Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2024: Rounds 2, 3 & 4, Brands Hatch (Indy), report

Porsche News · 17 May 2024

Two new winners triumph at triple header race weekend

Angus Whiteside (Century Motorsport) and Hugo Ellis (Team Parker Racing) took the first victories of their Porsche racing careers, at a busy weekend of action at Brands Hatch. In the final race, Will Martin (Eden Race Drive) won to further extend his championship advantage.

The first race of the weekend was Round Two of the season, rescheduled from Donington Park due to weather conditions. Whiteside secured an early lead and successfully defended his position to the flag. He became the first Pro-Am category driver to take overall victory since Charles Rainford (Cognition Land & Water with CCK Motorsport) at Brands Hatch in 2022.

Dramatic incidents at the start of the weekend’s second race resulted in a red flag period. Ellis controlled events from the restart to become the weekend’s second new victor, and the 2024 season’s third different winner. Meanwhile, 2024 / 2025 Junior James Wallis (JTR) celebrated his maiden podium appearance. The final race in Kent saw Martin deliver a lights-to-flag victory from reverse grid pole position.

Qualifying

Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session was a closely contested affair conducted in warm conditions. Gamble, Matthew Rees (Team Parker Racing), Andrew Rackstraw (JTR) and Martin were amongst the pacesetting drivers in the early running. Sid Smith (Parker Classic Works) was ahead in Pro-Am, while Sherwood led the way in Am.

In the closing stages, Ellis posted the day’s quickest time of 45.424. After Rackstraw had an identical time disallowed for exceeding track limits, Stephen Jelley (Parker Classic Works) ended the session in second, with Martin in third. Rookie Smith topped Pro-Am with Sherwood leading Am. Just half a second covered the top 18 drivers.

Following an off during the session, Will Aspin (Eden Race Drive) would sit out Round Two with damage to his car.

Race one

After delays to the schedule at Donington Park, Round Two was rescheduled for the Brands Hatch weekend. Following the reverse grid format, the starting order was formed by reversing the top five finishing positions from Round One. Rackstraw lined-up on pole position with Rainford alongside. In warm conditions, Rackstraw and Rainford battled for the lead at the start of the race, but Rainford emerged ahead at Druids. Meanwhile, Whiteside moved up to second, Gamble slotted into third, with Rackstraw demoted to fourth.

Whiteside quickly attacked Rainford for the lead – the Pro-Am racer snatched first as Rainford ran wide at the exit of Graham Hill Bend, also allowing Gamble to overtake for second. Whiteside now led Gamble and Rainford, Martin was close behind in fourth. In Pro-Am, Ollie Jackson (JTR) and Oliver White (Eden Race Drive) chased the overall leader, and category front runner, Whiteside. In Am, Sherwood was ahead of rivals David Stirling (Toro Verde GT) and Hosking (Cognition Land & Water with CCK Motorsport).

On lap 11, the leaders caught Hosking to lap him. Whiteside took to the grass at Surtees in avoidance and lost his splitter, however, he maintained the race lead. On lap 20, the Safety Car was deployed to allow for the recovery of debris. At the restart, 12 laps remained. Gamble continued to pressure Whiteside but he could not find a route through. The leading bunch now consisted of six cars; Whiteside, Gamble, Rainford, Martin, Malin and Rackstraw. In the final few laps, Martin overtook Rainford for third at Surtees.

Whiteside crossed the finish line first to claim his maiden Carrera Cup GB victory, Gamble and Martin joined him on the overall podium. Whiteside returned to the podium for the Pro-Am category presentation, was joined by Jackson and White. Sherwood, Stirling and Hosking formed the Am category podium. For recording the fastest lap in each of their respective categories, Gamble (Pro), Whiteside (Pro-Am) and Sherwood (Am) each received one additional championship point.

Following the race, Jack Butel (Toro Verde GT) was given a penalty of two championship and two category points for contact with Henry Dawes (Century Motorsport). Rees was handed the same deduction for making contact with Wallis.

Porsche News · 17 May 2024

Race one Brands Hatch

Porsche News · 17 May 2024

Race two

The weekend’s second race took place under clear and sunny skies. Rackstraw was slow away at the start and stopped before Paddock Hill. Ellis led Jelley through the first corner and into Druids. At the hairpin Whiteside and William Burns (Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport) suffered separate incidents that ended their races. With three cars stranded, the race was red flagged to allow for their recovery. Aspin became the fourth retirement before the restart. The race distance was adjusted to 30 laps.

