Ellis & Mortimer Top British GT Timesheets

20 March 2007

The British GT Team RPM pairing of Croydon's Bradley Ellis and Alex Mortimer, from Worcester, in the new Dodge Viper is proving to be dynamite after the duo topped the timesheets at the Avon Tyres British GT Championship Media Day at Silverstone on Thursday 15 March. Although 19-year-old Ellis had previously run in the Dodge Viper in tyre tests for championship supplier Avon Tyres, Silverstone saw him take to the track in his very first flying session in the new GT3 Dodge.

Ellis and Mortimer, still one of the youngest pairings on the British GT grid, laid down the gauntlet at Silverstone to firmly establish themselves as serious GT3 championship title contenders, after moving up from the GTC class where they finished third in 2006.

The dynamic duo shared the three-hour practice session with Mortimer managing to set a blistering time of 58.445 seconds on the National circuit on a new set of Avon Tyres. Ellis, however, proved he could match Mortimer's pace when he set a time just one tenth shy some 20 laps later on the same set of tyres.

"We've had a great run here at Silverstone and are now more confident heading to the start of the season at Oulton Park," said Ellis. "We had no idea how competitive we would be until we could take to the track with all the other manufacturers and drivers, but we are reassured we'll be fighting at the front as championship contenders. A great championship is in store for us this season and with nearly 30 cars lining up on the grid competition is set to be fierce, so winning will still be no easy task."

Team RPM Team Principal, Robin Mortimer, commented: "A solid job was done by both drivers and they have certainly showed promising form with near identical lap times. It is a little unexpected to be at the top after only the first practice session, but we now have a strong standing from which to build. This is a fantastic result and just desserts for a great amount of hard work by everyone over the winter."

On Friday 9 March, Ellis was honoured to be invited by Avon Tyres to take a guided tour of the Cooper Tire factory at Melksham in Wiltshire. Ellis was privileged to take a behind the scenes look around both the road and racing divisions and learn of the challenges for Avon Tyres when catering for such an array of varying manufacturers within the British GT series. The experience proved invaluable and Ellis gained a better insight into how the tyre works under various race loads and conditions.

Ellis and Mortimer are now counting down the days until the first two 60-minute races at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Saturday 7 and Monday 9 April.

HazelPR

See 2007 series calendar for British GT Championship

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