Rare racer heads for NEC

The only Ginetta G8 ever built will be on display at this year’s NEC classic motor show. The rare racer will be on the Ginetta Owners’ Club at the NEC show, which takes place on 8-10 November.

The G8 was the company’s first single-seater race car, which appeared in 1964. Designed to compete in Formula 3, it made its debut at Snetterton on 30 August that year, driven by Chris Meek and finished the race in fourth position.

The monocoque body was constructed from two glassfibre mouldings that were bonded to a steel chassis, with sub-frames front and rear to carry the suspension and engine/transmission. It was originally powered by a one-litre Holbay-tuned engine. Complex and time-consuming to build, the G8 remained a one-off.

Later sold by Ginetta, it was used in hill climb events during the 1970s before being put into storage. It was then purchased in 2018 by current owner, Bill Cowing, who is undertaking a comprehensive restoration with the aim of returning the car to the track.

Cowing said, ‘I knew it was a really important car in Ginetta’s history and a great project, and it was in better condition than I expected. Although the chassis wasn’t corroded there was still plenty of work to do, while challenges included ensuring the car met current safety regulations. That required the addition of a new fuel tank as well as a different roll-over bar, safety belts, and fire extinguisher. Bill is looking forward to competing in historic race events in 2020.’

David Doolan, Ginetta club press officer, David Doolan, said, ‘This is a very significant car in the Ginetta story, and even I’ve never seen it before. So, we are very proud to have it on our stand at this year’s show.’

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery. For more information including ticket options and booking details, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com.