Toro Verde Rise to British GT Challenge with Duggan and Townsend

Ginetta GT4 Supercup rivals James Townsend and Ian Duggan will make their British GT debuts with Toro Verde aboard a Ginetta G56 GT4. The team steps up from Porsche Carrera Cup GB; they have also contested the Ginetta GT Academy and the Gulf 12 Hours in recent years along with the GT2 European Series, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe and Ginetta GT5 Challenge.

Ian Duggan began his racing career in the Ginetta G40 Chairman’s Cup in 2019. A year later he claimed the GT5 Challenge at the first attempt. From there he graduated to the GT Cup with Townsend in a Ginetta G55. Last year he took the Am title in the Ginetta GT4 SuperCup with the same car.

Townsend rivalled Duggan last year for the SuperCup Am crown, eventually finishing third, though he claimed more wins during the year. Along with the Ginetta GT5 Challenge he has raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the Gulf 12 Hours with Toro Verde.

“The opening weekend at Oulton Park will mark my 100th career race start, 90% of which have been in Ginetta machinery,” Townsend said to the series. “Being able to make my debut in the British GT Championship in the G56 proves the success of Ginetta’s motorsport ladder. I’ve really enjoyed my experience to date predominately in sprint racing but my ultimate ambition remains to compete at the highest level of endurance racing – working with Toro Verde and entering British GT with Ginetta feels like the perfect next step.”

Team Principal Julian Westwood brings experience from working with JRM’s Nissan and Bentley programmes in British GT and Team Parker Racing. He added, “We’re excited to enter the British GT Championship. We had the pleasure of welcoming James to the team at the end of last year making his debut at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi and were immediately impressed by his professional approach and how quickly he got up to speed with a new car. 

“With Ian we have a proven Am champion in multiple championships who has shown excellent pace and consistency. Despite technically being an Am/Am pairing and somewhat the underdogs, I believe, we’ll be the surprise package this year.”