At the second standing start, Ellis led Jelley from Martin, meanwhile Rainford and Smith battled for fourth position, with Rainford pulling clear. Rookie Smith was the leading Pro-Am category driver, he was followed by White and Abbie Eaton (Rebelleo Motorsport) – the latter had got ahead of Josh Stanton (JTR). In Am, Sherwood was leading Stirling and Hosking. On lap 10, Gamble overtook White for ninth overall. And shortly afterwards Martin was handed a five second penalty for abusing track limits. On corrected time that made the top three Ellis from Jelley and Rainford.

On lap 14, Rees attacked Wallis for fifth at Druids, the pair ran side-by-side through Graham Hill, Surtees, Clearways and along the Brabham Straight. Wallis picked the inside line for Paddock Hill giving him the advantage at Druids, this finally allowed him to edge ahead after a whole lap of close racing. In the closing stages of the race, Jelley received a track limits penalty which promoted Wallis to the final podium place on corrected time. Entering the final lap, Gamble came to a stop with an issue.

Ellis took the first win of his Porsche racing career, while Rainford was second with Wallis enjoying a maiden podium result in third. Smith, White and Eaton created the Pro-Am podium. Sherwood, Stirling and Hosking formed the Am category podium. For recording the fastest lap in each of their respective categories, Ellis (Pro), Smith (Pro-Am) and Sherwood (Am) each received one additional championship point. As part of the podium procedure, winner Ellis selected at random the number six ball, which reversed the grid positions of the top six overall finishers from Round Three.

Following the race Eaton was handed a 10-second penalty for a false start, this promoted Stanton to the final Pro-Am podium position. The grid for Round Four would be led by Martin and Rees on the front row, Jelley and Wallis on row two, with Rainford and Ellis on row three.

Porsche News · 17 May 2024

Race Two Brands Hatch

Porsche News · 17 May 2024

Race three

The final race of the weekend took place in warm and sunny conditions on Sunday afternoon. Martin got away cleanly to lead Rees into the first corner. Jelley and Wallis diced on the approach to Druids – Jelley took the inside line while Wallis slid into the gravel trap delaying his progress. At the end of the opening lap Martin and Rees led Ellis who was up from sixth on the grid. In Pro-Am, Smith was ahead of category rivals Stanton and Jackson. Sherwood once again enjoyed the advantage in Am as Stirling and Hosking trailed.

Gamble mounted a sustained attack on Rainford for sixth. He achieved an overlap at Paddock Hill Bend but by Druids Rainford was back ahead. A close fight for fifth soon developed between Malin, Rainford and Gamble. At Druids on lap 14, Rainford attempted to mount a pass on Malin, however, in the process he left himself open to an attack from Gamble. Gamble got to the inside of Rainford at Graham Hill but he was denied.

On lap 17, Eaton and Jackson intensified their fight for the final Pro-Am category podium spot, but Jackson managed to successfully defend. Attentions soon turned to the reignited scrap between Gamble and Rainford for sixth, and Gamble finally managed to make a pass stick in the run from Graham Hill to Surtees. He then set his sights on Malin in fifth. On lap 25, Smith went off at the exit of Graham Hill but he maintained his category lead. Malin then ran wide at Paddock Hill allowing Gamble to overtake, and Malin would rejoin in ninth.

Martin passed the chequered flag to take his second win of the season, he was followed home by Rees and Ellis. Smith took to the top step of the Pro-Am category podium again, with Stanton and Jackson for company. Following the retirement of Stirling, Sherwood and Hosking formed the Am category podium. For recording the fastest lap in each of their respective categories, Rees (Pro), Smith (Pro-Am) and Sherwood (Am) each received one additional championship point.

The championship travels to Thruxton – the fastest circuit in the UK – on the weekend of 8-9 June.

Championship positions
Overall:

Will Martin - Eden Race Drive - 34
Charles Rainford - Cognition Land & Water with CCK Motorsport - 28
George Gamble - Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport - 26

Pro-Am:

Sid Smith - Parker Classic Works - 31
Ollie Jackson - JTR - 27
Angus Whiteside - Century Motorsport - 22

Am:

Justin Sherwood - Team Parker Racing - 35
Richard Hosking - Cognition Land & Water with CCK Motorsport - 14
Lee Mowle - Team Parker Racing - 13