Richard Westbrook has signed with the JR Motorsport team to compete in this year’s GT1 World Championship aboard the No 22 Nissan GTR.

Westbrook, who starred in a Matech Ford GT during the final 6 rounds of the 2010 championship, will be paired up with last year’s frontrunner Peter Dumbreck, and both have set their sights on championship honours in 2011.

Westbrook said: “I am delighted to be back competing a full season in the GT1 World Championship. Last year I only competed in a half-season so this year I stand a real chance of challenging for the World Title. It was important to join a team and manufacturer that have the hunger and infrastructure to compete at the very top, and JRM and Nissan ticked both boxes.

I have known Peter (Dumbreck) for a very long time as we started racing karts at a very similar age. I’m delighted we’ll be teamed together because not only is Peter a top bloke and very quick, he also has experience in this car and team.

“Last season James Rumsey’s Sumo Power team, were up there with the best teams like Matech and Vitaphone but what was particularly impressive was the fact that it was their first year. This year they have a year’s more experience and I think it is the perfect time to join this program.

Some of the racing last year was just an absolute pleasure to be part of. It was just as exciting in the car as it was on the TV! The Championship is very new and needs time to develop but all the ingredients are there for this format to be something special.”

The first round of the GT1 World Championship will start in Abu Dhabi 25 – 26 March 2011.