Rick Parfitt and Seb Morris will continue to compete in British GT with Team Parker Racing this season after confirming their unchanged line-up four weeks before the start of the 2017 campaign.
The pair’s Bentley Continental GT3, nicknamed ‘Geoff’ in reference to last season’s main backer, proved a fan favourite in 2016. It returns with an all-new backer - Ast Transport Branding - and livery, to be unveiled in central London on Friday night, as part of Team Parker’s expanded two-car entry that also features Ian Loggie and Callum Macleod.
Both drivers were amongst the fastest GT3 Pros and Ams last season en route to third in the final standings, while a race victory at Oulton Park, another five podium finishes and four pole positions also helped newly-appointed BRDC Superstar Morris win the Sunoco Whelen Challenge.
And with a year of experience behind him, the 21-year-old Welshman has the GT3 title firmly in his sights.
“I’m extremely excited to mount a full title assault on the British GT Championship with this amazing team of people once again and, of course, the best manufacturer on the grid – Bentley,” he said. “I’m also honoured to have the amazing support of Eddie Stobart,as we move around the championship challenge venues.
“I believe with the changes we have made over the winter with the help of M-Sport and Bentley,plus the driver pairing, we really will have the whole package this year. It’s a dream come true to be able to do this again with a year of experience behind us. I can’t wait to get going, most importantly we are here to win the championship – that’s the goal.
Parfitt echoed his co-driver’s sentiment.
“I’m hugely excited to be back in British GT with the Team Parker Racing Bentley and with Seb as my team-mate. We proved we were a great pairing last year, and only narrowly missed out on the title in our debut year. We now know the car and team much better and I’m really looking forward to mounting a serious title assault. The ‘Dream Team’ is back!”
Parfitt and Morris’ announcement means that last year’s top four driver crews return to British GT unchanged and racing for the same respective outfits, a detail not lost on Team Parker boss Stuart Parker.
“Having Seb and Rick back in the car for the 2017 season is fantastic news for all at Team Parker. The whole team is motivated to get better than in 2016, having continuity is paramount in what is going to be the hardest fought British GT Championship for years. The relationship with M-Sport and Bentley has blossomed and we look forward to representing them again this year.”
The #31 Bentley’s new livery will be unveiled at Morton’s private members club - a haunt of the original Bentley Boys - in Mayfair this Friday before the car and drivers hit the track during British GT’s media day at Snetterton on March 28.
It’s then on to Oulton Park, which hosts the opening round of this season’s British GT Championship on April 15 & 17.