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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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Final Rounds: Silverstone, Northants, October 2nd and 3rd. |
mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
Porsche OpenCroft, North Yorkshire September 26th and 27th, 2009 Geddie Porsche Open Double at Croft The Porsche Open runners joined other sportscar racers for two Sports, Saloons and GT Challenge races at Croft, Jim Geddie winning both races on his welcome return to the series. Fellow front runner Mark Chilton had an unlucky weekend – given a penalty for a jump start in the first race before going off in the second while leading after a tangle with another car. Fraser Robertson claimed Class One in race two after Chilton’s demise, a fine result on his debut in his 996 RS. Qualifying Geddie headed the Porsche runners in qualifying, his 996 GT3 heading Chilton’s 993. Robertson was getting to grips with his new mount in third, ahead of Andrew Tate’s 996 RSR, local racer Mike Johnson and Dave Whelan – who had not seen the Croft circuit before qualifying. The 996 GT3 of Marcus Fothergill and Dave Benett had transmission problems and would miss the first race. Race One Geddie made the best of the start, with Chilton second of the Porsche runners, but the latter was adjudged a little too quick in his reactions and given a ten second penalty for a jump start. Tate was third, but a spin at the hairpin on lap three dropped him down the order. Clear of the other Open runners, Geddie was mixing it with the sportscar exotica at the front of the field, embroiled in a tight battle for second overall. Chilton was fourth overall, and pulling clear of the rest unaware of his penalty, while Tate was recovering through the field and closing on Robertson, who was getting quicker by the lap as he got used to his 996, the first car he had ever raced on slicks and with a sequential gearbox. At the end of the 20-minute race Geddie claimed third overall and the Porsche Open win and Class Two victory, while Chilton was second Porsche home, claiming Cass One and far enough clear of Robertson to hold that position after his penalty was applied. Tate claimed second in Class One, heading home Johnson and Whelan. “The tyres were starting to go off towards the end which was frustrating,” said Geddie, “but it was a good race, good fun. We won the class which was the main thing.” “I didn’t know until the end I had a penalty,” said Chilton, “this car has a small clutch and it is not easy to get off the line – I thought I had stopped the clutch dragging just before the lights changed.” “The race was good,” said Class Three victor Johnson, “I didn’t really have too many other cars to race, so I stayed out everyone’s way and took the class win. Nice to be racing locally – I am going to drive the race car home now and back in the morning for another go!” Race Two Sunday’s race saw the Porsche runners bolstered by Marcus Fothergill, the 996 now repaired and back on song, and a trio of Porsche Club runners eager for another race at Croft after their round earlier in the afternoon. Geddie led the Porsche contingent in the race away, but Mark Chilton moved ahead on lap two, only to retire a lap later after he tangled with another car and went off. Geddie was very soon under pressure from Robertson, who was getting quicker in his new 996 as the weekend went on. These two lapped closely in the first part of the race, and Robertson seized his chance when Geddie missed a gear exiting the hairpin to lead across the line going into lap eight, but Geddie recovered quickly and was back ahead into the first corner. The pair stayed close, Robertson having a long look inside Geddie at the start of lap eleven, but a lock-up from Robertson a lap later lost him round and Geddie was clear to take his second Porsche Open win of the weekend. Robertson claimed the Class One win, with Fothergill second in class after coming off the best in a battle with Andre Tate. “We were struggling with tyres there,“ said Geddie, “we were slower than yesterday but really good fun. I missed a gear at the hairpin and Fraser came down my outside, but I thought lets see how brave he is and I stayed on the inside. “ “That was brilliant!” exclaimed Robertson. “I tried to sneak past him twice, to have won first time out in this car would have been the ultimate. The car is awesome, it handles, has power, is forgiving – to come from a 944 and I have had an hour in the car, and to have been right up there is something special.” “We had a gearbox problem,“ said Fothergill, “and had to take that out last night and fitted new bearings, then found the starter motor had gone this morning. We kept it together and even though this is my local circuit I haven’t been here for four years, and only did three laps in qualifying, but it all came back together for us!” Johnson claimed Class Three, clear of Porsche Club runners Dave Botterill, Chris Dyer and Richard Ellis. “That was a good race,” said Johnson, “I was dicing with another car, he was better on the brakes and I had the torque out the corners. Towards the end I was enjoying myself and sliding the car to entertain everyone.” Porsche Open, Race One, 20 Minutes: 1, Jim Geddie (996 GT3 Cup) 22m20.468s; 2 Mark Chilton (993 GT2 Evo); 3 Fraser Robertson (996 RS); 4 Andrew Tate (996 RSR); 5 Mike Johnson (911 SC); 6 Dave Whelan (993 RSR). Class Winners: Chilton; Geddie; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m29.358s (84.604mph). Race Two, 20 Minutes: 1, Geddie 21m25.888s; 2 Robertson; 3 Marcus Fothergill (996 GT3); 4 Tate; 5 Johnson; 6 David Botterill (964 C2); 7 Chris Dyer (944 S2); 8 Richard Ellis (993 C2); 9 Whelan. Class Winners: Robertson; Geddie; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m30.349s (83.676mph).
