Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2019 - Race 9 & 10 Thruxton

Porsche Carrera Cup GB returns to the UK's fastest circuit

Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK, begins the second half of the season with a return to Thruxton for the first time since 2014. The grid of mechanically identical 485 hp 'Type 991' Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars will reach speeds approaching 170 mph around the UK's fastest circuit, placing unique demands on the drivers.

18-year-old Porsche GB 2018 / 2019 Junior Dan Harper (JTR) arrives in Hampshire leading the championship standings with an unbroken run of victories in each of the weekend's opening races during 2019. Fresh from making his debut in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in support of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and appearing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the on-form Porsche GB Junior will want to maintain his points advantage over his hard-charging rivals.

At Oulton Park, Porsche GB Junior Harper enjoyed a thrilling battle with one of his closest championship rivals – 26-year-old Lewis Plato (Motorbase Performance). Plato has raced to six podium finishes from eight races during 2019 – the kind of consistency that netted the 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship for Tio Ellinas. In round eight, Plato resisted massive pressure from Harper as the pair entertained 40,000 trackside spectators, dicing for the final podium position. Plato's mature and calm drive to third highlighted why the Essex-based racer – who took a Pro category victory at Croft – currently occupies second in the overall championship standings.

George Gamble (Amigos Redline Racing) arrived at Oulton Park with a completely rebuilt car following the Croft weekend. The 22-year-old reigning Rookie champion quickly set about making amends for his non-scoring weekend in North Yorkshire. With a podium result in round seven, Gamble made two crucial overtaking moves in round eight, gaining one place off the line at the start and another when passing Jamie Orton (JTR) for the race lead a few laps later – the passes secured Gamble his second outright victory of the season. The large haul of points took him into third position in the championship standings – leapfrogging 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Josh Webster (Team Parker Racing) – as he enters the second half of his second season.

Former Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver and 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Webster made a spectacular return to the championship at Donington Park – immediately establishing himself as one of 2019's championship challengers. One of a handful of drivers caught out by the wet conditions at Croft, Webster recovered to ensure he had recorded four podium results from as many races. In Cheshire, Webster scored points in both races but will desperately want to return to the podium at Thruxton, the scene of two second place finishes for him during his championship year of 2014 – the last time the Porsche Carrera Cup GB travelled to the fast Hampshire track.

Dan Vaughan (Motorbase Performance) has stepped up from a Pro-Am category campaign to the Pro category for 2019, where he has been involved in some close battles. Vaughan's best result so far this season has been second overall in the rain affected race at Croft – his maiden Pro category podium. Vaughan enters the second half of his session with a 10 point championship advantage over key rival Perez, who made the same step into the Pro category for 2019.

2018 Pro-Am category champion Perez is currently locked into a Pro category championship battle with Vaughan and Rookie Tom Roche (Rob Boston Racing). Perez secured two podium finishes in the first half of the 2019 season and took a points scoring finish in round seven at Oulton Park. The Derbyshire teenager joined his teammate Gamble in making a Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut at Silverstone in July, and Perez will look to use the experience of racing in the halo Porsche one-make series to good effect.

Welshman Tom Roche (Rob Boston Racing) enjoyed his strongest weekend to date last time out. Qualifying an impressive fourth for round seven, Roche fended off his attackers to maintain his position – recording his highest placed finish of the 2019 season. In round eight, the 32-year-old Rookie finished ahead of experienced guesting teammate Wrigley – equaling his performances at Brands Hatch and Croft – moving himself to within just four points of Jack McCarthy (Redline Racing) in the Rookie championship standings.

Jamie Orton (JTR) switched from the Pro-Am to the Pro category for Oulton Park, the 39-year-old having made the reverse switch in 2017 – completing a partial season in the Pro category before moving to Pro-Am. Two impressive races at Oulton Park vindicated the move, Orton finishing race one in fifth ahead of some tough competition. From a reverse grid race pole position in round eight, the Londoner was passed only by a hard charging Gamble to finish an impressive second overall, successfully fending off the advances of championship front runner Plato.

