Optimum Motorsport has announced a new McLaren GT3 Silver entry for the restarted 2020 Intelligent Money British GT Championship
Reigning Silver cup champion Ollie Wilkinson will defend his crown alongside McLaren Academy Driver Lewis Proctor, who is graduating from GT4 after ranking fourth in 2019.
Optimum’s new entry to the series is the result of a review of the team’s 2020 programme in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic causing a reshuffling of the scheduled.
The team have confirmed they have withdrawn their two GT4 entries from the series due to the inability of the drivers to commit to the full revised season.
Their other GT3 entry, the #68 Pro-am entry of Nick Foster & Martin Berry is under review due to travel restrictions for Singapore-based driver Berry, an issue which has already forced the team withdrawal from the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
Despite the uncertainly surrounding the rest of the team, Wilkinson is pleased to be able to defend his title.
“I count myself lucky to be racing this season, so to come back to British GT and defend the Silver Cup title in our McLaren 720S GT3 is more than I could have hoped for,” he said.
“Taking the title last year was brilliant and it will be good to come back with that experience under my belt, a new car, new sponsor and new team-mate.
“Lewis has already proved himself to be a pace-setter in GT4 and I have no doubt he will take the step up to GT3 in his stride this year”
Proctor, aside from an one-off entry with the team in the 2019 Dubai 24Hour, will be stepping up to the GT3 class full-time but is excited at the prospect, especially because of the chance to continue working with Optimum.
“I have known the team for a long time, we go way back,” he said.
“Shaun (Goff Team Principal) has a good team and the boys and girls at Optimum are very professional, I’m looking forward to getting racing in August.”
