Porsche Club Championship

Croft, North Yorkshire

Rounds 13 and 14

September 26th and 27th, 2009 

Double For Clark as Championship Leader Stays Unbeaten 

The Porsche Club Championship visited Croft in North Yorkshire for the penultimate meeting of the season, and saw race wins for Ben Demetriou and Mark McAleer – while championship leader Jez Clark stayed won Class Two in both rounds and now heads into the final races at Silverstone unbeaten in class all year. 

Qualifying

Mark McAleer was quickest in qualifying for the first race, the local racer claiming his first pole of the season at his home circuit. Marcus Carniel, the first rear-engined race winner of the season at Castle Combe in August, lined up second on the grid, while Clark lined his Class Two 944 S2 up third overall, with Demetriou alongside. 

For race two, the grid set by each driver’s second fastest lap, McAleer was once more on pole, with Clark alongside and Demetriou and Carniel on row two 

Race One

Carniel made the most of rear-engined traction to head the field away at the start, leading into the first corner with McAleer slotting into second and Demetriou third. A storming start from Richard Ellis in his 993 saw him fifth at the end of the first lap from tenth on the grid, chasing Richard Lambert in fourth.  

Demetriou looked outside McAleer into Tower on lap two, as Clark started to try to find a way past Ellis, taking fifth before the end of the lap. Carniel had opened a gap in the opening two laps, but then the chasing 968s of McAleer and Demetriou began to close in. McAleer set a fastest race lap at that point as he closed on the leader, Carniel pushing hard at the front and raising dust as he slipped wide at the exit of Tower. 

The lead three were together by lap six, Clark now up to fourth after Lambert has spun down the order to sixth. A lap later McAleer saw a gap as they tip-toed through the hairpin at the end of the lap and slotted the nose of his car inside Carniel, the two touching and both losing ground, Demetriou smartly going past both and into the lead.  

McAleer recovered to continue in second, with Clark now third and a charging David Botterill now up to fourth ahead of Lambert and Ellis. A second spin for Lambert dropped him to seventh, where he became in a battle with returnee Pete Morris and Ellis. 

Demetriou had been gifted a lead, but controlled the race from the front and exploited the situation to stay clear of McAleer and take his ninth win of the season. McAleer chased hard, closing in at one point but the leader knew what he had to do to take his ninth win of the season. 

Clark had held the outright fastest lap for the middle part of the race, and took third despite slowing in the final laps as his car began making ominous noises in the corners. Botterill claimed fourth, clear of Ellis, while Lambert got the better of Morris, who had lost the ABS on his 968 on its race debut. 

“I came here just looking for points,” said Demetriou, “and I was going to stay behind Marcus and Mark when suddenly it all happened. I saw had a gap once I was past them and just tried to maintain them. It was fine till I saw the last lap board, then I had a bit of brain fade, it almost all went a bit pear-shaped but I knew I had the win.” 

“A frustrating race,” said McAleer, “I felt I was quicker than Marcus into the hairpin and he left the door open so I want up the inside. Maybe he didn’t see me, but as he turned in he spun round, then hit the inside of me and pushed me onto the grass and Ben went inside both of us. By the time I got back on he was gone.” 

“I was going to have a go an Mark for second,” said Clark after his 13th class win of the year, “I could catch him in certain places, then every time I turned the car there was a heavy clonking noise from the back that got worse and worse. I had to back off, but when you do that everything cools off and the car doesn’t feel right. It turned out to be just a shock absorber canister had come loose – it sounded like something major under that car!”

“I know my way round here, but that didn’t feel that quick,” said Botterill. “It seemed a leisurely drive, then I started pushing to make up places. I had a good tussle with Jeremy at first, then Richard Lambert made up time on me but spun, and after that I just kept it tidy and clean.” 

“I made a great start,” said Ellis of his start, “the first lap went to plan. I mainly got past everyone off the start.” 

“I cured the understeer I had this morning,” said Lambert, “but had oversteer instead. I had two spins, the first dropped me behind David, the second got me back with Richard and Pete. I had a good dice there, it was hard work but good fun.” 

“It was hard work without the ABS,” said Morris “then I had some fuel surge in the last few laps – I got past Richard then he got me back. Hard work, but enjoyable.” 

Race Two

Carniel made the best start in Sunday’s race and was leading as the field turned into the first corner, but a touch from another car saw him spin into the gravel. This shuffled the order at the front, with Lambert ahead at the end of the first lap chased by Demetriou and McAleer. 

These three had a gap on the rest, who were headed by Class Two’s Chris Dyer, who had Botterill and Clark – delayed at the first corner – behind him. Demetriou looked inside Lambert at the hairpin on lap four, and the top three were all close through Tower on the next lap.  

The order changed on lap six as McAleer got a run down the inside of Demetriou into Tower to take second, then took the lead from Lambert at the back of the circuit. Meanwhile, Clark had got past Botterill, and went through the Complex and into the hairpin at the end of the lap side-by-side with Dyer for the class lead, Clark emerging ahead as they entered the pit straight, and Dyer falling behind Botterill. 

McAleer pushed hard to open a gap, setting a fastest race lap on the way, with Demetriou now in second. McAleer stayed clear till the flag, Demetriou equally secure in second and happy to collect the championship points for that position. Lambert finished third, his first podium in his 964. 

