The opening round of the 2026 Ginetta Junior Championship powered by Sunoco Race Fuels took place at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend of 11th–12th April, where EDGE Sporting Management driver Lewis Goff delivered a standout performance to launch his campaign in emphatic style.
Entering the weekend following a strong winter series at the end of 2025, alongside an extensive pre-season testing programme, Goff arrived well-prepared and immediately established himself as the driver to beat. In Saturday’s qualifying session, he produced two exceptional laps to secure a dominant double pole position, firmly marking himself as a leading contender for the 2026 title.
While qualifying performance is one measure, converting that pace into race results in the Ginetta Junior Championship—renowned for its close and competitive racing—is another challenge entirely. Goff, however, demonstrated complete control across all three races on Sunday, securing a remarkable hat-trick of victories.
Race one saw Goff make a strong start and quickly establish a gap at the front as the chasing pack battled intensely for position. With clean air ahead, he managed the race from the front to secure a composed lights-to-flag victory.
In race two, the pressure increased as the group behind remained more organised and within close proximity throughout. Despite this, Goff maintained his composure, controlled the pace effectively, and delivered a second consecutive victory.
Race three presented the most demanding conditions of the weekend, with the race transitioning from dry to wet midway through. As grip levels dropped significantly, Goff adapted immediately, drawing on his winter testing experience to switch seamlessly to wet-weather driving. Once again, he controlled proceedings from the front to secure a third victory, completing a clean sweep.
The achievement marks a historic milestone. It is the first time that R Racing – the championship’s most successful team – has won all three races at the opening round of a season. Furthermore, it is only the second time in Ginetta Junior Championship history that a driver has taken pole position and led every lap of all three races in a single meeting. The other driver was EDGE Sporting Management driver – Reza Seewooruthun, at Brands Hatch in 2023.
Reflecting on his performance, Goff said:
“I had a fantastic weekend, probably even more than I had dreamed of. I was really hoping to be super competitive and challenge for race wins, but to be on pole position and win all of the races is a dream come true. Thank you so much to my dad, my family, EDGE Sporting Management and R Racing for all their support.”
The result represents a perfect start to the 2026 season for Goff and EDGE Sporting Management, laying down a clear marker for the championship ahead.