Sumo Power GT Drivers Presented With Tourist Trophy

At the Royal Automobile Club on Wednesday (15th December), in London’s Park Lane, Sumo Power GT drivers Warren Hughes and Jamie Campbell-Walter were presented with the Tourist Trophy. The award is regarded as one of the most prestigious in motor racing and, having first been presented in 1905, is internationally acknowledged to be the longest standing perpetual trophy in the sport.

Driving their Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R, Hughes and Campbell-Walter originally secured the Tourist Trophy on 1st May, when they won round two of the FIA GT1 World Championship at Silverstone.

Following a formal luncheon, the coveted Trophy was handed over by Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, Sir David Prosser. Also attending the event was seven-times previous winner and motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE, who congratulated Hughes, Campbell-Walter and the Sumo Power GT team on their impressive achievement.

It was noted that this success had taken place in the team’s first season of competition and in only its second event. In addition, it was highlighted that Sumo Power GT are the only UK-based operation fielding cars in the FIA GT1 World Championship and that Nissan are only the second Japanese manufacturer to ever have won the Tourist Trophy. The presentation closed with the team being wished continued success for 2011.

Jamie Campbell-Walter had a good early run, pitting in 12th place for Warren Hughes to take over. Unfortunately for Hughes he later retired with a gearbox problem, just a few minutes before the end of the race. The final results from today leave the Sumo Power GT team in sixth place in the Teams’ Championship.

Karl Wendlinger struggled for grip in the early stages of the race but hung onto 14th place before Henri Moser took over. The Swiss driver had a good fight with an Aston Martin before ultimately retiring after going off at the chicane. Seiji Ara and Max Nilsson were back in the No.4 Nissan GT-R this afternoon. Ara started from the back after an engine change but made his way up to 19th before the pit stops. Nilsson then did a sterling job to cross the line in 13th place.

This afternoon’s race brings the curtain down on the first season of the FIA GT1 World Championship. All that is left to do is for the teams to pack up the shipping crates to send the cars and equipment back to Europe before jumping onto planes to travel home, before it all starts again in Abu Dhabi in March!

Quotes

Sir Stirling Moss OBE (Racing Legend)
“To win the Tourist Trophy has always been a real challenge, it certainly was in my day and this is what has made it a very important and prestigious award to receive. I therefore congratulate Jamie and Warren and their team on this fantastic achievement.”

Ben Cussons (Chairman of the RAC motoring committee)
“It is great to see some new names on the trophy, especially as they were driving for a British team in its first season of competition. It is a shame the award could not have been presented at the race, or sooner but, as the history books will show, it was due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. I am therefore delighted that the worthy winners have now finally been presented with the award.”

Warren Hughes (Driver)
“It’s a real honour to be presented with the Tourist Trophy and to have my name added to the legendary list of winners that goes back as far as 1905. I would like to thank everyone who made this and our other successes this year possible. All in all, this season has surpassed our expectations.”

Jamie Campbell-Walter (Driver)
“I have to thank the team for giving Warren and I the opportunity to win the Tourist Trophy - as well as thank the Royal Automobile Club for putting up this award. We’ve had a fantastic year and have now been presented with the most famous trophy in motorsport. You couldn’t ask for a better way to round off the season.”FONT>

James Rumsey (Team Principal)
“When we first heard that the race for the Tourist Trophy was going to be included in the calendar this year, I didn’t think that we would actually win it, bearing in mind it was going to be our second ever event. Therefore, to be here accepting this prestigious award on behalf of the team and NISMO is a very proud moment and a measure of the effort everyone involved has put into our first ever season.”


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