“It’s always nice to win at your home track,” said McAleer, “everyone expects you to walk it but it doesn’t work like that in this championship. The car felt really in the zone, and it was a case of just getting on with it. Richard got a bit wide exiting Sunny and I was able to get inside him. A satisfying weekend – and its only 15-minutes home from here!” 

“A good weekend, I couldn’t have asked for more as regards to the Class One title, “ said Demetriou. “I didn’t want to take any risks today, my tyres were gone by the end and Mark was all over me and got past, I tried to hook up with him but he was gone.” 

“I’m relieved to make it to the end,” said Lambert, “the tyres were gone in the previous race but I just had to make do. Mark got past me at Sunny, I was struggling to get round there. It was nice to lead for four laps, I didn’t expect to win it with my tyres.” 

Clark came home fourth, closing on Lambert in the final laps who was struggling for grip, with Dyer fifth, and second in Class Two. Botterill took sixth, ahead of the closing Richard Higgins, while behind a three car dice finally went the way of Morris who headed home Ellis and John Williams. 

“I had to work hard at the start,” said Clark , “I thought I was away well, but by the time I was in second or third I had four or five 911s go straight past. Then everyone was all over the place, Marcus was spinning round the car in front of me stopped dead so I had to stop – I was sure I was going to get hit. We finally pulled away and from then on it was catch up, there were some quick cars ahead. It was close with Chris for the class lead, and towards the end I was catching Richard.” 

Anthony Oliver was in a class of his own as he took his second Class Three win of the weekend. 

Porsche Club Championship, Round 13, (30 Minutes): 1 Ben Demetriou (968 CS)  30m48.769s; 2 Mark McAleer (968 CS)+1.363s; 3 Jeremy Clark (944 S2); 4 David Botterill (964 C2); 5 Richard Elis (993 C2); 6 Richard Lambert (964 C2); 7 Peter Morris (968 CS); 8 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 9 Marcus Carniel (964 C2); 10 Chris Dyer (944 S2). Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark; Anthony Oliver (911 SC). Fastest Lap: McAleer, 1m36.108s (78.662mph). 

Round 14, (30 Minutes): 1 McAleer 30m46.431s; 2 Demetriou +9.354s; 3 Lambert; 4 Clark; 5 Dyer; 6 Botterill; 7 Higgins; 8 Morris; 9 Ellis; 10 John Williams (911 SC). Class Winners: McAleer; Clark; Oliver. Fastest Lap: McAleer, 1m35.502s (79.161mph).

 

Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Rounds Eleven and Twelve

August 31st, 2009 

Carniel and Demetriou take Combe Race Wins 

The Porsche Club Championship provided two exciting races to thrill Castle Combe’s Bank Holiday Monday crowd, Marcus Carniel winning the first to start his, and the 964 C2 model’s, victory tally for 2009, while Class One points leader Ben Demetriou won race two. Jez Clark remained unbeaten in Class Two, despite being tapped into a spin at the beginning of race two, and holds onto the overall points lead  

Qualifying

Scott Kavanagh continued the qualifying form he showed at Thruxton to set the overall quickest time and pole for race one, and just like the previous meeting it was Demetriou who set second quickest time to head the grid for race two. Carniel lined up second for race one, with Kavanagh taking the final front row slot for the second race. 

“We tested here Thursday and have gone a different way on set-up,” said Kavanagh, “but I have always gone well here. It’s about being smooth and brave over the bumps.” 

Clark headed the Class Two runners for both races, fifth and sixth on the grid, with Anthony Oliver taking Class Three honours.

 

Race One

Kavanagh led the field away from pole with Carniel (right) close behind, Kevin Harrison making a good start to slot into third while Demetriou lost ground on the first lap. Carniel was right with Kavanagh at the end of lap one, and had a look for a way past the leader at Quarry. 

A lap later the complexion of the race changed, Harrison being hit by a ten-second penalty after his start was judged errant, and Mark McAleer retiring from sixth at the exit of Quarry with a steering problem. The top four began to open a gap on the rest, Kavanagh leading ahead of Carniel, Harrison (pre-penalty) and Richard Lambert. Clark was fifth, leading Class Two, with a recovering Demetriou, who had slipped to eighth at the end of the first lap, now sixth. 

Kavanagh missed the apex at Camp on lap eight, and Carniel looked to take advantage at Folly but Kavanagh held on, only for Carniel to make a move at the Esses and go ahead. Demetriou was with the lead group, having eased past Clark, and looking for a way past Harrison , going inside the 964 through Folly only for his way to be blocked by a back-marker. 

Lambert was closing on Kavanagh for second, but the 993 racer held on to take his best finish of the year. Carniel also scored his best result, not only his first win of the year but also the first for a rear-engined car in the 2009 Porsche Club Championship. Demetriou was right with Lambert at the end, but had to settle for fourth, Harrison taking fifth and sufficiently clear of Clark in sixth to stay in that position even after his penalty was added. 

“I got quite a good start,” said Carniel, “but Scott was in the lead and making his car very wide. I eventually found a way past into Quarry and once ahead I was being careful not to get the tyres too hot. I wanted to make sure the guys behind were more bothered with each other than with me. Good to take my first win of the year.” 

“It was a shame I was second, Marcus got past me into Quarry,” said Kavanagh. “The car was working well and it was pretty even at the front between us. Hope to get off the line well and be up there again in the next race.” 

