The Norfolk-based team have retained John Bennett and Karim Sekkat for a second consecutive year for its GT5 line-up while Will Aspin switches from Ginetta Juniors and Harry Mangion returns to action with Elite after a one-year sojourn.
Bennett finished seventh with Elite in the 2020 standings in what was his “rookie” car racing season after a partial year of Junior Rotax karting. John recorded three GT5 top-three podium finishes last year – seven top-six overall finishes – his best result a second place at Silverstone where he also set a new lap record.
Aspin claimed 15th place in last year’s Ginetta Junior Championship with Elite – his maiden season of car racing after two years in karts. Will achieved seven top-10 finishes with a best sixth-place finish at Silverstone.
Sekkat was runner-up in last year’s GT5 “AM” division after a year out in 2019. Karim scored five podium finishes, including one win (Silverstone), and set two fastest race laps with Elite.
Mangion netted fourth place in the 2019 Ginetta GRDC Series, his first season of motor racing having never karted. Harry, who achieved two podiums including a victory at the Brands Hatch finalé that season, recorded six, top-six finishes in what amounts to an eight-race motor racing career.
Elite Motorsport, who guided Tom Lebbon to the Ginetta Junior title and James Taylor to the Ginetta GT5 Championship runners up position in 2020, is scheduled to begin its 18-race 2021 Ginetta GT5 Challenge assault at Thruxton over 8-9 May.
Will Aspin (GB). Age 16. Born/Lives: Florence (IT):
“I am looking forward to stepping up from Ginetta Juniors to the GT5 Challenge for my second year with Elite Motorsport. This year, I’ll be honing my race craft and improving my race pace to ultimately challenge for podiums. Hopefully I can finish up there in the final championship standings.”
John Bennett (GB). Age 17. Born/Lives: Salisbury (UK):
“Going into the GT5 season, my aim is to challenge for the championship. The past year with Elite has been amazing. Entering my first year of racing, I didn't know what to expect but I learnt so much from the team and scored three podiums along the way.”
Harry Mangion (GB). Age 27. Born: Oxford (UK). Lives: London (UK):
“I’m looking forward to racing at the top level, want to gain experience and improve over the season. Anything more would be a bonus! Elite were a great help to me in the second half of 2019, so I can’t wait to get started with them in 2021.”
Karim Sekkat (MA/D). Age 50. Born: Kiel (D). Lives: Oxford (UK):
“Having tasted a measure of success and the heights of the top podium step in 2020, my eyes are focused on the GT5 AM championship title. I believe that Elite Motorsport is the right environment to develop my racing approach, skills and strategy as well as maintaining a winning car.”
Eddie Ives, Elite Motorsport Team Owner & Manager:
“I’m really excited to announce our first squad of 2021 drivers. Ginetta GT5 is such a fantastic championship for a variety of reasons so it’s great to be back with a strong, four-car line-up. John and Will have both been extremely fast in pre-season testing so I have no doubt that they will both be fighting for overall wins.
“Karim finished P2 in AM last year so we are determined to try and go one step higher. Harry is still early days in his racing career and it’s a significant step up from GRDC but he adapted well in initial tests and I look forward to working with all four drivers this year.”
