Driver Announcement - Ben Crossley
Teenager Ben Crossley will take his first steps into circuit racing after signing up for the new JCW Sport class being introduced into the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE this season.
Crossley will join forces with former title-winners JamSport for his rookie campaign as he makes the switch over from rallycross, having competed last year in the Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Junior Rallycross Championship.
Prior to his rallycross exploits enjoyed a hugely successful career in karting, taking countless wins having first hit the track at the age of just nine.
It all culminated in a stunning 2020 season, where he finished inside the top five in the Mini Max class of the British Karting Championship and picked up second place in the Rotax Festival event at Clay Pigeon Kart Club – setting the fastest lap and only missing out on the top step of the podium by a tenth of a second.
Crossley is one of a select number of youngster to have been selected for a place on the Motorsport UK Academy Enhanced Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) course operated alongside Loughborough College, with the programme designed to help youngsters looking to forge a career in the sport.
Whilst yet to sample his new car in JCW Sport specification, Crossley has already sampled a full-blown JCW car in preparation for the new season and will now continue work preparing for his series debut at Donington Park in late April.
“My experience in karting helped me make the step into cars last season, and I feel ready to now move over to circuit racing in the new JCW Sport class,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the experience of competing on the support package for the British Touring Car Championship, and also working with a team like JamSport given the success it has enjoyed in the past.
“I know I’m going to be one of the youngest drivers on the grid, but I’m hoping to make an impression amongst the rookie drivers and it would be great if we could battle for some wins during the season.”
Crossley is the second driver confirmed in the JamSport line-up for 2024, with the team having already revealed that Marlo Cordell will return to the JCW class for a second season.
“I’ve been working closely with Ben for the last couple of months as his driver coach and he has made great progress considering his limited circuit racing experience,” team boss Jamie Going said. “I am looking forward to continuing our partnership and I am really happy he is racing for JamSport Racing this season.
“We’re pleased to be running a JCW Sport this season, which we believe is a great platform for new drivers to learn their craft before they step into the JCW. We are excited to see what the season holds.”
