Red Bull Junior Team drivers Rocco Coronel and Scott Lindblom made their car racing debuts in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series last weekend at Silverstone.
The 14-year-olds both sported Red Bull liveries, and have recently been signed up by the energy drinks firm following decorated karting careers and becoming Ginetta Junior scholarship finalists.
Their cars were run by multiple title-winning squad R Racing, and they both used the Winter Series as preparation for full campaigns in the main championship next year.
“The boys are getting on very well for the days they have done,” said R Racing’s Nathan Read.
“They’ve both got to be looking at a big winter programme and, by the first round at Donington, these boys should be on the pace.
“It’s super-exciting to be working with Red Bull and, for us as a team, it’s just a nice promotion for all our hard work over the last four, five years of winning championships.
“I think it shows Ginetta is a recognised path from karts to cars. I think a lot of them do it to learn the UK circuits to set them in good stead for F4.”
Photo by: Steve Jones
Coronel, son of touring car and Dakar star Tom, scored a pair of sixth places before spinning on the final lap of the third contest while challenging for fourth.
“Not too bad,” he said of his first weekend. “We are just learning for next year. I’ve just turned 14 so I couldn’t do the last few races [in Ginetta Junior]. In [other series] you can’t drive until 15. Red Bull has helped me a lot with physical training.”
Lindblom came into the event less prepared than Coronel after only completing a handful of test days. He scored a pair of 13th-place finishes, and was hampered by incidents and penalties, but the Swede is hopeful that a full testing programme over the winter will enable him to be more competitive next season.
“Obviously it’s a difficult car to drive,” said Lindblom. “I’m just learning how to drive it and how the racing is. It’s about going up [into cars] as early as possible. It’s a great honour to have Red Bull supporting me.”
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