Esmee Hawkey has confirmed that she will make the move into the Ginetta Junior Championship for the second half of the coming season.

The 16-year-old will graduate from karting into sports car racing like so many other young racers have done in recent season.

She will race with British Touring Car team AMD Tuning from Essex, as she looks to learn as much as possible from an experienced race team run by Shaun Hollamby.

Esmee from Chislehurst made it through to the final of the 2014 Ginetta Junior Scholarship, will join the Ginetta Junior Championship grid from the Rockingham rounds onwards, but will be testing at all of this year’s TOCA rounds in order to familiarise herself with the car and circuits ahead of a full campaign in 2015.

Although only racing in three full rounds of the coming season, she will be able to experience racing at her local track Brands Hatch for the first time, in the final round of the season.

Speaking about Esmee’s move into the Ginetta Championship, Chairman of Ginetta Cars Lawrence Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted to have Esmee joining the Ginetta Junior Championship for 2014. She impressed the judges at the Ginetta Junior Scholarship in October and will become the first Easykart racer to graduate into the Ginetta Junior Championship.

“Ginetta already have a strong motorsport ladder in place for aspiring drivers, but our ongoing partnership with Easykart allows us to nurture young talent even before they are eligible for our championships. Together, we share the same values when it comes to offering good value racing, as well as bringing new people into the sport.”

Having enjoyed a number of impressive race wins in the 2013 Easykart Championship, the announcement marks Esmee out as the first Easykart racer to graduate into the Ginetta Junior series.

In view of her achievement, Andy Cox, from Easykart UK said: “It’s fantastic to see Esmee joining the Ginetta Junior grid for 2014. Thanks to our strong partnership with Ginetta, Esmee will be our first Junior Easykart driver to make the progression into the Ginetta Junior Championship.

“Esmee is proof that the Easykart and Ginetta collaboration works and illustrates that the Easykart UK Championship, and our cost controlled, but competitive environment, does indeed prepare young drivers to a high level ready for car racing. ”

Racing with AMD Tuning for 2014 will ensure that Esmee is given the best possible opportunity to succeed in her first season in Sports car racing.

Shaun Hollamby Team Principal of AMDTuning.com was delighted to have her aboard for the coming season.

He said: “We have shown our support for young drivers in the past and in Esmee, we see someone who has the potential to go a long way. Her performance in the Ginetta Junior Scholarship was hugely impressive given her lack of experience, and with the programme we have put together for this season, she’ll be able to build her knowledge base ready for the time when she gets behind the wheel of the car in competition for the first time.

“I’m delighted to bring Esmee on board as our Junior Driver and hope this is the first step on a long and fruitful relationship.”

Esmee will continue to compete in the Easykart Championship, culminating in the World Finals in Italy in September, before she commits fully to the Ginetta Junior Championship.