ASHLEY GREGORY TARGETS TITLE IN GRADUATE CAMPAIGN

Ashley Gregory has her sights set on challenging for championship silverware after confirming her return to the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy for the 2024 season.

The Lancashire-based racer joined the Cooper grid for the first time last year as she relaunched her racing career, having been forced to spend much of the 2022 campaign on the sidelines having been unable to secure a full-time drive.

The former short oval and Junior Saloon Car Championship racer faced a huge challenge not only due to her rookie status, but also because of the fact she was competing as the only self-run privateer on the grid, with her family-run team responsible for preparing and running her car.

The teenager would show her talents however with several impressive on-track performances during the season, most notably at Croft where she battled her way to an impressive fourth place in race one before going one better in race two and grabbing a maiden podium finish.

Keen to progress to the next level in her Graduate campaign, Ashley now returns to the series with her privateer entry looking to take the challenge to the established order, with a focus firmly on challenging for silverware on track.

As was the case in the latter part of the 2023 season, Ashley’s team will run alongside Mannpower Motorsport, with the two outfits operating out of a single awning.

The new campaign gets underway at Snetterton next weekend, with three events later in the year on the high-profile BTCC support package.

“I’m really excited to be back in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy again, and to have the chance to compete on the BTCC package once again,” she said. “I can’t wait to get the 2024 season underway as it’s been a long winter break, but I feel prepared and ready for the challenge.

“Having evaluated the various options available to me over the winter, I feel that continuing to run the car ourselves provides us with the best opportunity to challenge for podiums from the start of the season, given the knowledge and experience we were able to gain during 2023.

“Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of my family and also my sponsors. I’m delighted to have retained a number of my 2023 sponsors and also brought several new sponsors on board as without them, I wouldn’t be able to go out and race.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to secure some really strong results and bring home some silverware to thank them for their support.”