Ginettas: Declan Jones to take next step

Chicago Soft and The London Perfume Company Limited-backed youngster confirms dual programme for 2012
Ginettas: Declan Jones to take next step

Liverpool-based teenager Declan Jones is to move up and compete in the Ginetta GT Supercup this year.

Declan, who made his debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2011, after several successful years in the Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone Formula One Management-backed Formula Kart Stars Series and in the Super One Rotax Series, will begin running in the G50 Cup from Oulton Park onwards. Currently the 16-year-old is looking to take in around half of the events, with the car possibly being run by Nathan Freke's Century Motorsport.

Declan, who will again be backed by Chicago Soft and who will also now be backed by The London Perfume Company Limited as well, will combine his outings in the United Kingdom in the G50 Cup, by running in the French V de V Championship.

Declan will drive a Courage-run Chevron B54 in that series, sharing the car with Alain Schlesinger and taking in all six Historic races, starting with the 2 hours du Mans on April 27-29.

"I'm really glad we are able to announce what I am going to do this year," Declan said. "I have had a little drive of a G50 Cup car already and it just feels right - it feels like a 'real' race car. I am looking forward to stepping up.

"It will also help massively this year that I will have experience of all the tracks we will compete on in the Ginetta GT Supercup.

"In 2011 I was going into some of the race weekend's having never seen the track or been around it before in my life. We had to learn the layout, but now I can just focus on getting the car set up as good as possible.

"Hopefully I can get on the pace quicker and it would be great if I could get a top-three finish in the class.

"I haven't driven my V de V car yet, but will test the Chevron B54 next Friday, so that will be great. Those races will be a different challenge and as they are two hours long, it is more of an endurance test. I am looking forward to racing out in France.

"I'd also like to thank my sponsors for making this possible. I am glad Peter McLaughlin has come back on with Chicago Soft for the fourth year in succession. It is also great to team up with The London Perfume Company Ltd. I hope to do them all proud this year and get some good results."

Declan's dad and manager, Kelvin Jones meanwhile is also looking forward to 2012: "It was a big year for Dec last season stepping up from karts to cars and I think by the end of it he had really started to find his feet," Kelvin added.

"We wanted to step things up again this season and the Ginetta Junior Championship has enabled him to get the experience so that we can move to the Ginetta GT Supercup and do the V de V in France.

"The Ginetta Junior Championship has definitely proved its worth with Dec and we'd recommend it to any young drivers.

"I am looking forward now to seeing Dec compete in the Ginetta GT Supercup and V de V. I feel that combination will work well and going out to France will give him some experience of a new set of tracks and also, crucially, two hour races. It is the next rung on the ladder for Dec towards his ultimate goal of racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours."

Anybody that would like to get involved and support Declan should contact Kelvin on +44 (0)7989 585186.

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