Team Parker Adds Endurance Cup Program

Bentley customer outfit Team Parker Racing will contest the full Blancpain GT Series this season, having confirmed an entry to the Endurance Cup on Wednesday.

The team has pledged a single first-generation Bentley Continental GT3 for a long-distance campaign that will run in addition to its previously-announced Sprint Cup effort.

Reigning British GT champion Seb Morris, who won his title with Stuart Parker’s squad, will share the wheel with team regular Derek Pierce and 24H Series GT4 winner Ade Barwick.

Team Parker’s presence brings the number of Bentleys on the endurance grid to three, adding to the pair of new-spec Continental GT3 already confirmed by the factory M-Sport squad.

“We’re delighted to see Team Parker Racing return to the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, where they enjoyed success with Bentley two years ago,” said Bentley Motorsport director Brian Gush.

“The first-generation Continental GT3 remains a proven performer over longer distances, as evidenced by Bentley Team M-Sport’s Endurance Cup title and Spa 24 Hours podium last season, while Seb also demonstrated his Pro-Am credentials by sealing the 2017 British GT Drivers’ crown for Team Parker Racing and Bentley.

“I firmly believe the partnership has all the ingredients to mount a very strong challenge in Europe this year.”

All three drivers have prior experience with Team Parker, although Pierce is alone in having been part of the outfit’s previous Endurance Cup lineup two years ago (pictured).

Barwick has raced with the team in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, while Morris joined its British GT program after his final GP3 season in 2016.

Twenty-two-year-old Morris will fill the position of the Gold-rated driver this season, having been upgraded during the winter, with Pierce and Barwick both registered as Bronze.

“I am delighted to have signed with Team Parker Racing for my first proper assault on the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, which I consider to be the biggest sports car championship in the world right now,” said Morris.

“Winning last year’s title means I now feel ready to leave British GT and use all the experience learned there over the past two years to mount a championship challenge with Ade and Derek.”

Alongside its twin Blancpain GT operations, Team Parker Racing will continue to field a pair of Bentleys in the British GT Championship this year, with Ryan Ratcliffe replacing Morris in the title-defending car.