Xentek Motorsport will be expanding to a two-car entry in the headline GTP class of the Ginetta GT Championship for the remainder of the 2023 season, as their GT5 Challenge star Bal Sidhu makes a deserved move up the Ginetta racing ladder, starting next weekend at Snetterton (17/18 June).
Debuting in the GT5 Challenge in 2019, Sidhu linked up with Xentek Motorsport the following season and has remained with them ever since. A consistent front-runner in the competitive GT5 Am class throughout, he’s impressively scored at least one class race win each year he’s competed.
With the support of the team, the West Midlands based racer has shown tremendous driver development over the years. This has culminated in a fantastic 2023 campaign so far, in which he’s taken 11 class wins and taken his overall podium tally in Ginetta racing to 29.
Having now all but secured the 2023 GT5 Am drivers’ title to realise his ultimate ambition in that category, Sidhu will now be taking the next step in his career as he trades in his G40 GT5 for a 310bhp, G56 GTP sports car.
Sidhu, who tests his G56 for the first time tomorrow (09 June) ahead of his class debut at Snetterton, will benefit from working alongside team-mate Conner Garlick, an overall race-winner in the GT Championship at Donington Park last month.
Sarah-Jayne McKenna – Team Manager: “We’re delighted that this programme has come together for Bal. He’s a fantastic person to have in the team and after showing so much progress and development with us over the last few years, it couldn’t be a better time for him to step up to the GT Pro class.
“It’s going to be a steeping learning curve, starting with a new car halfway through a season, but we’ll be giving him all the support we can as a team and we’re confident he will adapt quickly. We can’t wait to see how he gets on.”
Bal Sidhu: “I am really excited to be stepping up to the GT Pro class and getting the chance to race the G56. I’ve had some great times racing in the GT5 Challenge and improving year on year, and now it’s time to use all that experience and try something new.”
Image from Jakob Ebrey Photography