Stockport was well represented at the NEC’s annual Autosport International show. Alongside Bredbury based Speedworks Motorsport’s team, were Kyle Hornby with his Ginetta G40 and newcomer 16-year-old Jack Fabby, from Mellor.
Matt Simpson has joined Speedworks Motorsport and will compete in his Honda Civic in the forthcoming Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season while Tom Ingram, who claimed the Team’s first BTCC podium in 2015, will compete for a third consecutive season at the wheel of the Speedworks prepared Toyota Avensis.
Ingram was on hand at the NEC to say a few words about the impending season:
“It’s a really good feeling, we finished last season really strong and it’s nice to get a deal done early and get a bit of winter testing in t hit the ground running, come [the season opener] Brands”, explained Ingram.
“After where we finished last season I think we can say we’re hoping to go for the Independents Championship. We’ve got a really strong package, the continuity of staying with the team, and with me getting more experience and confidence in the car, it’s only going to be a good thing.”
“That’s certainly going to be my goal”, enthused Tom. “I’ve got a really good relationship with [Team boss] Christian now and my Engineer Jeff, we know how each other works”.
Speaking about the Team’s new signing Matt Simpson, Ingram added: “Matt’s coming in to the Championship with race experience, but in a very different car, I think it’ll take him a little while to get his head around the [Civic], but he’s proven he’s a race winner in what he’s done before, I expect he’ll be on the pace fairly quickly”.
Elsewhere at the Show was Kyle Hornby with his Ginetta G40 that he will race in the 2016 Ginetta Junior Championship. In what will be Kyle’s second and final year in the Series, Stockport racer Hornby has high hopes for the year ahead.
“I’ve moved Teams to JHR. I think I’ve found another bunch of great lads who can hopefully lead me to the title this year. I’ll be pushing harder and harder than ever to try and win it, so hopefully the season will go my way”, explained Kyle. “I think I learned a lot last season and I can put that in to practice during 2016. I’ve got a few tests including Thruxton and Croft [before the season starts]”.
Also at the show was a relative newcomer to car racing, 16 year old Jack Fabby, from Mellor. Jack took part in the final round of the Michelin Clio Cup ‘Road Series’ Championship at Silverstone in 2015, taking a pair of 3rd placed finishes on his first outing in the Series. This followed a short Karting career, and races in the Junior Saloon Car Championship.
Looking to build on that, Fabby will be entering his Clio 197 Cup car in to the full Championship in 2016, starting at his local circuit, Oulton Park in Cheshire on the 19th March. Jack was at the show with his title sponsors, Intrepid.