Having competed in more than 50 races since making his series debut in 2008, Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) is one of the most experienced Porsche Carrera Cup GB drivers on the 2019 grid. Leonard used that experience to his advantage in taking overall race victory in challenging conditions at Croft – the first time a Pro-Am competitor had won a race outright. The 43-year-old Dubliner added to his tally of category victories in Cheshire and has now stood on the Pro-Am podium's top step on four occasions. However, Leonard will need to keep an eye on rising star Esmee Hawkey (GT Marques) as she attempts to challenge his position.

Hawkey, who is conducting a tandem campaign with W Series in 2019, achieved her first category victory at Oulton Park. The milestone performance came as part of a string of seven podium finishes from eight races in 2019, the result propelling the 21-year-old to second place in the Pro-Am category championship standings – Hawkey now sits just nine points behind Leonard. Like many of her fellow competitors, Hawkey has never visited Thruxton before, but through her W Series and Porsche Carrera Cup GB commitments she has already proven her ability to adapt to new circuits across the world with ease.

Rookie Jack McCarthy (Redline Racing) has proven to be an exciting addition to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB grid in 2019, the newcomer recording a total of six Pro-Am category podium finishes from eight races – amongst them two category victories both achieved at Donington Park. The Oulton Park weekend was a tale of two halves for McCarthy with a DNF in race one, and a recovery drive to second in category in race two. Despite the podium result in Cheshire, McCarthy faces tough rivals in his Pro-Am category fight.

Newcomer Adam Hatfield (Valluga Racing) had a strong Porsche Carrera Cup GB debut weekend at Oulton Park, the former GT racer qualifying just 0.229 secs behind fellow Rookie and category rival McCarthy for round seven. He went on to finish second in category in his first Porsche Carrera Cup GB race. Arguably, Hatfield arrives at Thruxton with more of a level playing than he experienced at Oulton Park, due to the majority of the grid having similarly never raced a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at the circuit.

Am category rivals Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing) and Peter Kyle-Henney (Team Parker Racing) both raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB during its previous visits to Thruxton. Sherwood has stood on the podium in every race so far this season, his unbroken record of appearances includes three category victories and leaves him leading the Am category championship at the session midpoint. Rival Kyle-Henney, the championship's most successful Am category driver with 25 wins, has enjoyed five podium appearances from five races – including three category victories from the previous four races. Rookie John Ferguson (Redline Racing) has also taken a victory this year at Donington Park, Ferguson continuing to make his presence felt despite being a category newcomer.

Returning to the Am category for the first time in 2019 is 2018 competitor Fraser Robertson (Redline Racing). Robertson was a spectacular entry to the grid over his debut season, amassing twenty points but never making it onto the podium – something he will have his sights set on for Thruxton.

Thruxton's unique lap with a high top speed, constant radius corners and big braking zones, will push the cars and drivers harder than anywhere else on the UK calendar. Coupled with only limited testing, and despite having the Carrera Cup GB technical team in full support, the majority of the grid will be stepping into new territory over the race weekend.

Porsche GB Junior Harper Takes Fourth Pole of 2019

18-year-old Porsche GB 2018 / 2019 Junior Dan Harper (JTR) clinched his fourth pole position of the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB season at Thruxton. The current championship leader mounted a late challenge for pole fending off rivals Josh Webster (Team Parker Racing) and George Gamble (Amigos Redline Racing) who will start round nine in P2 and P3 respectively. Porsche GB Junior Harper's closest championship rival, Lewis Plato (Motorbase Performance), will start tomorrow's race from the second row of the grid in P4.

A session of two distinct halves was conducted under clear and sunny skies, Gamble initially held the advantage at the top of the timesheet but soon came under attack from Plato and Harper – yet neither could beat his early pacesetting lap time. With most drivers opting to remain in pit lane until the final five minutes of the session, the closing minutes of qualifying saw Webster leap Gamble for P1 before Porsche GB Junior Harper set the fastest time of the day – securing the seventh pole position of his Porsche Carrera Cup GB career. At the flag just 0.372 seconds covered pole sitter Harper from Webster and Gamble.

A closely contested battle for top Pro-Am honours saw championship leader Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) take an early category lead. Leonard's performance was made all the more impressive given that he was driving a new car, set up for him overnight after an off in Friday's practice session caused damage to his regular car. However, Esmee Hawkey (GT Marques) ultimately triumphed in a tight Pro-Am category battle that also involved returnee Sam Brabham (Team Connect It) and Rookie Jack McCarthy (Redline Racing). Of the Am category drivers John Ferguson (Redline Racing) qualified ahead of Peter Kyle-Henney (In2 Racing), Am category championship leader Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing) will start round nine from row eight.

