Wakefield-based Optimum Motorsport has announced it will return to the British GT Championship in 2017 to defend its GT4 title.
Graham Johnson and Mike Robinson will again team up to drive the Ginetta G55 GT4 in the premier national GT championship.
Johnson and Robinson will spend the winter preparing to take on the GT4 class for a season that is predicted to be even more competitive than 2016.
“Optimum is the best team on the grid without question: why would we go elsewhere,” said Graham Johnson. “We’ve had one minor issue with the car in two seasons of racing. That’s testament to the thorough pre-race vehicle preparation carried out by the team.”
“We head into the 2017 season better prepared and more experienced than any other team on the grid,” continued Johnson. “Of course we want to win the title again and it will unquestionably be tougher still, with more talent and more manufacturers, but we know how to win – and we have the pace to do just that.”
“This year Graham and I have had an amazing season and 2016 will to beat,” said fellow driver Mike Robinson. “We’re coming back in 2017 with the intention of starting the first race in the same way we have done in the past two seasons. We know the Ginetta inside out and so to do the team.”
Team Principal Shaun Goff is also excited about defending the GT4 title.
“For sure we want to repeat the same again in 2017,” said Goff. “I’m sure it will be a little tougher as we are the champions and the team to beat. As this year was the second season with the same team and same car, it was clear that given most, if not all GT4 pairings, were new we therefore had an advantage. We were quick straight away from day one whilst others had to get to what worked and what didn’t”
The 7-round 2017 British GT Championship opens at Oulton Park on April 16 2017.