Media Release: Team RPM Confirms Newbury’s Peter Bamford For 2011 International GT Open Assault
Newbury, Berkshire (UK) – Monday, December 13, 2010; Seasoned international GT racing driver from Newbury, Peter Bamford has been confirmed for Team RPM’s leading driver line-up to contest the 2011 International GT Open Championship.
Already a race winner in the premier European championship in 2008, Bamford will again partner the Principal of the Banbury-based championship winning outfit and former British GT Champion, Alex Mortimer, in the hunt to secure Team RPM’s first International GT Open race victory in the GTS category. The duo’s inaugural International GT Open season delivered impressive results in 2010, despite a difficult year for the team which suffered the loss of its inspirational founder, Robin Mortimer. Team RPM has built a notable reputation as one of the UK’s leading sportscar teams. British GT Champions in 2007, the team can also lay claim to no fewer than five Radical Enduro crowns plus multiple Porsche Carrera Cup wins and second in the 2004 title fight with Tim Harvey. Suitably continuing his father’s legacy, under Alex’s management Team RPM finished joint third in the fiercely competitive International GT Open GTS category this year - Mortimer and Bamford’s consistent form delivering no fewer than 12 top six finishes in 16 races. Three podiums, including second and third at Magny-Cours and another second at Brands Hatch, in addition to one pole position and a fastest lap saw the British pairing prove their international calibre. Bamford and Mortimer will be looking to go one step further on the podium in 2011 as they hunt for their first GTS class win. Bamford commented: “We had a great 2010 season. It was my first racing the Ford GT with Alex but we delivered improving results and were really competitive in the second half of the season. “International GT Open is a great series and Team RPM has demonstrated how competitive and reliable the Ford GT is, so I’m looking forward to taking our form forward into 2011. “Team RPM run a highly professional outfit and are great fun to race with, so it was a natural choice to sign with them again. I also knew Robin very well – I did my first ever race with him in 2006 – so after going through the traumas of his sudden death mid-season, continuing a partnership with Alex is even more worthwhile.” Alex Mortimer added: “The 2010 season was an exploratory year for Team RPM as Peter and I made our International GT Open pairing debut. We did really well to finish third in the standings and take three podiums against such a high calibre of drivers. “It’s great to have Peter already confirmed for 2011. We work so well together and he has a solid history with the team having done more mileage with Team RPM than any other driver. Our goal is to be the top 2011 Pro-Am pairing and secure more pole positions, fastest laps and of course our first win. “It’s going to be a fantastic programme and it’s great to be positively moving forward. Dad and I ran Team RPM together for many years, so it’s an honour to continue that leadership with an awesome team of people behind me. It’s important we continue the phenomenal legacy Dad built with Team RPM’s International GT Open success and I believe we have the team personnel and drivers to make that possible.” To keep up to date with the latest Team RPM news visit www.teamrpm.org.uk and for further information on the International GT Open Championship, including the provisional 2011 calendar, visit www.gtsport.es. -Ends- Please click on the thumbnail below to download the images. Team RPM Media Contact: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 Email: emma.spearing@hazelpr.com
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