“The car felt quick,” said Lambert, “we had a disappointing test session on Thursday but some new front tyres seemed to cure it and I was hoping to get with the front guys. We did some quick laps and the car felt nice, but Ben was right on me at the end and I had to defend like hell in the last corner. It’s nice to come back and be competitive.” 

“That was ok, but the tyres have gone,” said Clark . “At first I thought I had a chance of getting up with the lead group, but then the tyres went off and I started getting ragged.”  

Read Two

Demetriou made a peach of a start in his 968 CS in race two to lead the field away from pole despite being surrounded by rear-engined cars on the grid. Lambert moved into second from fourth on the grid, with Harrison slotting into third. Kavanagh was in the lead group, but pulled off on the opening lap with a recurrence of the throttle problem that had hit him at Thruxton.  

The field was also rearranged when Clark was tapped into a spin on the first lap, being clipped by two other cars as he sat watching the rest of the field stream towards him. With Lambert closing on Demetriou, the battle for third featured Harrison , Richard Higgins and McAleer – already up from seventh on the grid. These three battled lap after lap, Harrison resolute in his defence of the position and Carniel closing to make it a four-way battle. 

Higgins finally moved into third on lap eight, the lead pair now five-seconds clear at the front, Lambert a second behind Demetriou. Both McAleer and Carniel were past Harrison a lap later, McAleer flying and setting a series of fastest race laps as he again reeled in Higgins. At the front, Lambert pushed hard and took time out of the leader, but Demetriou then responded with his own best race lap with a alp to go and took his eighth win of the season, Lambert making it a double podium weekend as the 2004 champion made a welcome appearance again in the series. 

McAleer found a way past Higgins at Quarry to claim the final podium position, with Carniel fifth ahead of Harrison, David Botterill and Peter Erceg. Clark worked his way back to ninth, once more winning Class Two to retain his unbeaten record that stretches back to May 2008.  

“I got a brilliant start – to make up for the first race,” said Demetriou. “I was determined to get away and once I was in the lead I saw Richard behind me and knew he was quick, so I put in some quick laps. I got held up by a back-marker, which wasn’t his fault, and Richard closed but I was able to get back on it again. Mark took third – so he is still in the chase for the Class One title.”  

“I just didn’t have the edge to catch up with Ben,” said Lambert. “I had a push with four or five laps to go, but the tyres and brakes were gone. I was happy Richard held Mark behind for so long, I was getting the countdown on how far they were behind. I made a good start for a change, be nice to actually take the chequered flag first – I did all my winning in Class Two so have never taken the actual flag.” 

“It was good,” said McAleer, “I just needed another ten minutes at the end of the race and I could have got back at them. I got outside Richard at Quarry, and made it stick, I tried a lap early but got held up by a back-marker, but finally got a good run on him and out-braked him. A good result – but a frustrating weekend.” 

“Somebody hit me on the opening lap and I got tapped round,” said Clark . “All I could see was 20-odd cars coming towards me, but I only got hit twice and the second hit pushed me back onto the grass. I didn’t know if I had any gears or anything, but the car pulled away and it was just trying to get back.”  

Porsche Club Championship, Round 11, 16 Laps:  1 Marcus Carniel (964 C2) 20m59.883s (84.57mph); 2 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2) +0.514s; 3 Richard Lambert (964 Carrera 2); 4 Ben Demetriou (968 CS); 5 Kevin Harrison (964 C2); 6 Jeremy Clark (944 S2); 7 Richard Ellis (993 C2); 8 David Botterill (964 C2); 9 Peter Erceg (968 CS); 10 Chris Dyer (944 S2).Class Winners: Carniel; Clark; Anthony Oliver (911SC). Fastest Lap: Demetriou 1m17.164s (86.31mph).  

Round 12, 16 Laps: 1 Demetriou 21m00.287s (84.55mph); 2 Lambert +1.216s; 3 Mark McAleer (968 CS); 4 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 5 Carniel; 6 Harrison; 7 Botterill; 8 Erceg; 9 Clark; 10 Paul Follett (968 CS). Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark; Oliver. Fastest Lap: Demetriou 1m17.164s (86.31mph).

pics Richard Pascal 11/56 Motorsport 

 

 

Thruxton, Hampshire

Rounds Nine and TenAugust 15th and 16th, 2009 

Title Challengers Claim Double Victories at Thruxton 

The Porsche Club Championship visited the high-speed Thruxton circuit for the first time since 2005 this weekend – and it was two wins each for the title challengers, Ben Demetriou winning both races outright and heading the Class One rankings, with Jeremy Clark claiming both Class Two victories and getting on the overall podium in each of the weekend’s ten-lap races. Demetriou edged just one point closer to Clark in the standings, now 35-points behind the leader with six races remaining. 

Qualifying

Scott Kavanagh’s 993 headed the field after the 15-minutes of qualifying, times tumbling through the session despite light rain as drivers got used to the circuit, several front runners having never competed at before. Kavanagh had learnt the way round Thruxton in a track day, and it paid off as he took the first ever pole for a 993 in the series. 

“The car felt loose everywhere, I’m surprised I am on pole!” said Kavanagh. “We can go quicker if we can calm down the back of the car, the track day paid dividends.”

