BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT3 WINS THE BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP

• #31 Bentley Continental GT3 of Team Parker Racing wins championship
• Drivers Seb Morris and Rick Parfitt Jr. take fourth at Donington to secure the championship title
• Further success as Bentley Team Absolute takes podium in Blancpain GT Asia debut
• Bentley Team M-Sport now push for the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup title

25 September 2017, Crewe – The #31 Bentley Continental GT3 of Seb Morris (GB) and Rick Parfitt Jr (GB) has won the 2017 British GT Championship thanks to a fourth place finish for the Team Parker Racing crew at Donington Park.

The team started the weekend - dubbed the Donington Decider – with a 10.5 advantage in the standings. After a close qualifying session the pair started side-by-side with their championship rivals in third and fourth.

Parfitt Jr. started the two-hour race and, after some battling with, made a fantastic overtake on the famous Craner Curves and climbed into third. As the pitstops came, Parfitt Jr had pushed hard to get a 10-second advantage over their nearest rivals in the #31 Lamborghini.

Morris took over and, after a 20-second success penalty for winning at Brands Hatch, emerged in fifth with the Lamborghini 12 seconds ahead in third.  After climbing to fourth, the cars crossed the line and the British Bentley drivers were crowed champions.

“Seb, Rick and all at Team Parker Racing have made history this weekend,” commented Bentley’s Director of Motorsport Brian Gush. “For a British brand to win the British GT Championship is a great honour and one that makes everyone here at Crewe very proud. Congratulations to all at Team Parker Racing, who have done a great job throughout the season.”

As Team Parker Racing battled in the UK, Bentley Team Absolute made its Blancpain GT Asia Series debut in Shanghai and stood on the Pro-Am class podium after Adderly Fong (HK) and Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak (TH) finished in second place.

“We’ve made a good start to our Blancpain GT Asia Series involvement and we’re sure this will continue,” Gush continued. “Bentley Team Absolute have proven themselves with the Continental GT3 and have won both races and championships in Asia so we look forward to continuing this success with them.

“Before that, we turn our attentions to the Blancpain GT Series finale next weekend and have our sights set firmly on the Endurance Cup title.”

The Continental GT3 next races in Barcelona for the final round of the Blancpain GT Series next weekend (1 October) and championship-leaders Bentley Team M-Sport are aiming for overall honours in the ultra-competitive Endurance Cup.  

-ENDS-

Rick Parfitt Jr.: “Team Parker have been incredible all season and Bentley have given us a car that is strong and reliable. Seb has really brought me on as a driver – he’s world class – and I’ve had my best season ever.”

Seb Morris: “That wasn’t bad, was it?! Rick drove amazingly and the car was faultless. To win the British GT Championship for a British manufacturer is incredible and I hope we continue to bring success to the brand.”

Notes to editors

• Bentley Motorsport is based at the Bentley Motors headquarters in Crewe. From there, the operation runs Bentley Team M-Sport, and oversees three Works-supported teams around the world.
• The Continental GT3 is built by the Bentley motorsport team in conjunction with M-Sport. The Bentley GT3 team is led by Bentley Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush supported by M-Sport’s Chief Engineer, Christian Loriaux.