Fresh from the conclusion of the main championship season and the Ginetta Awards Evening, my focus shifted immediately to the Ginetta Winter Series. Determined to finish the year strongly, I approached the weekend with clear intent: deliver my most complete performance to date.
The Winter Series brought a refreshed grid, with several new drivers joining the championship. It was another opportunity to benchmark myself against different competition and demonstrate the progress made across my debut season.
The event took place on the Silverstone National Circuit — a shorter configuration with just four corners. On paper, it may appear straightforward, but simplicity in layout does not equate to easy racing. The close-quarters nature of the track, combined with unpredictable weather, ensured the weekend would be anything but simple.
For this event, I was behind the wheel of a brand-new Ginetta G40 Evo Junior, and once again partnered with Performance One Motorsport. With everything learned throughout the year now coming together, the weekend felt like a culmination of the development, resilience and experience gained over the season.
Across the two test days on the National layout, the pace was immediately competitive.
Encouragingly, my performance in wet conditions was particularly strong — a stark contrast to the difficulties experienced at Croft just two rounds earlier. The progress made in rebuilding wet-weather confidence was evident, and I felt comfortable pushing the car in low-grip conditions.
Dry pace was slightly less dominant but remained competitive within the top group. Overall, the data and lap times indicated we were well placed heading into qualifying.
Confidence was building.
Heavy rain fell overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning, creating evolving and tricky conditions for qualifying. By the time we went out, the circuit was damp but drying in places. Notably, some of the kerbs were significantly drier than expected — a detail that proved crucial.
Adapting quickly to the conditions and maximising the available grip allowed me to deliver my strongest qualifying performance of the year.
I secured 4th place on the grid for both Race 1 and Race 2, missing out on third by just half a tenth of a second. It was a significant milestone — my highest qualifying result to date — and confirmation that both pace and execution had reached a new level.
By Saturday afternoon, conditions had improved considerably and the circuit was largely dry.
Starting from 4th, I unfortunately made a poor launch off the line. The brand-new clutch in the Evo car had a very different engagement feel compared to the equipment I had used throughout the season, and that difference caught me out.
By the end of Lap 2, I had fallen to 9th position and faced the challenge of recovery.
The response, however, was strong. I worked methodically back through the field, executing clean and decisive overtakes. Two track limits penalties awarded to drivers ahead further promoted me up the order.
I crossed the line in 4th place — just half a tenth of a second away from what would have been my first overall podium.
While narrowly missing out was frustrating, the drive itself demonstrated maturity, racecraft and resilience.
In a departure from the usual format, the Winter Series featured two races on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Race 2, however, proved difficult. Early contact resulted in a puncture, compromising pace and track position. Shortly afterwards, further contact sent me into the gravel trap, bringing my race to a premature end and resulting in a DNF.
It was a frustrating outcome, particularly given the strong pace shown earlier in the weekend.
However, the DNF would set up an opportunity.
Starting the final race of the weekend — and the final race of the year — from 18th position, the objective was clear: maximise every opportunity.
From lights out, the drive was composed but aggressive. I made decisive overtakes, capitalised on incidents ahead and stayed clear of the inevitable midfield chaos.
The pace was exceptional. Lap after lap, I moved forward through the field.
By combining clinical racecraft with intelligent positioning and awareness, I gained 15 places over the race distance. When the chequered flag fell, I crossed the line in 3rd place overall — securing my first ever overall podium in motorsport.
It was a breakthrough moment.
From 18th on the grid to the podium in one race — a result that reflected not only raw speed, but the growth in race management, composure and confidence developed throughout the season.
The Winter Series proved to be the perfect way to conclude 2025.
After a season defined by learning and steady progression, this weekend felt like confirmation that everything is moving in the right direction.
Despite only finishing 8th in the overall Winter Series championship standings, it was a clear step forward from the main season.
I’m incredibly proud to have secured Performance One Motorsport’s first podium in Ginetta Junior and grateful for the team’s hard work throughout the weekend. A special thank you as well to Charlie Robertson for his coaching this weekend— the improvements were clear and measurable.
The year ends on a high note, with tangible proof of the progress made in my first season in motorsport.
Now, attention turns to next year — building on this momentum and aiming even higher.