Demetriou claimed second, less than a tenth of a second behind Kavanagh, with Clark, another Thruxton rookie, third quickest and well clear of the other Class Two runners. Mark McAleer, whose first taste of Thruxton was on a bicycle the evening before qualifying, was fourth quickest. 

“Scott was obviously quick, so I let him past to see what lines he was taking,” said Demetriou. “It is so long since I have been here and there are no reference points here, so it was like starting from new. There is a lot to come yet, I am still braking too early in some places.” 

“I’ve never been here before so I was learning the circuit as I was going along,” said Clark . “By the third lap it was starting to flow a bit – but there is still loads of time to come from the car and from me.” 

Race One

Kavanagh was at the front as the field powered through Allard at the start of Saturday afternoon’s race, with Demetriou slotting into second and Clark holding third on the opening lap. A fastest lap from Demetriou on lap two saw him close on the leader, and a lap later McAleer went past Clark on the entry to Church to take third place. 

The top four were running close together, McAleer looking to repeat his Church move on Demetriou on lap five but to no avail. It all changed a lap later, as Kavanagh appeared to run wide on the exit to Church, allowing Demetriou past, and Clark made a move on McAleer for third on the way into the same corner. 

McAleer took back third on the run up to the chicane on lap six, and with Demetriou beginning to open a gap at the front closed on Kavanagh in second. McAleer had a big look down the inside of Kavanagh into Allard as they started lap eight, but it took until the final lap for him to find a way past, getting inside Kavanagh into Allard, the two then running side-by-side into the complex with McAleer snatching second and setting off after Demetriou – who was too far ahead and had the race safely in his grasp. 

“That was one of my most enjoyable races ever,” said Demetriou. “I was worried that Scott was pulling away, but I was quicker than him out the back, and I looked to go inside him, think I distracted him, and he ran wide at Church. I could see Mark edging towards me, so I was glad it as just a ten-lap race.” 

“The race wasn’t long enough for me to catch him!” said McAleer. “I was getting better as the race went on, I got Jeremy into Church, he left the door open so I had to take the opportunity. Ben and Scott were dicing, and then Jeremy got back at me. It was a great race – very enjoyable, at the end Scott and I were side-by-side all the way through the first corner and the complex.” 

Clark took Kavanagh at Noble, taking third overall and easily heading the Class Two runners at the flag. 

“It was an awesome race,” said Clark , “the more it went on the more I learnt the track. I was able to take corners almost flat and getting used to how the car moved on the track. I had a good battle with Mark, then saw Scott struggling with his tyres and went past him on the last lap. One drink tonight – then think about how to go quicker tomorrow.” 

Behind the lead four, Kevin Harrison held off Marcus Carniel in the later laps to take fifth, while Richard Higgins, who had got boxed in on the first corner and lost ground, was right with the battling pair at the end. 

Race Two

Demetriou was on pole for Sunday’s race, with Kavanagh alongside and McAleer and Clark on row two. Demetriou made a good start, but Kavanagh’s engine cut out on the line and the field streamed past the stranded 993, the race one early leader finally getting underway at the back of the field – only to be a superb sixth by the end of the first lap. 

“The engine just died on the line,” said Kavanagh. “I had a good couple of laps, then the throttle kept sticking open and I just had to park the car.” 

At the front, Demetriou led from McAleer and Clark, McAleer right with the leader and looking for a way past. A better exit from Church saw McAleer alongside the leader up Woodham Hill to the chicane on lap five, and he took the lead round the outside of Demetriou as they turned in. 

With the front two edging clear of Clark in third, and Carniel running alone in fourth, all the attention was on the lead battle as Demetriou sought to regain the front position. On lap eight it was his turn to make the better run up the hill, and he got inside McAleer as they reached the braking point and took back the lead – staying in front to claim his third double victory of the season. 

“An unbelievable race,” said Demetriou, “as good as yesterday’s. I made one of my best starts all season, then got on it, but Mark was all over me. He went past me down the straight and I thought he was quicker, but I learnt from what he was doing and did the same to him.”

 

“I’m disappointed not to win,” said McAleer, “but I enjoyed it, a good clean race and really good fun. Ben could have stuck his nose in on me when I went past, but I have raced against him long enough to know he wouldn’t do that.”   

Clark claimed third ahead of Carniel, with Higgins fifth, taking the place from Richard Ellis on lap four.  

“On the first lap I thought I had a real chance of taking the lead,” said Clark , “the car was good on colder tyres, but then they pulled away and I couldn’t pull it back. It was a bit hotter today and they tyres were going off quickly – I had two wheels on the grass at one point, but it is great to finish so high up.” 

Porsche Club Championship, Round Nine, Ten Laps:

1 Ben Demetriou (968 CS) 15m05.438s (93.67mph);
2 Mark McAleer (968 CS) +1.756s;
3 Jeremy Clark (944 S2);
 4 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2);
5 Kevin Harrison (964 C2);
6 Marcus Carniel (964 C2);
7 Richard Higgins (968 CS);
8 Richard Ellis (993 C2);
9 Paul Follett (968 CS);
10 Peter Erceg (968 CS).

Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark. Fastest Lap: Demetriou 1m29.164s (95.12mph).  

Round Ten, Ten Laps:

1 Demetriou 14m58.917s (94.35mph);
2 McAleer +0.636s;
3 Clark;
4 Carniel;
5 Higgins;
6 Richard Ellis;
7 Harrison;
8  Follett;
9 Adrian Stock (968 CS);
10 Erceg.

Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark. Fastest Lap: Demetriou1m28.084s (96.28mph).

 

Oulton Park , Cheshire

Rounds Seven and Eight

June 13th, 2009

Demetriou Dominates at Oulton Park

Ben Demetriou took his second double win of the season as the Porsche Club Championship visited Oulton Park , consolidating his Class One points lead. Despite gearbox problems Jeremy Clark took both Class Two wins – continuing his unbeaten record in the class this season and a string of class victories going back into 2008 – to hold the overall championship lead.

In a day of doubles, Anthony Oliver took the laurels in Class Three in both races.

Race One

Demetriou led the field away at the start of the first race, Kevin Harrison making a challenge over Hilltop on the opening lap. Behind, Richard Higgins and Kavanagh arrived at Knickerbrook side by side, but Higgins held third on the exit.

Demetriou and Harrison started to open a gap on the field in the early laps, with  Kavanagh now up to third and running on his own. Higgins led a five car battle for fourth, holding off Carniel, Richard Lambert, McAleer and Clark. Carniel was first to find a way past Higgins, and was soon into third and chasing the lead duo.

Carniel was with Kavanagh into Knickerbrook on lap six, but as he looked for a way past the train of cars behind started to close in. A move on Harrison on lap nine let McAleer slip into third, in what was now a six-car battle for second, and in the remaining laps McAleer worked hard to find a way past Harrison’s 964 C2, but had to be content with third at the flag as Demetriou stayed well clear and took his fourth win of the season.

“I expected pressure from Marcus Carniel,” said Demetriou, “and thought he was behind me for a while, rather than Kevin Harrison. I treated every lap as a qualifier to keep my concentration.”

“That was hard work,” said Harrison I made a really good start and had a look at Ben on the first lap, but then the rest caught up,” said Harrison .

The six cars behind the leader all crossed the line less than a second apart, McAleer heading home Lambert, Kavanagh, Carniel and Higgins.

“I just tried not to make a mistake. I had the speed into the corners but lost out on power,” said McAleer.

Jeremy Clark kept up his unbeaten record in Class Two, taking ninth overall despite mechanical problems, one place ahead of class rivals Tim Bates and Chris Dyer. Anthony Oliver took Class Three victory.

“I was stuck in fourth gear for the last part of the race,” said Clark .

Race Two

Carniel made the best start, and headed Demetriou away as McAleer went past Harrison into Old Hall. Class Two pace-setter Clark was only fourth in class at the end of the opening lap as Carniel and Demetriou opened a gap over third-placed McAleer.

A spin for Carniel at Knickerbrook saw him slip down the order, McAleer going past to take second and closing on the leader. Over the next laps Demetriou began to ease away again at the front, but towards the end of the race McAleer was once more with the leader and and challenged into the first corner on lap 13, but the order stayed the same and the lead pair crossed the finish line just over a second apart for Demetriou’s second win of the day.

“I knew I would have a race on with Mark,” said Demetriou. “I went off a couple of times, but managed to hold him back.”

“I ran out of brakes at about three quarter distance,” explained McAleer, but we were right on the pace this time.”

The lead pair were over 30-seconds clear of the rest, Harrison leading the squabbling pack home, just holding off Kavanagh’s 993 C2 on the run to the line, these two having taken advantage of a clash between Higgins and Lambert on lap 12 at Shell that saw both lose time. Once recovered Lambert snatched fifth from Higgins a lap later, but Harrison and Kavanagh were out of sight by that time.

“Richard Lambert and Richard Higgins took each other out at Shell,” said Kavanagh, “I pressed Kevin as hard as I could too though.”

“Richard outbraked himself at Shell,” said Lambert, celebrating his 43rd birthday, “he hit me and spun me and his front wheel then caught my front. Earlier on I had third for a while after taking Kevin into Druids.”

“I was quicker than Richard Lambert but tried an opportunity that wasn’t there. I need to be a bit more patient,” said Higgins.

It was a trying race for Clark en route to his eighth class win, his earlier mechanical dramas becoming more of an issue.

“I had difficulty with the gears,” said Clark . “I lost second and struggled to get into third and fourth as the gearbox has gone. The team suggested I didn’t start the race, but I did and got my 23rd consecutive class win.”

Oliver made it a Class Three double for the day.  

Porsche Club Championship,

Round Seven, 30 Minutes:

1 Ben Demetriou (968 CS) 31m35.589s (81.80mph);
2 Kevin Harrison (964 C2) +24.904s;
3 Mark McAleer (968 CS);
4 Richard Lambert (964 C2);
5 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2);
6 Marcus Carniel (964 C2);
7 Richard Higgins (968 CS);
8 Jeremy Clark (944 S2);
9 Tim Bates (911 SC);
10 Chris Dyer (944 S2).

Class Winners:  Demetriou; Clark; Anthony Oliver (911 SC). Fastest Lap: Carniel, 1m56.979s (82.94mph).

Round Eight, 30 Minutes:

1 Demetriou 29m35.843s (81.85mph);
2 McAleer +1.224s;
3 Harrison;
4 Kavanagh;
5 Lambert;
6 Higgins:
7 Clark;
8 Richard Ellis (993 C2);
9 Adrian Stock (968 CS);
10 Paul Follett (968 CS).

