Devon Hagelen has made history as the youngest ever winner of the coveted Ginetta Junior Scholarship, with the 13-year-old talent securing himself a fully-funded season in the Ginetta Junior Championship next year.
Hagelen, who celebrates his 14th birthday on Friday (24th October), becomes the second Dutchman to win the scholarship after 2021 winner Robert de Haan. He emerged victorious after a hotly-contested three-day event (17-19 October) at Ginetta’s own Blyton Park circuit in Lincolnshire.
A talented group of 50 young drivers battled it out to secure one of the biggest prizes in UK motorsport. The entrants’ driving skills were assessed on-track by an elite judging panel: Charlie Robertson, Adam Smalley, Sennan Fielding, Aston Millar, Max Coates, James Gornall, Josh Steed, Sean Doyle and Ryan Harper Ellam.
Motorsport commentator Richard John Neil was on hand to evaluate the teenagers’ media and communication skills, while personal trainer Sam Kibble put their fitness and determination to the test with a range of physical challenges.
After two hugely competitive qualifying days, 26 drivers made it through to the final day of competition. The field was whittled down to 11 drivers before a final four were selected for a final run behind the wheel of a Ginetta G40 Evo: Hagelen, Riley Cranham, Juste Mulder and Skye Parker.
After the judges’ final deliberations, Hagelen was announced as the 2026 Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner. He will now embark of his car-racing debut after a successful karting career that included being crowned the 2024 IAME NL Dutch champion.
The Dutchman will be aiming to replicate the achievements of de Haan, who was crowned rookie champion in his scholarship year, and compatriot Rocco Coronel, who became the first-ever overseas competitor to win the overall drivers’ title this year.
Devon Hagelen: “I’m feeling really happy to win the Ginetta Junior Scholarship. We were just coming here for some experience. I hadn’t driven the car before, and I didn’t expect at all to win, so I’m really proud.”
“The competition was really high, everyone was really fast from the beginning. I felt it was going to be hard to win, but it went well for me in the car and in the training. It feels unbelievable to have in mind that I’m going to be racing cars next year.”
“The goal next season is to win, but we’ll see. Hopefully I’ll get some testing in the winter to improve myself even more, to get faster and more competitive for the season ahead.”
Kelly Robertson, Ginetta Events Manager: “We had a fantastic three days at Blyton Park for the Ginetta Junior Scholarship. There were a lot of talented drivers competing this year, and it was a tough task to select the 26 finalists, let alone narrow down the field on Sunday.”
“Devon Hagelen impressed all of the judges with a brilliant performance and is a very deserving winner of the scholarship. We’re looking forward to seeing him on the grid next season, and we hope to see a number of the other scholarship contenders on track with him.”
The full prize package for 2026 includes all entry fees, use of a G40 Junior Evo race car for the whole season, including insurance and a season supply of race tyres and fuel, plus professional car preparation from an experienced team for the duration of the season.
The 2025 Ginetta season comes to its conclusion in two weeks’ time (01-02 November) with the annual Ginetta Junior Winter Series at Silverstone.
2026 Ginetta Junior Scholarship:
Winner: Devon Hagelen
Final 4: Riley Cranham, Juste Mulder, Skye Parker
Final 11: Jacob Ashcroft, Sebastien Leusch, Finlay Lines, Rowan Slaughter, Addison Smith, Oscar Stockley-King, Pearce Wade
Final 26: Benjamin Baker, Barnaby Brewer, Ethan Brass, Max Colbert, Bailey Doughty, Honey Hodgson, Luca Luen, Alfie McBain, Daniel Oliver, Owen Oxley, Thomas Potter, Erik Poulsen, Luke Smith, Kai Veitch, Marcell Zsebo