Michael Johnston excels in Ginetta G40 Cup debut – but now hopes sponsor can keep him on right road

Johnston took part in the Ginetta G40 Cup in support of the prestigious British GT championship on the outskirts on Liverpool in late July for the first time and he managed to make the podium in the opening race, finishing third.

The Ginetta Racing Drivers Club is for rookie drivers looking to take their first steps in the sport and is the route current McLaren Formula One driver Lando Norris took to the top.

Johnston, a 27-year-old who is originally from Tain but moved to the Capital to study at Heriot-Watt and now works in the city with Standard Life, has been invited back to compete for the rest of the series, but is in search of sponsorship to help fund him. The next race meeting that he is targeting is in mid-September.

Johnston, who had to rent a racecar for his debut, said: “All of the other drivers own their own car and have had significant testing experience, which made my third place in qualifying all the more surprising.

“The race weekend consisted of three races, but the undoubted highlight was my first ever race. Starting third, I made a poor start and was seventh by the end of the first lap. After several thrilling battles and overtakes, I managed to take home the final podium place in 3rd – trailing home Marc Warren (1st) and Rupert Laslett (2nd) – both vastly more experienced drivers than I.

“Following similar results in the final two races of the weekend I now sit fourth in my class championship standings and the organisers are extremely keen to have me back for the rest of the season. However, I do not have the budget to self-fund any more race weekends which makes my search for sponsorship all the more critical.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Johnston or help him with his motorsport journey can contact him at [email protected].