Oliphant Gunning For Glory In 2017 Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Tom Oliphant will return to the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain this year with race wins and a title challenge in his sights as he continues his flourishing partnership with reigning champions Redline Racing. The 2015 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion will tackle a second consecutive season in the Carrera Cup GB, one of the most prestigious and fastest one-make championships in the UK, following a hugely impressive debut campaign in 2016. Making an immediate impression in the paddock with his superb raw pace and his creative and fearless brand of overtaking, Oliphant would produce a remarkably consistent maiden campaign as he secured fifteen top six finishes in sixteen races. Oliphant’s progression through the year was rewarded with a richly deserved maiden podium finish in the penultimate meeting of the season at the ‘Home of British Motorsport’ Silverstone, a standout result that has filled him with confidence ahead of the new campaign. Once again the 26 year old’s state-of-the-art 460hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will be run by Redline Racing, the most successful team in Carrera Cup GB history, with continued backing from Mulgari Automotive and Horizon Specialities, as well as other sponsors to be announced soon. Oliphant will be competing in what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in the championship’s history, with a talent-filled grid featuring established series front-runners and some new talent including a couple of his former Ginetta GT4 Supercup sparring rivals. The Leamington Spa racer is looking to hit the ground running this season after keeping sharp over the winter by contesting the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, with an eye-catching campaign having seen him secure a podium finish in each of the four meetings so far. With an unfortunate calendar clash ruling him out of the Bahrain Formula One-supporting season finale next month, Oliphant’s Middle East campaign will come to a close in Bahrain this weekend (10/11 March), before he turns his focus fully to a comprehensive UK pre-season testing programme. The Carrera Cup GB campaign starts at Brands Hatch (01/02 April) for the first of seven outings on the support package of the British Touring Car Championship, with visits to Donington Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Knockhill and Silverstone coming before a return to Brands for the season finale. The fourth meeting of the season is the crown jewel of the calendar though as the championship joins forces with the Carrera Cup France and Benelux series for a sensational support race ahead of one of the most legendary events in world motorsport, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (14-17 June). Tom Oliphant: "After a long winter competing in the Middle East, I'm delighted to be returning to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for 2017 with Redline Racing. The Carrera Cup is the top one-make series in the country and exactly the right place for me to move up the Porsche ladder. "2016 was a great first season for us. I learnt a lot and I'm feeling confident I can take that forward to compete for the championship in 2017. There will be a lot of tough competition, I know most of the front running drivers from last year are returning, but I'm confident that with Redline I have the right package to fight for the win. "I'm very thankful to be supported once again by Horizon Specialities and Mulgari Automotive for 2017. Creating long term successful partnerships has been a big focus of mine over the last few years, so it’s great to welcome both companies back. “There is still a lot of work to do and we have a few partners to bring across the line in the coming weeks in time for the start of the season, so there will be some more exciting news coming soon. I can’t wait for the season to start." Richard Newman (Horizon Specialities): “Horizon Specialities is a young, dynamic and yet seasoned player in the global arena of Natural and Synthetic Colours, primarily for Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic manufacturers. “We sponsored Tom Oliphant’s maiden campaign in the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup GB and we are very proud to announce that we will be continuing our burgeoning relationship for the 2017 PCCGB season. “At Horizon we strive for success and believe we have the vitality, passion and drive to achieve it, and in Tom we see the same focused determination to push ahead with the ultimate aim of becoming the 2017 PCCGB champion. “We will be supporting at as many races as we can in person, and Horizon wish Tom, Redline Racing and all those involved in helping Tom in his career all the very best for great success in 2017.”