Class Winners: Demetriou, Clark; Oliver. Fastest Lap: McAleer, 1m56.630s (83.09mph).

Next Rounds: Thruxton, Hampshire, August 15th and 16th.

 

Brands Hatch , Kent

Rounds Five and Six

May 30th, 2009 

Two Wins for McAleer at Sunny Brands Hatch 

Mark McAleer took two outright and Class One wins as the Porsche Club Championship runners raced under a bright Brands Hatch sun, but reigning champion Jeremy Clark took a brace of Class Two victories and remains unbeaten this year and still clear at the top of the points table. 

Gary Duckman gave the new 993 C2 model its first podium in the series, while Class Three wins were shared by Mark Taylor and Anthony Oliver.

 

Qualifying

McAleer came out on top in the morning’s 15-minute qualifying session, his 968 CS just pipping Harrison by less than a tenth of a second. Richard Higgins was third quickest and was joined on row two of the 24-car grid by championship leader Clark – easily quickest of the Class Two runners. 

“The car was good,” said McAleer, “and I was able to get some clear laps. It’s all about converting it to a good start now.” 

“The car was a bit of a handful,” said Clark , “I’d hoped for better but I aim to be up there somewhere come the end of the race.” 

Race One

Harrison leapt into the lead at the start, McAleer briefly bogging down off the line and having to fend off Clark into the first corner. At the end of the first lap it was Harrison a second clear of McAleer, with Clark third ahead of a fast-starting Duckman, up from eighth on the grid. 

A series of fastest laps saw McAleer close in on the 946 of Harrison , and went by on lap 11. Behind, Clark was not defending too vigorously from the Class One cars, Duckman moving into third on lap four and Demetriou soon following through, before closing in on Duckman and then taking third on lap 13. 

Demetriou was lapping quickly and started closing in on Harrison and drawing clear of the battle for fourth which now saw Marcus Carniel heading Duckman, Scott Kavanagh, out for the first time in his new 993 C2, and Richard Lambert.

Crossing the line to start lap twenty Demetriou was right with Harrison , and dived down the inside into Paddock Hill Bend to take second.

McAleer was six seconds clear, but just as it looked like Demetriou could mount a charge in the remaining time, the Safety Car came out promising an exciting finish as the field closed up, but then the red flags flew to stop the race with cars off at the first three corners of the circuit. That saw McAleer win from Demetriou, with Harrison third ahead of Carniel, Duckman, Kavanagh and Lambert. 

“That was my worst start of the year,” said McAleer, “I had to hold Jeremy off in the first corner. Once I was past Kevin Harrison when he made a small mistake it was just a case of keeping him behind and I felt in control of the race – then I saw the Safety Car and thought ‘oh no’. The car felt good – but the 968s always seem to go well round here.”

 

“I went past Richard Higgins off the line,” said Demetriou, “but got hit by another car behind at Druids and ended up fifth. I went past Gary Duckman, then Jeremy Clark let me past, and was looking to catch Mark when the red flags came out.”  

“I got a good start, but I knew that the 968s would close in on me,” said Harrison . “On a hot day like this my car is always going to be squirmy at the back, and they are well balanced. It was an enjoyable race, and good to be on the podium at my local track.”  

Clark stayed out of trouble to take the Class Two win, with championship rival Chris Dyer pulling off before the end of the race and James Hilliard taking second on his series return.  

“It was a great start – I was looking for the lead,” said Clark . “People were always going to get past, so I wasn’t fighting hard, but my tyres were gone after four laps, they were the same ones I have used all season. The pit board was giving me the gap back to second in class, but with four laps to go I was worried we would not make it to the end on the tyres, so it was lucky for me they red-flagged the race.” 

The usual Class Three battle between Anthony Oliver and Mark Taylor was denied us when Oliver was hot by another car on the opening lap, retiring with deranged steering and handing Taylor the class win. 

 

Race Two

McAleer was on pole for race two, with Clark alongside, but from the second row Harrison made a storming start and blasted between the lead duo to head the field into Paddock Hill Bend. In his 993 Duckman made another great start, coming through third at the end of lap one from eighth on the grid. 

Once more McAleer homed in on Harrison , but the leader was driver superbly, not giving the harrying 968 a glimpse of an opportunity to go for the lead. Behind, Duckman( Pictured right)  was already under pressure from Demetriou, who had Kavanagh in close attendance. 

It took McAleer 20-laps for finally find a way past Harrison , getting to the inside at Clearways and going past before opening a gap. Now able to drive freely and not defend, Harrison promptly set his fastest race lap, but could do nothing to stop McAleer taking his second win of the day. 

The battling front two let Duckman close to within a second, and even looked to go inside McAleer at one point for second, but in the final laps the battle for third was a highlight of the race. With two laps to go Kavanagh got to the inside of Demetriou exiting Graham Hill Bend, and the pair were side by side into Clearways. Demetriou held to the inside and forced Kavanagh wide, then looked to go outside Duckman a lap later at Druids as Kavanagh again looked to the inside – before taking the flag with Duckman third, first podium finish for a 993 model, ahead of Demetriou and Kavanagh. 

“That was a good result,” said McAleer. “I had my doubts, Kevin was driving very well, but I got past at the same place as last race, when I was able to get alongside through Clearways. He was very fair with his driving and made it difficult, but with two wins it’s been a great day out.” 

