Top GT squad, Team RPM announced today that it will again contest the International GT Open series after a successful first year. Owner / driver, Alex Mortimer will continue his partnership with seasoned GT racer Peter Bamford in the team’s Ford GT.
The duo's inaugural International GT Open season delivered consistent good results and saw them clinch third in the championship, despite a difficult year for the team which suffered the loss of its inspirational founder, Robin Mortimer.
Mortimer added, “We did really well to finish third in the standings and take three podiums against such a high calibre of drivers. Just take the final season round where we finished as the top Pro-Am pair sixth in class, one place behind Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo. International GT Open is the premier European GT championship after FIA GT1 and we're proud to be a part of it.”
Suitably continuing his father's legacy, under Alex's management Team RPM finished joint third, alongside Autorlando Sport, 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. Mortimer and Bamford will be looking to go one step further on the podium in 2011 as they hunt for their first GTS class win.
“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. As well as a great driver line-up, we have a great car in the Ford GT, as we also proved with 14th overall and sixth in class at the Spa 24 Hours.
Bamford added, “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.”
The pairing contested several rounds of the 2010 British GT Championship too, but were unable to replicate their GT Open form, coming away with only a single podium after a number of ‘racing incidents’ with other competitors.
RPM Motorsport’s multiple accolades include the 2007 British GT Championship title, secured by Alex Mortimer and Bradley Ellis in the RPM Dodge Viper; the 2007 Radical Enduro SR3 crown; FIA GT3 European Championship podiums with Bradley Ellis partnering Ed Morris in 2007; and runner-up in the Porsche Carrera Cup with Tim Harvey in 2004.
