Team Parker Racing will make its return to the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in 2023, entering one of its brand new 992-style Porsche 911 GT3 R machines.
The team has plenty of experience in the series under its belt, having previously competed in it from 2014 – 16, and again from 2018 – 2022, taking victory in the Am Cup at the 24 Hours of Spa and adding the Am Teams’ Championship, both in 2015.
For its 2023 programme the team has assembled the trio of Derek Pierce, Andy Meyrick and Kiern Jewiss.
Pierce first joined the team in 2011, competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB where he scored three Pro-Am 1 class victories, before returning in 2016 and again in ’18 and ’19, racing in what is now known as World Challenge Europe.
Meyrick meanwhile, has enjoyed a lengthy career in sportscar and GT racing, racing around the world for multiple efforts including as a Bentley, Mazda and Aston Martin factory driver. During his time as a ‘Bentley Boy’ he raced at the 24 Hours of Spa with Team Parker, and is excited to return to the event with the team in the first year of customer competition for the new 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“I’m really happy to have the chance to compete with Team Parker Racing again this season, as well as linking up with Derek for the third time in GT World Challenge Europe,” he says. “Having finished runner up in the series twice I feel like there’s a bit of unfinished business so we’ll be pushing hard to see what we can achieve with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“It will be a busy year for me with my European Le Mans Series commitments and remaining Director of the BRDC SuperStars, where we’ll be helping some of Britain’s brightest young motorsport talents to succeed.”
Jewiss is the youngest of the trio. The 20-year-old, who switched to sportscar racing after claiming the 2018 F4 British Championship, first joined Team Parker Racing in 2021. With the team he took part in Porsche Carrera Cup GB and secured the Rookie title that season. He then followed up last year with the overall championship title, scoring nine victories over both campaigns.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge but it’s exciting to be racing the new Porsche 911 GT3 R in Europe this season,” says Jewiss. “It will be interesting as its very different for me moving to endurance racing after only doing sprint races in my career to this point. I’ve gone from having teammates in identical cars to teammates in the same car which will be something new.
“I’ll have to work on my mindset and adapt my approach as it’s not just you and your engineer, it’s also about the other drivers in the car and working together. It will be great to spend time with Derek and Andy and seeing how we compare to everyone else, as we have a strong line up in the car. It will be a very different year but one I am excited to tackle.”
The GT World Challenge Europe season gets underway at Circuit Paul Ricard in France over March 7/8 for the official test days, before the Endurance Cup takes in rounds in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and Spain, with races from three to 24 hours in length.