“I had a fantastic start – I launched from eighth to third, said Duckman. “The 968s are always really quick here, and in another few laps Ben would have been rally causing me problems. I had look at Mark McAleer through Paddock on one lap, but those cars are so good through the corners. I was getting quicker and quicker, and it’s great to take my first podium in the 993.” 

“That was hard work,” said Demetriou. “I got a bit start and got baulked a bit into the first corner. Gary Duckman drove a great race, I was always trying to get past the guy in front but having to defend from behind.” 

“I thought I had Ben at one point,” said Kavanagh, “but then had to go sideways and had to back out. I was driving as hard as I could, really enjoyable and a great race.” 

Clark made it a Class Two double and retained his championship lead, winning the class despite using the same tyres that were struggling for grip in race one. Oliver recovered form his first race dramas to reel in Taylor and pass him for the Class Three win. 

“That was another battle, I had a go early on but the tyres just went – they are totally gone now. The pit signals from the guys were great as I knew what was going on and held the gap to ten seconds. I wasn’t expecting to win the class at the beginning of this race – we need to find a way to get new tyres for the next meeting.” 

Porsche Club Championship Round Five, 21 minutes:

1 Mark McAleer (968 CS) 21m29.886s (76.94mph);
2 Ben Demetriou (968 CS) + 5.093s;
3 Kevin Harrison (964 C2);
4 Marcus Carniel (964 C2);
5 Gary Duckman (993 C2);
6 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2);
7 Richard Lambert (962 C2);
8 Richard Higgins (968 CS);
9 Jeremy Clark (944 S2);
10 Adrian Stock (968 CS).

Class Winners: McAleer; Clark; Mark Taylor (911 SC).  Fastest Lap: McAleer 55.026s (78.41mph). 

Round Six, 25 minutes: 1 McAleer 25m12.322s  (77.03mph);

2 Harrison +2.538s;
3 Duckman;
4 Demetriou;
5 Kavanagh;
6 Higgins;
7 Carniel;
8 Lambert;
9 Stock;
10 David Botterill (964 C2).

Class Winners: McAleer; Clark; Anthony Oliver (911 SC). Fastest Lap: McAleer 54.881s (78.62mph). 

pics Peter Davey

 

Anglesey Circuit, North Wales

Rounds Three and Four

April 18 and 19th, 2009

 

Two for Demetriou on Porsche Weekend of Double Winners

 

 

The Porsche Club Championship made its first visit to the Anglesey Circuit in North Wales for what turned out to be two close and exciting races on Saturday and Sunday, April 18th and 19th in superb spring weather. Just as at the opening rounds, both races saw a battle at the front between Class One runners Ben Demetriou and Mark McAleer, this time Demetriou taking a pair of wins in two hard fought races.

 

It was a day for double winner Jeremy Clark taking two more Class Two wins, and qualifying on the front row overall for both races, to keep his perfect season going. Mark Taylor took the Class Three double, to make it three wins out of four.

 

Qualifying

Demetriou set the qualifying pace, claiming pole position for both races, but the surprise was the pace of Clark, the reigning champion hustling his 944 S2 round the twisty 1.55-mile circuit quickly enough to be on the front row for both rounds. The grid in the front few rows was the same for both races, Duckman heading McAleer on row two, with Erceg and Kevin Harrison filling row three.

 

Race One

Demetriou made the best start in Saturday’s 30-minute race, Duckman(left) taking second from Clark into the second corner. By the end of the first lap McAleer was up into third, Clark fourth from Peter Erceg and Marcus Carniel.

 

The battles behind saw Demetriou open an early gap, and when McAleer found a way past Duckman, he had found a gap stretching out ahead to the leader. McAleer chipped away at Demetriou’s advantage, setting the fastest lap to date in the race on lap seven, and closing to within a second of him on lap ten.

 

From then on the lead pair of 968s ran close, McAleer poised to take advantage of the slightest error from the leader, but Demetriou never gave him a hint of an opportunity and held on for his second win of the season. While these two were well clear at the front, the battle behind for third was a highlight of the race.

 

Duckman held sway for the first part of the race in his new to the series 993, coming under pressure from the 968 of Peter Erceg. Just as it looked that Duckman was safe in the position, Erceg came under pressure from the flying Richard Higgins, who had been down in eighth on lap four.

 

Climbing up the order, and setting fastest lap on the way, Higgins looked inside Erceg at the hairpin with five laps to go, and had another big attack there a lap later. Once into fourth Higgins set about Duckman, taking is 968 past down the inside of the first corner going into the last lap to see Higgins record his second Porsche Club Championship podium after a strong drive.

 

“We had a wheel bearing go yesterday, so my father had a four hour drive to go and get a new one – but it was worth it,” said Demetriou. “I thought I had a gap, then I saw Mark coming and knew that unless I made a mistake he wasn’t going to get by. It was tough, but I made no mistakes and managed to keep it going. Mark’s a good driver – I’m happy to carry on having battles like that, but  this is a tough track, very draining.”

 

“I had a brake problem testing yesterday and only did half a session, so I was pleased to be on the pace in the race,” said McAleer, “I felt I was quicker than Ben, and I was on his bumper in the last five or six laps.  I hoped I could get him to make a mistake but he didn’t give me a chance – but it was an exciting race, we were both on the ragged edge every lap. It’s a short lap and hard work, when I got out of the car I was totally….tired out.”

