A MALMESBURY pupil says he is determined to be a racing driver after his life was changed following a visit to a factory last year. 

In July 2023, a visit to the Ginetta factory for a summer holiday day out set in motion a series of events that would change Jude Peters' life.

Underdog Jude Peters, from Brinkworth near Malmesbury beat the lap record and knocked the factory driver off the top of the timesheets at Ginetta and was encouraged to enter the Ginetta Junior Scholarship.

This renowned event offers the coveted prize of a funded race season in the prestigious Ginetta Junior series.

This race series is the highest level of racing for 14 – 17-year-olds in full-fledged GT racing cars.

After a series of driving, media and fitness tests, Jude was announced the winner beating European and World level karters to be the first winner of the scholarship with nothing more than sim racing experience.

From the scholarship a series of test events to get Jude ready for the season were planned.

The support of Malmesbury School was incredible, encouraging Jude to follow the opportunity and helping him every step of the way.

This was particularly helpful as his parents struck a deal that he could only race if his GCSE grades were not affected.

After a series of tests, where Jude showed tremendous pace, and sometimes too much pace, we learned about how to get the best out of the car, what’s required to win in racing and how to stick pieces back together when he crashed at 70+ mph.

The season had 8 rounds, and 25 individual races run at famous circuits across the UK, including Silverstone, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Anglesey, Snetterton and Brands Hatch.

Each round included practice, qualifying and 3 races.

The season opener at Oulton Park was in the pouring rain.

It was hard to know who was more nervous, Jude or his parents.

Racing flat out, inches from the car in front in drenched conditions was a baptism of fire and Jude came through in one piece and now a real racer.

Across the season, Jude’s confidence and results improved. He was regularly winning and taking podium positions in his category and his pace continued to develop.

By the second half of the season, Jude was regularly achieving top 10 positions overall and cleaning up in the Freshman Championship.

At one very difficult weekend at Snetterton a major crash destroyed the front of the car (not Jude’s fault).

This is where he learned the importance of the car’s radiator.

After the crash, Jude courageously carried on driving, however the car’s engine was unimpressed with running without water and blew up!!!

Thankfully, accidents were few and far between, and the season overall was a great success with Jude clinching the Freshman championship in his first ever season of racing.

His parents wish he would go back to skateboarding, but Jude is now determined to be a racing driver.

Despite taking some time away from school, Jude diligently kept up with all his coursework, ensuring that his grades remained strong, he now hopes to continue next year and move up into adult racing. Watch this space.