Century Motorsport have firmly set their sights on lifting the 2014 British GT4 championship title with their newest signing and reigning champion Rick Parfitt Jnr joining British GT debutant Tom Oliphant.
Racing against Parfitt in 2013, the battle for the title went down to the wire in Donington Park where despite a class win for Century Motorsport, the Surrey based rockstar had done enough to secure the title finishing the race in third position. Moving to Century Motorsport for 2014, his main aim is to retain his title for another season: “Winning the title last year was something I could have never imagined, so retaining the title is my obvious aim for 2014. However, I’m under no illusions that this year will be even more competitive than ever before with some great drivers and the largest variety of cars racing on the grid.” Rick went on to say that moving to Century Motorsport was something he had been watching for a while: “I’ve known Nathan from his Karting days and have watched closely as Century Motorsport have built up a great team and reputation, clearly highlighted last season as our toughest rivals through their professionalism and dedication. I’m very happy to be joining them for 2014 and hope I can bring trophies and a little ‘Rock’n’Roll to their pit box!”
The new season presents both a new car and team partner in the form of Tom Oliphant and the newly homologated Ginetta G55 GT4, a challenge that excites the current champion: “Last year proved that having a great team mate is key to success in GT4 and in Tom I have a young ambitious driver, who is hungry for success and very quick. This added to the fact that he will also be competing in the Ginetta GT4 SuperCup will mean he is practically welded into a G55 seat! We get on very well outside the car also which bodes well for a successful year. The beautiful G55 is a car I’m extremely exited to be in for this season. Hopefully it will be as quick as it looks but our extensive pre-season testing program will ensure we should be perfectly placed for the opening rounds at Oulton Park!”
Having announced his plans last October to compete in the full 2014 Ginetta GT4 SuperCup, Cheshire native Tom Oliphant continues his switch over from single-seaters by joining Parfitt in the 2014 British GT4 Championship. Having made two appearances in the 2013 Ginetta GT Supercup in the team’s Ginetta G55, Oliphant proved that despite spending much of his career to date in Formula Renault single seaters, he has what it takes to be a very fast GT Driver: “It’s a new style of racing for me, however one that I feel I can get to grips with quickly,” said Oliphant. He continued: “We have a very exciting partnership this year with Century Motorsport. Rick has shown his class in the series winning the championship last year so I feel he is the perfect partner to challenge for the championship again. Both Rick and I have winning the championship as our main aim and with the support from Century Motorsport in their new Ginetta G55 GT4 I feel this is a very realistic target.”
Team Principal Nathan Freke highlighted the strength of this partnership approaching the new season: “I’m very excited to have Tom and Rick pairing up with us for 2014. Obviously Rick was one of our closest rivals in 2013, just beating us for the title at the last round and Tom has already shown that despite being a new GT convert that he’s got what it takes to be a very successful GT Driver. With the new Ginetta G55 GT4 and one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid, I believe Century Motorsport will be the team to beat in British GT4 this season.”