OFF THE TRACK - GTA Rookie Champion, Toby Trice, Behind the Scenes of the GT Academy
Just before taking the winning title, Toby sat down with Ginetta North America to share more about his start and how Ginetta helped him to win his first full BTCC season.
How did you start? What got you hooked?
So my childhood was pretty much spent at the oval track watching my uncle race. And I've got really fond memories of watching him race and become champion at the local circuit. I was always in the way — always kind of sitting in the driver's seat and trying to drive and couldn’t reach the pedals and steering wheel, that kind of thing.
My granddad is my biggest idol — he helped my uncle with the car sometimes, and we always did that as a family. I've also got really fond memories, a bit cliche, but also watching Formula One with my granddad and just really being embraced into motorsport. But I didn't get into motorsport driving myself until my late 20s. I couldn't afford karting when I was younger. So, it wasn't until I got a job that allowed me to get into karting.
Instead of starting at the age of eight or nine when many do, it was more like my late 20s — so it was quite late into my career. And I started purely to overcome mental health issues.
At the time, I was going through fertility treatments, my partner and I spent a long time trying to conceive with low success. It led me to this sort of spiral of mental health conditions and just being down and upset. So, motorsport became my escape. It became my medicine, and in a way, also my addiction, but it did save my life. Really — it gave me new purpose. And, and that's how I got into racing.
I got picked up by a sponsor quite early on, too. Somehow I managed to turn all the negative energy I was feeling into something really positive on the track. Land quickly, go quick, very fast. And I was competing in the front end of the grid, on a big championship at the local track. Then not long after, in 2019, I stepped into car racing at Ginetta and haven’t looked back.
This is only my second year in car racing, and I’m just really overwhelmed with the success that I've managed to bring to the championship this year. We've been pretty much undefeated in the class — running top of the series, and I’m hoping in two weeks’ time that I can be crowned champion. And in just my second year of car racing, I'm really happy about that, because the grid is really strong. They're a good bunch of drivers. So yeah, I'm super happy.
Because, you know, with the rookies, don't know who's coming through. There are a lot of talented rookies that have come free this year and it's been a lot of time testing. But we've been on quite a limited test program this year, because of budget and sponsorship and so on. So, it's been quite hard to get to the track to test just as much as they have. It's been quite a challenge. But, they've come to the grid and gave some great competition. And that's what racing is all about — a challenge. Right? So yeah, it's been great.
What made Ginetta stand out from other single-make series?
It was a combination of a few things, really. Of course, we were looking around at what championships to join. But the GT Academy was also place to learn — and that was, first and foremost, the thing that I wanted to do. My goal is to go to them on Sunday, and I kind of want to get a good foundation in GT driving so that throughout my career, I can build to that. And hopefully one day, be a Le Mans driver.
So when they launched the GT Academy, it was just the perfect match in terms of the budget we had available, and what it would allow us to achieve, while also giving us an opportunity to really show ourselves off to the British GT paddock..
It ticks so many boxes, and then on top of that, we've done just that, you know, we've learned a hell of a lot. This season. I've really developed quite a lot as a driver. And it's all thanks to that machine. It’s really just fantastic. It's such a joy to drive on the limit. Because it’s easy to drive, but difficult to drive on the limit. And that’s the nice thing, it gives me the platform to grow my confidence.
What was your first reaction to the GTA car?
One of the things that stands out to me is the second day of testing, when I was kind of building the pace and getting to the point where I was becoming one with the machine.
There’s this nice resonance you get at that point — this almost silent feeling, that kind of beautiful state where you're one with the machine. And the cars are amazing on the limit. You know, I know we're on a road tire. But the chassis is just fantastic. And it just really helps you, as I always say, build confidence. Because it’s quite progressive to get to the limit, and when you get there, it’s such a nice space to be in. So yeah, they’ve got a great car. I love it. And it looks awesome.
Street Tires:
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. Most people ARE really surprised, ‘cuz I've done quite a lot of corporate days now with my sponsors — taking them out in hot laps, and letting them have an experience of what the cars like. Most people are really surprised it's even got road tires on there like that. And that's just phenomenal — there's so much grip. You know, it's a fantastic chassis, too, because it just allows that grip to be really enhanced and brought out.
There were a couple of cars — we did look at Porsche. That was one of the considerations. But after driving the Academy Car — which I actually test drove about a year ago now, I think it was — I was just instantly wound, of course. It's quite similar to the current Supercup car — kind of like a slight modification from that. But seeing that the prototype steering will get instructed for the first time, and kind of experiencing that power difference, because before I was in the G 40s, this is a big step up in torque and power. And obviously, with the paddle-shift gearbox, it was a bit of a wild ride, it's awesome.
What are some of their most memorable moments with Ginetta?
It was really tough, 2020, because I was just at the start of my racing career and building momentum throughout the season. But you know, my standout moment was done in 2019 — my first ever podium in motorsport. It was just such an insane feeling. But that was the bug really — that was that addiction of like, right, if I keep working hard, keep impressing and keep improving, as a driver, I can stay on this grid longer.
And hopefully one day, I get my first race.
Obviously 2020 I sat out, and it felt like an eternity because the world was just completely shut down. So the anticipation ahead of this season was big — and my biggest goal was to try and win at least one race. To then go potentential series winners now has just been bonkers.
But yeah, Brands Hatch. You know that day we turned up, and we were kind of hoping top five, and being realistic, but we didn't really know our true pace. And when I put it on pause, I thought, I've got an opportunity here to be the winner — like the first inaugural, the very first, winner of the GT Academy. And that that really was a big moment for me, because I remember getting strapped into the car for that race, and thinking I could write history today. And then to go out and put the wind in like I did was just an insane fear. That was like a video of an onboard, of me just going crazy across the finish line. It's such a good feeling.
Would you do anything differently?
I think it’s that they've made me feel welcome, as part of a kind of rags to riches type story, I guess, because I'm very much of a person that can't afford motorsport myself, you know. I need to be sponsored to be on the grid. And I think that Motorsports perception these days is quite an elitist place. I think most people would agree. But, the moment I joined them, you know, I felt that I was part of the Ginetta family. And they made me feel welcome to be on the grid and establish myself as a driver. And you know, without that kind of platform, I certainly wouldn't be in this position. I am now where I'm looking at the next 10 years of my racing career — that is such an overwhelming feeling for me, really, because I remember when I first stepped foot in a race car, and I was just grateful for that moment. That was it. I was like, ‘Now I’m happy.’ But now to call me a racing driver — I still have to pinch myself. I still have to remind myself, ‘Oh my god, this is actually real.’ So I hope to inspire other people like me who started with go-karting, that it is achievable. And Ginetta has been the perfect platform to make all of those dreams come true. Really.
Last mentions on the car:
It's amazing. It's such a capable car. That's the thing — like on some of the test days that I've been on, I've kind of really showed up some quite amazing road cars and hypercars and stuff. And this little Ginetta was around all day long. And just make them look silly, you know? For a fraction of the costs.
