Team Parker Racing will enter a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the 2022 Intelligent Money British GT Championship with driving duties falling to teenager Seb Hopkins and an as yet un-named second driver.
BRITISH GT NEWS
Seb, who turns 16 on New Year’s Eve, made his racing debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2020, taking an overall podium finish at Brands Hatch en route to third in the Rookie standings, and followed up this year with 11 podiums from 25 races, finishing third in the main rankings.
Prior to that he competed in karts, in the IKR series, before following in the footsteps of his dad, Jamie, who has spent two seasons racing a Ginetta G40 and most recently a Ginetta G55 GT4 in the Miller Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup.
Having entered a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Nick Jones and Scott Malvern in the British GT Championship in 2020, the team will be fielding the first GT4 Porsche in the series since 2019, with the newly launched 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
Powered by a naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine, delivering close to 500 hp at 9,000 rpm, subject to Balance of Performance. It boasts optimised aerodynamics and improved driveability, has several safety features, including an escape hatch, and comes homologated to SRO GT4 regulations, meaning it will fit seamlessly into the British GT Championship.
“I’m extremely excited. said Seb. It’s a massive opportunity for me and it was something that we weren’t expecting to do, but we’re going to do our best to do as well as we possibly can. It’s going to be a big step and I think I’m probably going to be one of the youngest on the grid, but it’s something that we need to do and will hopefully benefit my career.
“My dad is really interested in racing, and he loves cars, just like me. It was one of those classic things where I went to one of those indoor go karting places, I really enjoyed it and I wanted to pursue it. When I was younger, I used to go to his races and it’s amazing for it to now be the other way around where he comes to watch me race.
“I’ve had one day in the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Clubsport and I think we’re going to try and get some more testing in as soon as possible. Team Parker Racing, I think, is the best team to be with. They’re very well established, especially in the Porsche side of it, so I think realistically my aim is to do as well as we possibly can. Of course, it will be a learning year, but there’s no reason why we can’t be fighting for wins.
“My driving style definitely suits the more endurance style of races and championships. The aim would be Le Mans like many other people, I’m sure, and I think this is the first step that could bring me to the top of that ladder.
“I also want to thank 1BR, a leading local used car retailer, and Moneybarn Vehicle Finance for their backing. We’ve been with them these past two years – they’re a local finance company in our town who have been really supportive of me.”
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