The fifteen year old secured no less than eleven Rookie Class top three finishes through the campaign including one victory, while he also starred with overall podium finishes at Thruxton and Silverstone, as well as three pole positions in the final four meetings of the year.
Hedley, who resides in Poole in Dorset, went on to star in the Winter Series at Brands Hatch, with a perfect Sunday seeing him convert a double pole position into a pair of race victories in his Elite Motorsport Ginetta G40 to be crowned the champion.
James Hedley: ““After becoming the overall Winter Series champion, obviously my goal is to carry on Elite Motorsport’s winning streak and become the 2019 Michelin Ginetta Junior Champion. A huge thank you to my main sponsor Sativa Investments PLC, the UK’s first listed medicinal cannabis company, for making this all possible.”
Elite Motorsport head into 2019 looking to defend the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship title they won last year with Adam Smalley, with Hedley their second confirmed driver for the upcoming campaign alongside Tom Emson.
Eddie Ives, team principal: “James has been a part of Elite Motorsport for almost two years now and I am thrilled to continue our relationship into 2019. With his natural ability and raw pace, I’m confident James will be a main part in helping us as a team look to defend our 2018 titles.”
In recent years, winning the Winter Series title has proven to be a great platform for drivers heading into their next campaign, as each of the last six winter victors have gone on to finish as champion or vice-champion in the main championship the following season.
The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is the UK’s longest running and most prestigious Junior series, offering the first step on the motorsport ladder for 14-17 year old racing drivers as they compete on the support bill for the British Touring Car Championship.
