Esmee Hawkey to contest British GT with Toro Verde Ginetta GT4

Former DTM driver Esmee Hawkey has become Ginetta brand ambassador and will contest the British GT Championship in a Ginetta G56 GT4 Toro Verde entry.

Photo credits: James Gasperotti Photography

British racer Esmee Hawkey has joined Ginetta in a brand ambassador role, which also includes her participation at the 2023 British GT Championship in the Toro Verde #80 Ginetta G56 GT4 alongside Joe Wheeler.

Hawkey joins the series full time in the GT4 class, returning behind the wheel after spending two years in the German premier GT3 series DTM, where she raced Lamborghini machinery scoring two points in 2021. The Briton, though, is not new to the Ginetta brand, having raced in the Juniors series in 2014 and 2015.

“I’m really excited to represent Ginetta as their female brand ambassador for 2023,” commented Hawkey. “Racing alongside Joe Wheeler in the #80 Ginetta G56 GT4 car, this will be my debut season in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship. Having raced internationally for the past two seasons I’m really looking forward to coming back and racing on home soil."

Hawkey, 25, has previously raced in the all-female single-seater W Series championship in 2019 and then went on to win the Pro-Am title in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB in 2020.

After a few years in the Porsche one-make series, Esmee stepped up to one of the biggest GT3 platforms in the world, joining DTM in 2021. After a single test in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3, Hawkey made her debut in Monza, as the popular German series entered its new era of GT3 regulations.

Despite a lack of experience, Hawkey impressed with outstanding qualifyings and solid races; she would score her first points in Assen, Netherlands, conquering an 11th place finish as best result of the season.

Hawkey would return for the first two rounds of the 2022 season, but sponsorship issues halted her second campaign.

Now returning to home soil, Esmee has tested the Ginetta G56 GT4 at Oulton Park ahead of the start of the season.

“I tested the car for the first time this week at Oulton Park with Toro Verde and feel we have a strong car and I’m extremely excited to get back racing and fighting for podiums", she stated. "I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved to help make this deal come to fruition at such late notice.”

Hawkey and Wheeler will compete in a Silver Cup entry in a 18-car field for the opening round at Oulton Park, on April 8-10.