The 16-year-old from Cologne only began karting last year but signed off from the category by recording an impressive top-seven placing in a rainswept Rotax European Golden Trophy race at Genk in the near 30-kart field having started 23rd.
Schwarze, who tested with Elite for the first time before Christmas and has accumulated limited mileage in a Ginetta at Calafat in Spain already this year, achieved a podium in only his third kart race weekend.
Hugo Schwarze:
“The aim for my first season out of karts is to stand on the Rookie race podium and finish in the top-five in the Rookie standings – it’s a big learning year for me and I have to be realistic.
“I love racing and battling, which is why I believe the Ginetta Junior Championship is the perfect fit for me to further my career but also have fun.
“Elite have been very successful in the past and after my first test with them, I knew immediately that it was the team I wanted to work with.
“Everyone made me feel at home and welcome from the very beginning. I know that they will support me and push me to my limits this season."
Eddie Ives, Team Owner & Manager:
“I’m really pleased that Hugo has joined our Ginetta Junior team for 2023.
“Hugo is just a little bit older [than is often the case in GJ] which I believe will help him especially considering he's coming out of karting having only done that for a year.
“We have been really impressed with Hugo's initial testing. He did his first day in a car with us at the end of last summer and has progressed extremely well."
"We're looking forward to seeing how well he goes in the championship."
