Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson is set to return to the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship at Snetterton this weekend, as he joins Ian Stinton in Stark Racing’s brand new Ginetta G55 GT3 car.

Having taken delivery of the car less than a week ago, Stark Racing will be putting their new-for-2012 GT3 machine through its paces during the three hour race around the Norfolk circuit on May 12, and invited 2006 Le Mans 24hr winner Lawrence Tomlinson to share in the driving duties.

Speaking on the partnership, Ian Stinton said; “It’s fantastic to have the owner of the manufacturer test driving the customer product alongside the customer themselves! I am very keen for Lawrence to sample his own product and I am sure it will be just as good – if not better - than the works car I drove at Oulton Park in the British GT earlier this year. It already feels great on the track and promises to deliver a fantastic weekends racing.”

A long-time friend of Ginetta, Stinton has competed behind the wheel of the British marque since 2008, as was one of the first customers to sign up for the newly homologated Ginetta G55 GT3 car when the model was launched in 2011, which he raced beside Ginetta factory driver and former British Karting Champion Michael Simpson.

Since then, the car has undergone an intensive development programme which now features a 4.35 V8 powerplant combined with a paddle shift system, improved drive train and a bigger, more aggressive-looking body, which masks an efficient aerodynamic package.

Stark Racing will use the MSA Britcar endurance event as the first major test for the car, in preparation for round two of the British GT Championship at the Nürburgring later this month. Tomlinson’s racing pedigree will be an invaluable part of Stark Racing’s preparation.

Team LNT, piloted by 2006 Le Mans 24hr winner Lawrence Tomlinson and Ginetta factory driver Mike Simpson, took victory at Round Two of the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship in the inaugural race for the Ginetta G55 GT3 car; the relentless performance of the car was backed up by a second place finish by Optimum Motorsport in their 2012 Ginetta G55 GT3.

Stinton is already well acquainted with the power of the 2012 Ginetta G55 GT3 car, having competed in the Ginetta factory car during the first round of the British GT at Oulton Park, alongside Jake Rattenbury, earlier this year.

He will become the third Ginetta team to join the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, alongside the GT3 machine of Optimum Motorsport’s Lee Mowle and George Murrels as well as Peter and Matt Smith in their Ginetta G55 Cup car.

The Ginetta G55 GT3 car is the latest addition to Stinton’s arsenal of racing cars, with last year’s weapon, the first Ginetta G55 GT3 car, currently being wielded by  Carl Breeze in the Ginetta GT Supercup.