JOSH WEBSTER AND DAN CAMMISH SHARE THE SPOILS IN PORSCHE CARRERA CUP GB BLUE-RIBAND ROUNDS AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
Webster named ‘Driver of the Weekend’ after securing double pole position and claiming an emphatic lights-to-flag win in Friday’s opening roundRedline Racing’s Dan Cammish extends his lead at the top of the overall standings to 14 points after victory in the second race of the weekendThe jaw-dropping moves and raw speed of the 460 hp Porsches form a fitting prelude to an epic WEC encounterThe impressive sound of 30 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars echoed round the Belgian Ardennes as the third and fourth rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship took to the hallowed asphalt of the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The capacity grid of flat-six, rear-engined sports cars thrilled spectators just moments before the Porsche works teams tackled the 4.3 mile track in the World Endurance Championship.
Race One
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholar Josh Webster (Stowmarket) produced a faultless drive to convert pole position into a superb win in the first of two races at Spa-Francorchamps. The 21-year-old resisted intense pressure from Championship points leader Dan Cammish (Leeds) to take the sixth Porsche Carrera Cup GB win of his career.
After dominating qualifying earlier in the day, Webster made a great start and maintained his lead into La Source. From then on, he successfully maintained the gap to Cammish who was eager to add to his two wins already this season. “Days like today are incredible but it’s even more special when the entire World Endurance Championship community is watching,” said the defending champion. “I knew it was going to be hard and it proved that way but the team did an incredible job.”
Webster and Cammish were joined on the podium by former GP2 driver Stephen Jelley (Leicester) who built on his impressive display at Brands Hatch with another strong haul of points. “To come away with third after a less than ideal qualifying is a great result,” commented the 32-year-old. “Racing in Spa is bit of an unknown for this Championship so I take a very positive feeling away from today and hope for more of the same for tomorrow’s race.”
For long periods Jelley was fighting with IN2 Racing’s Victor Jimenez (Madrid) and Parr Motorsport’s Dino Zamparelli (Bristol) who both finished just three seconds behind after some great racing. Mention must also go to IDL Racing’s Championship rookie Tom Sharp (Surrey) who was always on the tail of the chasing pack.
In a continuation from qualifying, Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) proved the man to beat in the Pro-Am1 category after managing to pick off several of the Pro drivers. Jordan Witt (Nantwich) and Ignas Gelzinis (Kaunas) also continued their strong run of results finishing in tenth and twelfth position respectively.
In his first Porsche Carrera Cup GB race Nerijus Dagilis (Juta Racing) took the honours in the Pro-Am2 class finishing just three seconds ahead of rival Paul McKay (Edinburgh). “I didn’t know my position until after the race had finished,” stated the delighted Lithuanian, who missed Brands Hatch through illness. “I made a really good start that let me make up a few positions immediately and towards the end it was all about making the tyres last.”
Provisional Race 1 standingsPro category: 1. Josh Webster; 2. Dan Cammish; 3. Stephen JelleyPro-Am1 category: 1. Karl Leonard; 2. Jordan Witt; 3. Ignas GelzinisPro-Am2 category: 1. Nerijus Dagilis; 2. Paul McKay; 3. John McCullagh
Race 2
2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship frontrunner Dan Cammish pulled an important overtake on fellow title contender Josh Webster to seal a momentous win in the second race of the weekend. The 26-year-old was forced to bide his time as the race was interrupted by a substantial safety car period but when the restart came the Yorkshireman seized his opportunity to clinch a memorable victory in front of the onlooking World Endurance Championship fraternity and collect the winning trophy from Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche AG Board Member for Motorsport, Research and Development.
Following an incident between Thomas Jennings (G-cat Racing) and Paul McKay (IN2 Racing) at Raidillon on the opening lap, the safety car was called and racing was not resumed until 20 minutes into the race. This meant Cammish had to be patient but when the action got back under way, the early season pacesetter made a run down the left of Webster at Les Combes to secure the lead and ultimately the win.
“This is the biggest race of my career,” said the delighted former Formula Ford Champion. “We had to deliver today and we did, so I couldn’t be happier. Yesterday I didn’t have the speed but today was a totally different story. Even though it was really tough when I passed Josh because of the coolant on track, I always believed I could do it.”
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholar and defending champion Webster was happy with the result given the circumstances. “We had set the car up for a full 45-minute race and gambled that there would be no safety car. Overall it was a fantastic weekend and the results that I have achieved are what championship challenges are built on. It’s also great to be recognised as the ‘Driver of the Weekend’.”
Two-time Carrera Cup GB champion and record race winner Michael Meadows (London) completed the podium and there was also some great racing by Stephen Jelley (Team Parker Racing), Dino Zamparelli (Parr Motorsport) and Victor Jimenez (IN2 Racing) who all had strong drives around the legendary circuit.
In the Pro-Am1 category, Ignas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) came out on top in a fierce battle with Redline Racing’s Jordan Witt. Witt actually crossed the line three tenths ahead of the Lithuanian but was given a retrospective one second penalty which pushed him back into second. In addition, there was just two seconds between Mark Cole (Highclere), Jack Falla (Guernsey) and Karl Leonard (Dublin) in the chasing pack: another indication of just how tight the class is this year.
Graeme Mundy (Salisbury) topped a fantastic showing on his return to driving 911 Cup cars with a fantastic win in the Pro-Am2 category. “It’s great to put yesterday behind me and come out with a win today,” commented the experienced Porsche driver. “I really enjoyed it out there today. In actual fact, I didn’t realise we had lost as much time as we had behind the safety car so I was quite surprised when I saw the chequered flag. It’s an awesome feeling to win but even sweeter when it’s at a track like Spa-Francorchamps.”
Iain Dockerill (Essex) and Nerijus Dagilis (Lithuania) rounded off the podium with his Lithuanian teammate Tautvydas Barstys (Juta Racing) and Peter Kyle-Henney (Romsey) only a few seconds back.
Race 2 provisional resultsPro Category: 1. Dan Cammish; 2. Josh Webster; 3. Michael Meadows Pro-Am1 Category: 1. Ignas Gelzinis; 2. Jordan Witt; 3. Mark Cole Pro-Am2 Category: 1. Graeme Mundy; 2. Iain Dockerill; 3. Nerijus Dagilis
Provisional points standingsPro category: 1. Dan Cammish 80; 2. Stephen Jelley 66; 3. Josh Webster 58Pro-Am1 category: 1. Ignas Gelzinis 38; 2.Jordan Witt 29; 3. Karl Leonard 28Pro-Am2 cateogry: 1. Iain Dockerill 28; 2. John McCullagh 25; 3.Paul McKay 24
Repeats of both races will be shown on MotorsTV on Saturday 9 May, Tuesday 12 May, Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May. The next Porsche Carrera Cup GB races will take place at Oulton Park, Cheshire on the weekend of 6 and 7 June.
