New Intelligent Money British GT Championship team Toro Verde have finalised the last gap in the 2023 driver line up by confirming Esmee Hawkey as partner to Joe Wheeler. Hawkey becomes the only female racing driver among the 72 entrants for the season.
One more announcement is due, with 2 Seas Motorsport yet to confirm who will sub for Jonny Adam in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 when Adam has to attend to factory duties at Silverstone and Donington Park.
Hawkey joins the series after racing in the reborn DTM championship in Germany for Lamborghini for the last two years. Hawkey has also raced against former British GT4 Champion Jamie Chadwick in the W Series, the single seater racing championship for female racing drivers which fell to financial issues last year.
Esmee’s prior experience includes two years racing in Ginetta Juniors, which joins the British GT support package this year and has also joined the Yorkshire manufacturer as a brand ambassador for 2023. She then went on to claim the Pro-Am title in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
She told the British GT website, “Racing alongside Joe Wheeler in the #80 Ginetta G56 GT4 car, this will be my debut season in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship. Having raced internationally for the past two seasons I’m really looking forward to coming back and racing on home soil.
“I tested the car for the first time this week at Oulton Park with Toro Verde and feel we have a strong car and I’m extremely excited to get back racing and fighting for podiums. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved to help make this deal come to fruition at such late notice.”
Esmee Hawkey and the 71 other drivers will begin their season at Oulton Park on Easter Weekend. You can follow full coverage on our Oulton Park micro-site.
