Sam Shrimpton has been announced as the second ever winner of the PalmerSport Ginetta Race Scholarship after impressing judges at Bedford Autodrome today (12 December). Sam will now progress to a full year of competitive motorsport after earning a drive in the 2025 Ginetta GT Academy as part of a total prize estimated around £100,000.
Sam was selected as the overall winner following a very close final shootout, in which all four finalists demonstrated a high level of potential at the wheel. Such was the standard, that the event format was altered during the day, with all four competitors progressing to a final run in the race-prepared Ginetta to enable the judges to make a decision.
Sam edged out George Harris, Ian Beaumont and James Corpe, all of whom impressed both Ginetta Head of Motorsport Mike Simpson and Chief PalmerSport Instructors Rob Jenkinson and Christian Vann.
Sam Shrimpton said, Ginetta Race Scholarship winner, said: “Honestly, I’m a bit lost for words. Everyone today worked really hard. The format changed because everyone did so well. And everyone’s been so gentlemanly about it. I feel overwhelmed that this has happened – I need to call my wife and tell her the good news. And I can’t be more thankful to PalmerSport and Ginetta for doing this.”
Rob Jenkinson, PalmerSport Chief Instructor, said: “From the outset in the assessment days, finding the top four drivers to bring to the grand final was very difficult. We could have actually brought 10 or 12 as the standard was so high. No surprise today that the lap times, the consistency was remarkably close between all four to the point where we couldn’t eliminate two drivers at lunch time.
“We had to allow all four drivers an opportunity the race car and they all lapped within eight tenths. That made our job very difficult. We’re delighted for Sam and we’re very confident that he’s going to go on and replicate what James Nicholas did last year and win races. And we firmly hope we can actually win the championship this time.”
Christian Vann, PalmerSport Chief Instructor, said: Everybody had a run in the race car because it was so tight and we just couldn’t decide early on. That just reaffirmed the strengths and weaknesses of all [the finalists]. In really difficult driving conditions, it really did come down to a couple of tenths in terms of lap time and a couple of mistakes here and there. And that was the difference.”
Sam will make his race debut at Donington Park on 5/6 April, when he lines up on the 2025 Ginetta GT Academy grid.
For any enquiries about PalmerSport in the meantime please email sales@palmersport.com.