Former Avon Tyres British GT Champion, Bradley Ellis, will join SV Racing’s (SVR) Ginetta GT4 Supercup stable for this weekend’s (17-19 April) meeting at the history-rich Donington Park circuit on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire boarder, following the withdrawal of Jack Clarke.
Ellis is one of the UK’s leading sportscar drivers, having been crowned the British GT Champion at just 21-years old and only narrowly missing out on claiming back-to-back titles after finishing third in the FIA GT3 European Championship the following season.
Starting his racing career in Karting in 1997, Ellis has shown race-winning prowess ever since, clinching a Cadet title in his maiden season, which attracted the attention of multiple World Karting Champion, Martin Hines.
Rising through the Karting ranks, Ellis made his car racing debut in Formula Renault Italia aged 16, taking home a number of strong results, before turning his hand to GTs in 2006.
Ellis rapidly established himself as a GTC Championship contender, as he was quick to claim his first podium and then achieve a maiden British GT race victory at France’s Pau Grand Prix.
He took the step up to GT3 machinery the following season, where, equipped with a Dodge Viper Competition Coupé, he claimed two podium finishes in the opening four rounds en route to snatching the title in the last round at Rockingham Motor Speedway.
Having made sporadic appearances in the British GT Championship since his title success, Ellis is an experienced racer behind the wheel of Ginetta machinery, piloting a G55 for the previous three seasons and recording a brace of top ten finishes in the 2015 season-opener at Oulton Park earlier this month.
Born in Croydon, Surrey and now residing in Hinckley, Leicestershire, the 27-year old will juggle his British GT commitments with a season in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup with SVR, and will be hoping to make an impact on the series this weekend at his home circuit, Donington Park.
“I’ve known Danny (Buxton) for a long time and he runs one of the most professional outfits on the TOCA package so, if I am going to go racing, I would want it to be with someone like him,” said Ellis. “I have not set myself any targets for this weekend, as the main objective is to help Danny progress with his Ginetta campaign. I’m certainly up against some stiff competition in the GT4 Supercup, so it’s going to be a tough job up against guys who have been racing in the series for a long time, but hopefully I can get out there and score some solid points for SVR.
“Donington Park is a circuit I know very well and it generates a lot of exciting bumper-to-bumper racing, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and having a lot of fun, while scoring as many points as possible.”
SVR Director, Danny Buxton, said: “I’ve known Bradley (Ellis) for many years and always wanted work with him. He brings a wealth of experience with him, especially in these powerful rear-wheel-driven cars, plus his performances in the British GT Championship were really special. He was the obvious choice when the slot became available, and I am really looking forward to working with him. Hopefully he can push the team on and produce some strong results.”
For more information on SV Racing, please visit the www.svracing.co.uk website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @SV_Racing on Twitter and Instagram.