of Voisin.

Miller won the battle for third, taking his first podium of the season with a comfortable gap back to fourth.

Edgar just edged out Tomlinson to take fourth, while the battling William Vincent and Tommy Pintos took sixth and seventh.

Sebastian Hopkins, Joel Pearson, and Aston Millar completed the top 10.

Full results to follow

Image courtesy of Ginetta/Jakob Ebrey Photography.

September 20, 2020 0 comment

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