Castle Combe, Wiltshire Rounds Eleven and Twelve August 31st, 2009 Chilton Upholds Porsche Honour at Combe The Porsche Open Contenders took on their counterparts from the equivalent Ferrari series at Castle Combe’s Bank Holiday Monday meeting, and Mark Chilton upheld Porsche honour with a superb win in the ten-lap race. Enjoyed by all, the race saw the Porsche runners dominate the podium, John Taylor claiming third overall and second of the Open runners home. Qualifying
Race A storming start from Chilton saw him second at the end of lap one, and he took the lead on lap three with a brave dive down the inside into the very quick final corner. From then on the power of his GT2 told as he eased away from the field. “My tyres don’t usually work for the first few laps,” said Chilton, “but the car felt great from start. I didn’t want to push too hard and go off, but I found as I wound the boost down the car got easier to drive and the lap times came down too. “I was looking at the leader and he was going on the defensive, but I don’t think he was expecting me to go past when I did. At the start he was coming out the chicane better than me, but as the race went on I was better there, and had more power than him.” Taylor ran fifth for much of the race in a group of cars, but gained places in the final laps to be second Porsche home and third overall in the 22-car field. “It was a hectic race,” said Taylor , “the tyres took a couple of laps to get hot, but the rolling start was a good one, everyone using their mirrors. An exciting race.” Johnson was third Porsche home, having found a way past Kavanagh into Folly on lap two, and then mixing it with the slick-shod Ferraris in his Class Three 911 SC. “Those guys were on slicks,” said Johnson, “so I just went flat-out to try to see where I ended up in the mix, I had a great dice with Scott in the 993 at the start. There was a point where the Ferraris could brake better, and I didn’t want to get tangled up but I also wanted to have a go. The car went well and I enjoyed the race, an admirable experiment!” Porsche versus Ferrari Challenge (Porsche Results), 10 laps: 1 Mark Chilton (993 GT2) 12m22.319s (89.71mph); 2 John Taylor (996 GT3) +17.664s; 3 Mike Johnson (911 SC); 4 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2); 5 Peter Erceg (968 CS); 6 Adrian Clark (928 GTS); 7 David Botterill (964 C2); 8 Jeremy Cooke (911 RSR); 9 Dave Whelan (993 RSR); 10 Phil Price (911 RS). Class Winners: Chilton, Taylor, Johnson. Fastest Lap: Chilton 1m12.994s (91.24mph).
Brands Hatch , KentMay 30th, 2009 McLean and Fairbairn Open 2009 Porsche Account Paul McLean and Peter Fairbairn won the first Porsche Open one-hour race of the season at Brand Hatch on Saturday May 30th, leading home the field by over a lap with series newcomer Alex Martin taking second ahead of Class Two winners Zubin Randeria and Richard Chamberlain. Mike Johnson won a close battle to take Class Three. Qualifying McLean and Fairbairn were quickest in qualifying, front suspension changes to their 993 GT2 Evo even further improving its performance. Gerry Harrison was second quickest on his return to the series, while Martin was third in his 996 GT3 Cup – running in Class One due to non-standardtyres.
Randeria and Chamberlain headed Class Two in their borrowed 996 GT3. Scott Kavanagh – moonlighting from the Porsche Club Championship in his 993 C2 – headed the Class Three runners. Race McLean led the field at the end of lap one, but it was a short race for Harrison who snapped a driveshaft off the line and was out on the spot. The leader had the pace to pull away from the field, Martin getting past Randeria on lap two for second. By lap 25 McLean had lapped everyone up to second place, and finally pitted on lap 32 to hand over to Fairbairn. Martin moved ahead, and stayed out for another five laps before making his compulsory stop – a set thirty seconds stationary for a single driver car. Once all the stops had been made it was Fairbairn clear at the front, and he made no mistakes as he brought the sliver 993 home for the race win, a lap clear of Martin, with Chamberlain, who took over from Randeria, third. “We are really pleased with the car,” said McLean . “I made a bad start, but these cars were designed in the 1990s for rolling starts so they are hard to get off the line on a standing start. Zubin almost had me at the first corner but I just managed to squeeze through.” “The car is a lot easier to drive,” said Fairbairn. “The rear tyres started going off a bit at the end and it was a case of bring it home.” “I tried to chase them early on but just didn’t have the horsepower,” said Martin. “It was a wicked race, I hope to come back and do more races.” “The car was so much better in the race than in qualifying,” said Randeria, “I have to thank James Fillingham for lending us his car. It was a good drive.” “This car could probably do another hour,” said Chamberlain, “I’m just not sure I could.” Jonson led the Class Three runners for much of the race, and was the first to pit on lap 21. That put Kavanagh into the class lead, and once the pit stops had all cycled through he was still ahead. A series of personal fastest laps saw Jonson reel him in – and go past to take the win ahead of Kavanagh, with Mark Chilton slowing late in the race with a problem and taking third in class. “I had to get the bull by the horns later in the race,” said Johnson. “The car kept locking a wheel under braking, but I had to get my act together and go for it.” Porsche Open, 55 Minutes:
Class Winners: McLean / Fairbairn; Randeria / Chamberlain; Jonson. Fastest Lap: McLean 49.108s (87.66mph).
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Taylor
was the leading Porsche runner in qualifying, third overall in his 996
GT3, and one slot on the grid ahead of Chilton’s 993 GT2. Porsche Club
Championship regular Scott Kavanagh(left) was third of the
German-mounted runners, outpacing Open runner Mike Johnson.