JAMES SHERRINGTON
INTRODUCING JAMES
James Sherrington, a talented 16-year-old racing driver from Ascot, embarked on his motorsport journey from an incredibly young age.
His passion for racing was ignited at just 6 weeks old as he watched his father race at the renowned Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, from then on James was captivated! He has since spent most of his weekends at a track, competing or spectating.
At 9 years old his father bought him a Kart and James’ motor sport journey began. They ran as a father & son team in Honda Cadet, then moving into MiniMax. His karting endeavours showcased early success at a club level in Minimax category, frequently gracing the podium. James’ tenacity and skill were further highlighted in the Kartmasters Grand Prix, after an initial setback in the Semi Final round meaning he would start the Grand Final from the back. In the Grand Final he adeptly maneuvered his way up the ranks, making up an impressive 20 places, and thoroughly enjoying the race!
It was always the plan for James to transition to car racing and on his 14th birthday James got a Citroen Saxo VTR to compete in the Junior Saloon Car for the 2023 Junior Saloon Car Championship season.
RACING HISTORY
Despite budget constraints limiting his participation to 6 out of 10 rounds, James displayed remarkable skill and determination, securing a commendable 14th position out of 38 competitors and an impressive 5th place among 23 rookies. His consistent performance led to 9 rookie podium finishes out of 14 completed races. By the end of the season, with James’ development and car improvements, James knew he was a serious contender for the 2024 season.
With the dawn of the 2024 season, James geared up with aspirations of claiming the top spot in the JSCC championship. The season commenced on a promising note with two podium finishes at the opening round in Brands Hatch. However, like most race seasons, you have to be prepared for the unexpected, and a period in the mid-season saw a number mechanical failures and DNFs.
However a switch for the last 4 rounds to team Vinna Sport saw the mechanical gremlins fixed and James immediately back on the pace securing a number of podiums and an outright race win in the last race of the season at Brands Hatch!
CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP
Following on from his successful year in the JSCC, James has made the jump into adult racing and will be competing in the Vertu Mini Challenge. The Vertu Mini Challenge offers superbly close competitive racing and benefits from being part of the support package for the BTCC. The championship is spread across seven rounds at the UK’s top circuits and will be broadcast live on ITV4 as part of the BTCC package. Despite being the youngest driver on the grid James has made a flying start with a podium finish in the first 3 rounds and was in contention for an outright win, only to be robbed on the last lap by an over ambitious passing attempt from another competitor. The ambition in 2025 is to challenge for the Rookie title where he is currently in second place.
FUTURE PLANS
Ultimately, James wants to build his experience racing in GTs on both a national and an international stage. This would lead to the eventual goal of competing in the legendary World Endurance Championship and the iconic 24h of Le Mans endurance race.
We invite you to be a part of James’ journey and to help him establish himself at the leading edge of competitive international motorsport.
JAMES SHERRINGTON:
BEHIND THE VISOR
What inspired you to get into racing? Was it a particular race, moment, or person that sparked your passion?
I was inspired to get into motorsport purely by my dad, seeing him win as a child made me fall in love with the sport!
How would you describe your driving style? Are you more strategic and cautious, or aggressive and instinctive?
I would say I have a blend of strategy and aggression ingrained in my driving style.
What has been the biggest challenge in your racing journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
The 2024 JSCC was by far the toughest challenge in my racing journey with reliability issues and harsh penalties ending my title challenge early was tough for me to take, however once we solved these issues I bounced back onto the top step of the podium at the final round.
As you are both siblings involved in racing, do you feel a sense of rivalry, or is it more of a support system between you? How does it impact your racing careers?
To be honest it does not particularly affect me, however I do enjoy seeing Jazmine succeed in whatever she does… if she isn’t beating me!
When you are not at the track or training, how do you spend your downtime?
Away from motorsport entirely I like going and watching West Ham with my mates and playing football, and then in the summer months I spend a lot of time on the golf course.
What is one goal or milestone you hope to achieve in the next year?
I would like to be the Mini Challenge Rookie Champion and finish in the top 10 in the overall championship.
If you could race against any driver, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would race against my dad and my uncle Steve because they are who started off my motorsport journey.
How do you stay focused and calm under the intense pressure of racing? Any tricks or habits you swear by?
To be honest as simple as it sounds, I just try not to get in the car to early before a race, so I stay calm.
If each of you could be remembered for one thing in the racing world, what would you want it to be?
A winner.
What do you think is the most exciting thing about motorsport right now, and what role do you want to play in its future?
I think that right now the most exciting thing in motorsport is the expansion of GT racing on a world scale and I would certainly want to be a part of that.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? In 10 years’, time?
In 5 years, I hope to see myself in some form of GT racing, then further down the line my ambition is to become a factory driver in the world endurance championship.
What is your dream (road) car and why?
My dream road car is a Jaguar E type because I used to watch them race at Goodwood when I was a kid.
Any advice for other aspiring young drivers?
Never stop wanting more because it is that ambition that keeps you improving and climbing the ladder.
PHOTOS
VIDEO
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
We will be delighted to hear from anybody interested in becoming a part of James’ motorsport journey and are always open to looking at new partnership and brand collaboration opportunities.
One of the easiest ways to get involved is to follow James on social media, where he shares behind-the-scenes glimpses, race day updates, and personal insights from the track. By liking, commenting, and sharing his posts, you’re helping him build a larger community of fans and supporters. Every bit of engagement builds momentum for James, and we appreciate every single like, follow, and share!