Both the existing G50 - which is powered by a 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS) 3.5 litre Ford engine - and the new G55 will be eligible to compete in the Supercup, but they’ll run in separate classes.
Ginetta will be unveiling the G55 at January’s Autosport International exhibition in Birmingham. The main differences compared to the G50 are a 370 bhp (275 kW / 375 PS) 3.7 litre Ford engine, new exhaust system, upgraded brakes and new bodywork that promises improved aerodynamics.
Interested race teams will have to part with £75,000 to buy a G55, while existing G50 owners can have their cars converted to G55 specification for £25,000. Entry fees for the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup have been confirmed as £9,750 (plus VAT) for the G50, or £11,750 (plus VAT) for the G55.
At the moment it seems doubtful whether there’ll be a road-going version of the Ginetta G55. Although the company has previously shown the street legal G50 R and all-electric G50 EV, its road car efforts now appear focussed on the Ginetta F400. That model is basically a rebadged Farbio GTS, and follows Ginetta’s acquisition of Farbio Sports Cars earlier this year.