TOMMY GILHAM JOINS DONINGTON PARK GRID

Tommy Gilham will make his debut in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy this weekend after agreeing a deal that will see him line up on the grid with the Chandler Motorsport squad.

Gilham, the son of British Touring Car Championship team boss Tony, has been competing this season in the Classic VW Cup at the wheel of a Mk5 Golf and scored a double win at Donington Park back in June – the same venue where he will now compete in the Cooper class.

The youngster will be backed by a number of partners involved in the Team HARD BTCC programme, including Autobrite Direct and Go-Fix, with Thursday’s free practice sessions seeing him lap just outside the top 20 on the overall times.

“Seeing Tommy step onto the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy platform is a moment of immense pride for our family, and the entire Team HARD team,” he said.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our partners for their unwavering support.”

Gilham will run alongside Chandler regulars Reece Lycett and Rhys Hurd, with Jakob Heap not present this weekend having joined the team for the previous meeting at Croft.