While casualties continue to litter the financial pages, soaring sales of sleek racers bearing the iconic British marque Ginetta are celebrating the firm's 50th anniversary in fine style.

With an impressive history in the production of sports cars – mostly for track racing – Ginetta is now building models in a new 72,000 sq ft factory alongside the M1 at Garforth, Leeds and 150 new cars have already left the factory in its opening year with the figure set to rise in its second.

Marking the anniversary, latest model the G50 has already produced firm orders for 40 cars at prices ranging from £39,000 to £45,000 and with enquiries continuing to pour in.

Firm demand also continues for the open-top G20 and the G20 Junior coupe equivalent.

The G20 Championship supports the British F3/GT series while the Ginetta Junior Championship attracts 14-16 year olds looking to compete in a real racing car on full-length circuits.

Supporting the British Touring Cars series, its latest recruit is Joshua Hill, whose father Damon, the 1996 F1 world champion, opened the new factory.

Ginetta's move from Sheffield to Leeds followed the firm's acquisition by business entrepreneur and racing driver Lawrence Tomlinson's LNT Group three years ago. Lawrence and Ginetta managing director Richard Dean won their class at Le Mans in 2006 and use their expertise to drive the company forward.

Jobs

The move created 30 new skilled engineering jobs within the 55-strong workforce that now utilises the latest computer design and build techniques to speed new models to the customer waiting list.

These techniques and the modern factory enabled the firm to move the new G50 from design screen to first order delivery in 12 short months.

Richard Dean explains the philosophy behind the success story: "Our ethos is very much that we are able to supply both cars and championships to race them in, which are exceptional value for money.

We have a successful combination of Ginetta cars and championships at different levels that enable a driver with sufficient talent and backing to go from a 14-year-old novice to a professional driver in international GT series."

Richard Dean adds: "The new start in Leeds has enabled us to refine our design and manufacturing processes in line with the highest skill levels.

"We've been fortunate in recruiting skilled engineers from the area and they're working alongside highly skilled race technicians.

"Ginetta is also developing a road variant of the G50 alongside the ever increasing demand for the cars and race Championships in the UK and abroad and it's good to know that its Leeds home will be able to supply the skilled labour required to keep the company growing."