In a surprising, but likely popular move, the Team Parker Racing pairing of Nick Jones and Scott Malvern will contest the 2021 Intelligent Money British GT Championship in a Porsche 991.2 GT3R. Having competed the 2020 campaign in a Bentley Continental GT3 including a victory at Donington Park, the pair are returning to their roots having first ventured into the British GT Championship in a Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR in 2016.
The 2018 British GT Pro-Am champions are bringing back the first full-season GT3 Porsche entry since Trackspeed entered a trio of 997 GT3Rs in 2014.
For Nick Jones, getting back into a Porsche can’t come soon enough.
“I am really, really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel,” he says. “I have always liked the brand, so I am excited to jump into the 911 GT3R and see where we end up. It’s a completely different car to what I have been driving but hopefully it will be inspiring to drive so I don’t mind where we race!”
Jones is also positive about his ongoing partnership with Scott Malvern and Team Parker Racing.
“The best thing about racing with Scott and Team Parker Racing is that we have the relationship and the teamwork, so it is important to carry that through. I am sure Scott will have his work cut out with me being another year older. It will be great to meet up with everyone again and carry on that spirit of racing with your mates. It will be a fun year, so let’s go and enjoy ourselves.”
For co-driver Scott Malvern the chance of another run at the GT3 championship is upper most in his mind.
“I can’t wait, and I am excited to be back in GT3 again. With the new rules, excluding Silver-Silver line ups it is anyone’s game now, so we have a really good chance, especially with this new car which is proven and has won lots of races both last year and this. I am pleased for the team too as they have a great reputation with Porsche and did really well last year with the Cup cars.
“The GT3R is a proven product and even reading the manual at the moment it looks like a professional, finished product, and I have no doubt it will live up to expectation. Both Team Parker Racing and Nick have done well to even get hold of this car because they just aren’t available, and I think it will be the perfect car for British GT if you look at the weather we had last year, and the sort of circuits we race on.”
Within GT racing Team Parker Racing have been synonymous with Bentley for the past few years but their connection with Porsche runs much deeper. For team principal Stewart Parker this is the perfect next step after Bentley ended development of the Continental GT3.
“It is fantastic to announce our plans for the 2021 British GT Championship as we begin a new era with the Porsche 911 GT3R. Everyone at the team is delighted to take this step with Porsche after our long-term success with the manufacturer over almost twenty years and we couldn’t think of a better line up than Nick and Scott to drive the car, after five years together.
“We now offer drivers the opportunity to compete at three levels of the Porsche motorsport pyramid, so they can join us in the Sprint Challenge GB and work their way through the Carrera Cup GB and into GT3. We cannot wait to get out on track with the GT3 R and put it through its paces as we prepare to open the season.”
The 2021 season of the Intelligent Money British GT Championship gets underway on 22-23 May at Oulton Park with two one-hour sprint races.
You can find the complete entry list with all confirmed teams so far for the 2021 Intelligent Money British GT Championship HERE.
Images by Michael Hall Photography.
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