Optimum Motorsport look forward to International GT Open at Hockenheim

It has been an impressive start to the International GT Open Championship for Optimum Motorsport, securing a fantastic runner-up position at Paul Ricard and giving the British-based team plenty of optimism heading to Germany this coming weekend (25-26 May) for the second race meeting of the season.

With the sixth and second positions secured in France, Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy driver Ollie Wilkinson heads to Hockenheim second in the Pro-Am standings, where he will be joined by Darren Turner in the #96 Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
 
Darren has worked with Ollie at events already this year in a coaching capacity and will compete alongside Ollie in GT Open. Bradley Ellis continues to race with Ollie in the British GT Championship.
 
Having finished second last time out, the team carries a five second success penalty into Saturday’s first race of the weekend but remain confident of a strong points haul ahead of Sunday’s second round where the podium is once again the target.
 
Shaun Goff, Optimum Motorsport Team Principal
“We are really looking forward to getting on track at Hockenheim as our pace at Paul Ricard was so strong in the new Aston Martin Vantage. We came close to winning the second race, but it was still a fantastic result.
 
“Ollie is in just his third season of competition and to have a direct comparison with Darren in the car will be invaluable going forward. Bradley is an integral part of the team and continues to be very much be involved with Ollie’s career, both in his mentoring role and competing in the British GT Championship.”
 
Ollie Wilkinson
"Taking the Aston Martin V8 Vantage’s first GT Open podium at Paul Ricard was a great achievement in the first round of the year. We will carry a success penalty for race one at Hockenheim, which will make it tricky, but it should be all to play for in race two where I hope to get another podium or even that first class win of the season.
 
“This will be my inaugural outing at Hockenheim, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s an amazing opportunity to partner Darren and I will do all I can to learn from the experience and knowledge he has to offer.”
 
Darren Turner
"It’s a pleasure to be joining Optimum Motorsport in the GT Open series in Germany. I have been working with Ollie in a coaching capacity, so I am looking forward to being out on track and hopefully helping him develop further as a driver. We will push hard and see if we can maintain the great start the whole team has made."