Ginetta G40R: Spotted

A pre-loved PHer's Ginetta with some tasty options and proven capacity for fun

The Yorkshire stereotype of straight-talking, down-to-earth pragmatism is one locals will spare no opportunity to remind you of. But it also rings true of the products created there. Regulars in the Pedal Powered forum will be familiar with Orange Bikes, whose long-running Five is a mainstay of the British mountain biking scene. It's not the flashest bike you can buy but it is 'and welded in 'alifax and its simplicity, toughness, fun handling and fitness for purpose have endeared it to many.

Orange is also the house colour for Ginetta, based a short hop from the bike firm and offering a similar blend of proven, no-nonsense engineering for privateer racers across a range of motorsport series and disciplines. And it's a shade this G40R, up for sale by its PHer owner, wears particularly well.

As far as entry-level racing cars for the road go the G40 sits somewhere between the classic minimalism of the Caterham Seven and its derivatives and the more brutal and functional Radical-type cars popular with many. The appeal of the Ginetta's traditional looks but modern-day safety standards are easy to understand, the G40 combining a Caterham's back-to-basics rawness but with a small nod to practicality and usability. As in it has a roof and doors.

The Duratec motor and fundamental handling characteristics of the Ginetta will be familiar to Caterham drivers, the proper boot and protection from the elements giving it a wider range of abilities. Be under no illusions though - it's still a raw, noisy and track-focused car with the minimum of creature comforts. On-limit spikiness and a lack of driver aids make driving a G40 at pace something to challenge and reward in equal measure - it's the kind of car that'll teach you a lot about your driving on road and track. This former press car benefits from a number of tasty - and expensive - extras, including race seats, a Racelogic V-box and Ohlins dampers. Air conditioning sounds extravagant but that tiny cabin can get hot in warm weather and mist up when it's damp so isn't as decadent as it seems.

As a high days and holidays road car it'd be huge fun, ditto if you're a track day addict with an eye for taking it further with sprints, hillclimbs or even a bit of proper racing. Looking at the pictures supplied by its current PHer owner it's been used as intended, packed up for Euro road trips, used on track at home and abroad and generally driven as its makers intended. It's not cheap but then nor are the alternatives. And while it's not a car for straight-line heroes or those who obsess over on-paper performance rather than the real thing as a proper car for proper drivers it makes good on those Yorkshire values.

GINETTA G40R
Engine: 1,999cc, in-line 4-cyl (Ford Duratec)
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 177@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 140@5,000rpm
MPG: 29mpg (Ginetta figure)
CO2: 181g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 33,000 miles
Price new: c. £40,000
Yours for: £20,000