Batley-born businessman Lawrence Tomlinson has welcomed a fellow Yorkshireman and entrepreneur as the inaugural member of his Ginetta Racing Drivers Club.
Peter Brook, managing director of both Oracle Finance and Lawton Brook Ltd, was quick to took up the opportunity to join the new-for-2014 club while attending Ginetta’s debut appearance at the annual Salon Privie exhibition.
Mr Brook, whose businesses specialise in high performance car retail and finance, has driven almost every supercar in production – fuelling his desire to go racing. However, his demanding role left little time for him to commit to a season-long race series.
Said Mr Brook: “I’ve been involved in the motor trade for over 25 years now and have been lucky enough to get behind the wheel of almost all sports cars on the market at one time or another.
“I always fancied going racing, but never found an easy and non-time-consuming way into the sport, plus, in my line of work, I just don’t have the time to commit to a 10-strong race calendar.”
Now the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club provides him with a cost-effective route into motorsport – and a viable business opportunity further down the line.
Mr Brook said: “When I saw the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club offer at the Salon Priv� exhibition, it was obvious this was the route many businessmen like myself have been waiting for.
“Not only will Ginetta ‘do all the hard work for me’ as well as provide a great race series which doesn’t overrun the diary, but at the end of it all, I have my own Ginetta G40, suitable for the racetrack and the road.”
He said: “For a low production vehicle, Ginetta has an excellent reputation for build quality and reliability and having previous interactions with Ginetta, I know Lawrence Tomlinson strives for perfection, so I feel very comfortable investing my money in the brand.”
Mr Brook will take delivery of his fully taxed and road legal G40 Club Car in early 2014, which signals the start of his journey towards becoming a fully-fledged racing driver.
The all-inclusive package will see Mr Brook join Ginetta for two track days, which include one-on-one instruction in the car, following which he will be guided through the steps to obtain his MSA National B race licence ahead of a four-round Ginetta Racing Drivers Club series in support of the 2014 British GT.
Mr Tomlinson, chairman of Ginetta Cars and its parent LNT Group, said: “It’s great to have Peter on board as our first official member of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club.
“He is the epitome of the type of driver we are targeting – someone with a busy schedule, who wants to go racing and be a part of the fantastic social side of motorsport but doesn’t have the time to organise everything himself.
“Having supported over 240 entry-level racing drivers over the past five years and having already established clear routes from entry-level racing right through to top level sports car competition, Ginetta are delighted to add Peter Brook to that ever-expanding roll of honour.”
