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 crowned champions.
Seb, Rick and all at Team Parker Racing have made history this weekend. 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.
— Brian Gush, Bentley’s Director of Motorsport
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. 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.
–Brian Gush
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 honors in the ultra-competitive Endurance Cup.
Note: Press release courtesy of Bentley.