Following the 2019 Carrera Cup GB race format, Junior Harper has already earned two championship points with his pole position, and the top qualifiers in their respective categories – Hawkey and Ferguson – also receive two points each. The grid for tomorrow's second race will be decided immediately following race one. The overall winner will draw a number between four and six at random, deciding whether the first four, five or six competitors will have their grid positions reversed. The remaining drivers will form the grid for race two according to their finishing positions in race one, any driver who records a DNF in race one will start race two behind the last finisher in their category.

Round nine will take place at 10:40 tomorrow, Sunday 18 August, while round ten will take place at 15:50 with live coverage on ITV4. Both races feature a standing start and are scheduled to last for a duration of 20 laps. Thruxton is the fastest circuit on the TOCA calendar, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK – spectators can expect plenty of fast-paced action.

Double Victory for Porsche GB Junior Harper at Thrilling Thruxton

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the fastest single marque GT racing championship in the UK, commenced the second half of its 2019 season with a pair of gripping races at Thruxton. A rain-affected Round Nine delivered a race of two halves as drivers chose opposing tyre strategies on a drying track. Round Ten saw 18-year-old Porsche GB 2018 / 2019 Junior Dan Harper (JTR) become the first driver to take two victories in a weekend since the introduction of a reverse grid Race Two at the start of 2018.

Porsche GB Junior Harper's clean sweep of pole position, two wins and two fastest laps marked him out as the class of the field over the course of the weekend. By mastering the season's fastest circuit in style, Porsche GB Junior Harper further extends his championship lead to challenger Lewis Plato (Motorbase Performance).

Plato secured an impressive podium finish in Round Ten, while fellow title hopeful 2014 Carrera Cup GB champion Josh Webster (Team Parker Racing) took a pair of second place finishes snatching third in the overall championship standings from George Gamble (Amigos Redline Racing).

A successful weekend of racing for Esmee Hawkey (GT Marques) saw the Kent-based driver take two category victories – moving her into the lead of the Pro-Am category championship. Just two points now separate Hawkey from experienced driver Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) at the top of the table.

The Pro-Am category was further bolstered by the welcome return of Sam Brabham (Team Connect It) – continuing the rich Brabham family racing heritage. Following the Thruxton weekend Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing) maintains his lead of the Am category championship, however, two Am category wins for Rookie John Ferguson (Redline Racing) moves the newcomer to within striking distance of Sherwood's points tally.

Race one

Rain on Sunday morning resulted in a drying track for the start of the weekend's first race – scheduled for a duration of 20 laps. All 15 cars embarked on the first of two formation laps shod with slick dry weather tyres, the first half of the 2.4 mile circuit was dry, the second half wet. At the end of the first lap Lewis Plato (Motorbase Performance), Dan Vaughan (Motorbase Performance) and Rookie Tom Roche (Rob Boston Racing) dived into the pit lane to switch to grooved wet weather tyres, the trio then lined up at the end of the pit lane to make their race starts – Roche heading Vaughan from Plato in the queue.

When the lights went out 18-year-old Porsche GB 2018 / 2019 Junior Dan Harper (JTR) and fellow front row starter Josh Webster (Team Parker Racing) got away well. On the opening lap George Gamble (Amigos Redline Racing) found a way by Webster for P2, however, Roche, Vaughan and Plato were making huge gains – using the grip afforded by their wet weather tyres all three quickly began making up places. In the Pro-Am category Rookie Jack McCarthy (Redline Racing) led Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) and Esmee Hawkey (GT Marques). In Am John Ferguson (Redline Racing) headed Peter Kyle-Henney (In2 Racing) from Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing).

By lap three Roche was up to P2 and closing fast on Porsche GB Junior Harper, Vaughan had progressed to P3 – one position ahead of team mate Plato in P4. On lap 5 Roche swept by to take the lead of the race, Vaughan and Plato quickly following through to leave Porsche GB Junior Harper in P4. When McCarthy pitted, a shuffle in the Pro-Am order saw Hawkey take the category lead, Leonard running second in category with returnee Sam Brabham (Team Connect It) occupying third.

