HENRY FOOTE GRADUATES TO COOPER CLASS WITH RACE CAR CONSULTANTS

Race Car Consultants has confirmed that it will make the move into the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE for the first time in 2025, with entries into both the Cooper and JCW categories.

The Suffolk-based team, founded back in 2010 by racer David Ellesley, has competed in a raft of different championships through the years, enjoying notable levels of success in the Fiesta Junior Championship in particular.

Whilst the team will be competing in the MINI CHALLENGE for the first time, a number of Race Car Consultants alumni having been part of the grid in recent seasons including the likes of Jack Davidson, Will Orton, Thomas Jack Lee and Albert Webster.

The first driver confirmed in the driver line-up will be embarking on his second season with the team, as teenager Henry Foote steps up into the highly competitive Cooper class for first year of senior racing.

The Cornish youngster made switch into car racing last year for the first time in Fiesta Juniors, utilising his entry into the series to help promote the work of the Driven Minds mental health organisation.

Competing in the Mk7 class, Foote finished seventh in the championship standings and fifth best of the rookies after an impressive campaign that saw him regularly challenge inside the top ten.

Foote would score the first podium finish of his car racing career with an impressive run to second spot at Thruxton, where he also set one of his two fastest laps during the campaign.

“I’m beyond excited to be joining the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy grid for 2025,” he said. “The field is expected to be super competitive and I’m looking forward to seeing how I perform and continue to develop in the series.

“I am also delighted to be taking this next step with Race Car Consultants as their commitment to getting the most of every car and every driver in the team shone through in my first season with them.

“I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the Cooper class, and off track, I’m looking forward to continuing to combine my racing with my passion for raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues through my role with Driven Minds.”

Team owner Ellesley admitted he was thrilled at the opportunity to continue working with Foote into the 2025 campaign.

“We are delighted to be continuing our support of Henry’s fledgling car racing career as he moves on from a successful first season of circuit racing,” he said.

“Last year we had the opportunity to see Henry’s competitive nature and his desire to improve as a driver, with an impressive 13 top ten finishes and a class win at Thruxton in the Fiesta Junior Championship.

“I am sure that will stand him in good stead for his first season of senior racing in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and we are looking forward to getting out on track testing ahead of round one.”

The identity of the team’s driver for the JCW class will be revealed in due course.