Richard Westbrook
Richard Westbrook (born 10 July 1975 Chelmsford ) is a British racing driver.
Career
Richard Westbrook began his motorsport career in 1986 in karting in 1990 he became a British champion. In 1993 he participated in the Formula First, Formula Renault and the Formula Vauxhall Winter Series in which he was runner-up, in part. In the following two years he drove in Formula Opel Euro Series and reached twice the fourth championship course. In 1996, he played a half a season each in the Austrian Formula 3 Championship and in the German Formula 3 Championship. In 1999, he was a test driver in Formula 3,000.
After a three year break Motorsport Westbrook rose from the formula cars to sports cars and in 2002 took part in each race in the Porsche Supercup. From 2003, he started in the British Porsche Carrera Cup and was in his first season with nine race wins runner-up. A year later he won the title with seven wins. Despite 13 wins him the 2005 title defense failed and he was again runner-up. In addition, Westbrook again took part in the Porsche Supercup and finished with two race wins ninth championship course. 2006, the breakthrough came in the Porsche Supercup: he came in every race on the podium, celebrating four race wins and won ahead of the championship. Incidentally denied Westbrook some races in the British Porsche Carrera Cup, in which a race to win, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, where he was three times victorious. In 2007 he stood, now riding for the team HISAQ Competition, only twice at the top of the podium of the Porsche Supercup, but defended his title successfully. In the German Porsche Carrera Cup after five race victories he achieved the runner-up. In the same year Westbrook played his first race in the United States. He was fourth in the 6- hour race at Watkins Glen and also participated, among others, Richard Lietz at the 24 - hour race at Daytona. There he went first to the pole position of the GT class and was in the race at the beginning far forward in the field, but was thrown back later by a brake change and thus ended the race in only second in its category.
In the 2008 season, Westbrook was factory driver for Porsche and drives a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. He contested the FIA GT Championship, the Le Mans Series and some races of the American Le Mans Series. In every championship he could celebrate at least one class win. The 24 - hour race at Daytona, he finished again second in the GT class. At the 24 - hour race at Spa -Francorchamps he went to sixth place overall and second place in the GT2 class, together with Marc Lieb and Emmanuel Collard. In the Team Competition HISAQ he took with Emmanuel Collard, Marino Franchitti and Frank Stippler the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, but fell after interim guidance from. As part of the downsizing of the factory rider squad Westbrook's contract with Porsche in 2009 was not extended, but the brand remained faithful and continued after a year again in the Porsche Supercup for the Jetstream Motorsport, where he was champion in 2006. He also competed for VICI Racing in the American Le Mans Series, and for Prospeed Competition in the FIA GT Championship. This he won only because Porsche ruled the teammate Emmanuel Collard at the last round at Zolder for Brixia Racing was launched in order to increase the probability of winning. Westbrook and Marco Holzer won the last championship race in her class, Collard, however, was only sixth. Westbrook said after the race about the situation: " I won the title, he is now only third in the championship I can not even happy under these circumstances right about the title, I hope this may come tomorrow. . "
For the 2010 season was initially planned that Westbrook for Prospeed in the FIA GT2 European Championship and for JMW Motorsport Aston Martin V8 Vantage starts in the Le Mans Series. Due to the cancellation of the European Championship Prospeed changed also in the Le Mans Series and Westbrook opted in favor of the Belgian Porsche teams.