With the circuit drying rapidly those running slick tyres began to outpace the drivers on grooved rubber. On lap 8 Porsche GB Junior Harper began to mount a come-back, passing Vaughan before the Club chicane and, one lap later, replicating the move exactly on his championship rival Plato to secure P2 – Webster quickly followed him through to grab P3.

At half distance on a drying track the three drivers on wet weather tyres – Roche, Vaughan and Plato – were struggling for pace and began to slip down the order. On lap 10 Porsche GB Junior Harper passed Roche to retake the lead of the race, on lap 11 Webster also overtook Roche, and one lap later Gamble passed the Rookie for P3. Roche was now running P4, Plato P8 and Vaughan P9. At the front, Porsche GB Junior Harper began to push, building a gap of over five seconds to the chasing Webster. The Pro-Am order remained unchanged to the flag; Hawkey, Leonard and Brabham. In Am Ferguson maintained his lead to the flag while Sherwood found a way by Kyle-Henney to snatch second in category.

Porsche GB Junior Harper's victory is his fifth of the season – maintaining his unbroken record of winning each weekend's opening race. As part of the 2019 podium procedure, winner Harper selected at random the number 6 ball, which reverses the grid positions of the top 6 overall race finishers from Round Nine. This formed the starting grid for Round Ten; Orton, Hawkey, Perez, Gamble, Webster, and Harper.

Race two

The second of the weekend's races – scheduled to last 20 laps – saw Jame Orton (JTR) and Esmee Hawkey (GT Marques) get away cleanly from the front row in dry conditions. From the second row of the grid Seb Perez (Amigos Redline Racing) and George Gamble (Amigos Redline Racing) both gained ground on Orton and Hawkey making it a four car battle into Campbell. In the braking zone Perez made contact with Orton forcing the JTR driver into Gamble, Orton and Gamble left the circuit at Cobb.

Damage to his car resulted in Gamble's immediate retirement, Orton – also with damage – limped back to the pits and would later continue his race. Emerging from Seagrave in the lead was Webster followed by Perez and 18-year-old Porsche GB 2018 / 2019 Junior Dan Harper (JTR).

On lap 2 Porsche GB Junior Harper found a way by Perez for P2, Hawkey maintained her Pro-Am category lead while the chasing Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) spun on the exit of Cobb. Leonard's error allowed returnee Sam Brabham (Team Connect It) to move up to P2 in category and Jack McCarthy (Redline Racing) to assume P3. However, the pair would soon swap positions – McCarthy passing Brabham for P2 in category. In Am Race One winner John Ferguson (Redline Racing) headed Peter Kyle-Henney (In2 Racing) and Justin Sherwood (Team Parker Racing).

On lap 8 Lewis Plato (Motorbase Performance) made a move on Perez, finding his way by to assume the final podium position. On lap 11, having mounted several attempts to take the lead, Porsche GB Junior Harper launched a skilful pass. The Porsche GB Junior first drove to the outside of Webster in the run down through Brooklands, then into the braking zone for Club, he repositioned his car to the inside – successfully selling Webster a dummy move – passing the 2014 champion cleanly as they arrived at the chicane.

In the closing laps, Pro-Am category runner Brabham got alongside Am category leader Ferguson, Brabham taking to the grass through Brooklands and spinning into retirement. The Pro-Am category order now being: Hawkey, McCarthy and Leonard. In Am Kyle-Henney closed onto the rear bumper of category leader Ferguson, but despite several attempts he could not find a route around his rival before the flag fell.

Immediately following the race, for his part in the incident at the start, Perez was given a formal reprimand resulting in the loss of two championship points.
For his performance, Ferguson earned the Driver of the Weekend accolade, Amigos Redline Racing were awarded Team of the Weekend.
Championship positions*

Overall:
Dan Harper, JTR, 102
Lewis Plato, Motorbase Performance, 67
Josh Webster, Team Parker Racing, 58

Pro-Am:
Esmee Hawkey, GT Marques, 78
Karl Leonard, Team Parker Racing, 76
Jack McCarthy, Redline Racing, 64

Am:
Justin Sherwood , Team Parker Racing, 90
John Ferguson, Redline Racing, 69
Peter Kyle-Henney, IN2 Racing, 68

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