 

“The car is going well, “said Higgins. “I was caught behind some other cars early on, then I was able to get past people on the brakes. It’s fantastic to get fastest lap, the competition is tough in Class one.”

 

Clark (right) was the Class Two pace setter, and after electing not to battle with the Class One front runners at the front in the early laps, ran securely in sixth. In the final laps, the champion started to close in on the battle for third in his 944 S2, but settled for sixth behind Erceg at the flag.

 

“I didn’t want to battle the Class One guys,” said Clark , “as their tyres got warmer they were quicker so I waved them through. I found I was catching the guys at the end, but I didn’t want to get involved. I was happy to take a place if they took each other off, but I wasn’t going to push my nose in anywhere.”

 

In Class Three Mark Taylor took the category win ahead of Anthony Oliver.

 

Race Two

Sunday’s race again saw Demetriou lead them away, Duckman going round the outside into the banked second corner to slot in behind the leader, but then lost ground as his car’s ABS-system dropped onto fault mode. By the end of the opening lap McAleer was into second, and set consecutive fastest laps as he once again homed in on Demetriou.

 

The front two were together by lap four, and McAleer seized his chance as they climbed up to Rocket corner on lap five to take the lead for the first time over the weekend. Demetriou stayed close, the pair somehow going through the twisting Corkscrew section of the circuit side-by-side on lap ten.

 

McAleer was suffering gearbox issues, second gear disappearing for the middle section of the race, and Demetriou pounced as he was slow out a corner to move back ahead on lap thirteen. McAleer closed up once more in the final laps, but could do nothing about denying Demetriou a second win of the weekend – and his third in four races this season.

 

“I think Mark and I racing the front is becoming the theme of the season,” said Demetriou. “I had new tyres on so it was hard to get going at the start, and Mark was straight on me then made a good move on the inside and I decided to let him go. We were side-by-side through the Corkscrew on one lap, then I was getting out one of the corners better than him and got back ahead.”

 

“The car was quick early on, then I couldn’t get second gear,” said McAleer. “The car was good, but out of Rocket without second he was quicker. Then it came back with about three laps to go and is fine now… It was a good race, Ben was quicker in some places, I was better in others, and I felt in control at the front and then the gearbox started acting up.”

 

Kevin Harrison had his new 964 C2 into third on the opening lap, and held the position race long with team-mate Clark right behind, well ahead of the other Class Two runners. Clark closed up in the final laps, but was happy to take the class win points rather than challenge for outright position.

 

“A new set of tyres made the difference for us,” said Harrison . “Hopefully that’s the first of many good finishes for us.”

 

“I had no intention of going past Kevin, “said Clark , “ I wanted us to work together and see if we could close down on the leaders. I lost gears for a moment early on, and thought that was it – but then it all came back. That was hard work, we had a decent race and really enjoyable.”

 

Marcus Carniel ran fifth early on, the place soon becoming the prize in a multi-car battle that included the recovering Duckman, Erceg and Adrian Grieves. Duckman finally got past Carniel on the run out the second corner on lap 18, the latter holding on to take sixth ahead of Erceg and Grieves.

 

Mark Taylor (left) took is second win of the weekend to complete a set of double-winners in each class.

 

“It’s good to take a double win,” said Taylor . “I’ll mix it with the Class Two guys if we can, but they are difficult to keep up with. It’s been good fun this weekend, I’ve never raced here on this circuit layout before – it’s difficult to get the hang of it at first, and there is nowhere to rest anywhere on the lap.”

 

Porsche Open racers Mark Chilton and Mike Johnson, joined by Dave Whelan guesting from the Irish Porsche series, also upheld Porsche honour in the final race of each day, Chilton wining both. Whelan was third on Saturday’s race, while Sunday’s saw Porsche the dominant marquee, Chilton, Johnson and Whelan taking all three podium slots.

 

Chilton was on form all weekend, on a tight track that did not suit his 993 GT2, and achieved the rare feat of lapping the entire field on the way to Sunday’s win.

 

“I really enjoyed the racing and I don’t think I have lapped everyone since my days in karts,” said Chilton. “The car was getting better all weekend, the circuit was hard work, I was in second or third gear almost everywhere.”

 

Porsche Club Championship Round Three, 30 minutes:

1 Ben Demetriou (968 CS) 30m11.411s (70.85mph);

2 Mark McAleer (968 CS) +0.282s;

3 Richard Higgins (968 CS);

4 Gary Duckman (993 C2);

5 Peter Erceg (968 CS);

6 Jeremy Clark (944 C2);

7 Marcus Carniel (964 C2);

8 Chris Dyer (944 S2);

9 Adrian Stock (968);

10 Kevin Harrison (964 C2).

Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark; Mark Taylor (911 SC). Fastest Lap: Higgins 1m17.379s (72.11mph).

 

Round Four, 30 minutes;

1 Demetriou30,14.857s (70.71mph);

2 McAleer +0.406s;

3 K Harrison;

4 Clark;

5 Duckman;

6 Carniel;

7 Erceg;

8 Adrian Grieves (968 CS);

9 Higgins;

10 Dyer.

Class Winners: Demetriou; Clark; Taylor. Fastest Lap: McAleer 1m17.693s (71.82mph).

 

Pics Paul Williams