Optimum Motorsport has announced that it will compete in the 2018 International GT Open Championship with a Pro-Am entered Audi R8 LMS GT3 for Bradley Ellis and Oliver Wilkinson.
This marks a full-time return to the European-based GT3 series, after the team competed at the 2017 finale in Barcelona, and bagged a second place finish in the Pro-Am class in the second race of the weekend.
“We’re looking forward to the year of racing ahead with Bradley and Ollie,” stated team principal Shaun Goff.
“Ollie is very much on a learning curve after stepping up from the Ginetta GT5 championship in 2017, but we’re confident that with Bradley helping him adapt to the new environment, he will be right on the pace in what we believe is a very strong Pro Am driver pairing.”
Wilkinson said he’s been working hard ahead of the new season, to ensure he’s ready to compete in the championship.
“It’s been a busy winter preparing for my first International GT Open season,” he said. “I’ve been working through an extensive fitness and simulator training development programme, to make sure I’m GT3 race fit whilst constantly improving my race craft and mental focus to become a stronger all-round driver package.”
Ellis meanwhile, feels that the R8 LMS GT3 is the perfect car for the duo to compete with this season.
“The Audi feels amazing to drive,” he explained. “It is very well suited to Ollie and myself because the front is so positive. We hate understeer and love oversteer!”
Unfortunately the team will not be able to compete at the Paul Ricard round, making winning the championship a tough ask. However, Wilkinson is still excited to get his second year or racing underway and use the season as a learning experience.
“As this is my debut International GT Open season and only my second year of racing, every circuit will be a new learning curve,” Wilkinson said.
“Graduating to GT3, there’s a lot to learn driving the Audi, including understanding a car with more aero, downforce, power and grip. 2018 will be a development year in terms of understanding the car and learning the circuits, but that knowledge and confidence will only grow as the year goes on.”
Featured image courtesy of Optimum Motorsport
