Local speed racer Jordan Pepper has been named the 2020 GT3 Driver of the Year by leading international website sportscar365.com in its annual awards.
South Africa’s ‘Bentley Boy’ is brother to sister racer Tasmin, and he is a Midrand local who has been racing in Europe for several years. “I am truly honoured to be crowned sportscar365.com’s GT3 Driver of the Year,” a delighted Pepper admitted.
“It’s been a tough year that started very well with our Bathurst 12 Hour win and now it has ended on a very high note as well. Special thanks once again to Bentley for a brilliant five years racing the Continental GT3 and to the sportscar365 panel for this nod to close off an incredible chapter of my career. Now I look forward to the next chapter.”
The sportscar365 website mentioned that other drivers won more GT3 racing trophies this year, but Pepper stood out as one of the top performers. “The 2020 season marked Pepper’s fifth in Bentley machinery and saw him tackle the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli, GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and ADAC GT Masters,” the awards read.
“The 24-year-old South African has matured greatly since his early days driving the first-generation Bentley Continental GT3, to the point that he has become a leading member of the British marque’s talented factory squad.
“Pepper claimed a single race win this year, but it was a significant one. Victory in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour with his IGTC co-drivers Jules Gounon and Maxime Soulet was the reward for an outstanding race run by the M-Sport crew.
“Pepper’s IGTC drives were particularly strong: he scaled the order in the opening half of the 24 Hours of Spa, stood out in the wet at Indianapolis and pressured the leading Honda in the early stages at Kyalami before an engine issue dashed his team’s title hopes.
“Pepper also impressed in GTWC Europe Endurance Cup driving for K-PAX Racing and was always among the fastest drivers in the super-competitive field on average.”
Pepper has not yet confirmed his racing plans for this year.
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