Harvey wins in style at Snetterton

Tim Harvey scored an emphatic victory in round 11 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton  (Sunday 13 July) as his title rivals Michael Caine and Tim Bridgman both hit trouble.

While Caine battled home fifth without the front splitter on his car, Bridgman spun down to eleventh place. In pro-am1 Nigel Rice turned in a great performance to win, while Glynn Geddie topped the pro-am2 category with a sensational fourth place overall.

Harvey (Red Line Racing) made a great start to jump into second behind Sam Hancock (Jota Sport) on the opening lap and was soon challenging for the lead. Hancock knew he did not have the pace to contain Harvey and down to the Esses for the fifth time, Harvey edged ahead. Once through, Harvey was able to stretch clear and win in commanding style. "The car was great and it had the pace," said Harvey after an important result for his championship bid. "You can't afford to race conservatively in this championship as you'll finish seventh."

Hancock came under increasing pressure from Team Parker Racing team mates Charles Bateman and Bridgman, but on lap 13 the chasers touched and spun at Coram. "I was trying to find a way through, and Charles was held up with a backmarker so we went three wide into Coram," said Bridgman. Bateman was denied an overall podium after a tremendous performance and rejoined to finish ninth, while Bridgman eventually took eleventh after a pit stop to check for damage.

Phil Quaife came through to third behind his Jota Sport team mate Hancock. "The car wasn't quite right," said Hancock. "Tim was quicker, but I caught a backmarker at Sear and that made me slow onto the straight," said Hancock. Quaife was pleased to make it a double podium for Jota Sport, while Geddie (Parr Motorsport) moved up to a tremendous fourth overall and pro-am2 victory. "That was good; no problems at all," said Geddie.

Caine (Team Parker Racing), meanwhile, had a torrid race after running onto the grass on the first lap to avoid his spinning team mate Jake Rosenzweig at Sear. The trip over the grass knocked the front splitter off his car and left Caine struggling with very poor handling. "That was a very long race," he said after taking fifth, fending off Rice (Red Line Racing) in the process. "The team showed me the 'cool' board," said Rice, as he elected to make certain of pro-am1 victory rather than try and attack Caine.

Into seventh came Jack Clarke (PCGB) with a fine drive after starting at the back of the grid due to a tyre change before the race, while Rosenzweig and Bateman recovered for eighth and ninth, with Andy Neate (Red Line Racing) tenth.

After a first lap spin, Tony Gilham (ReDesign Racing) battled back into second in pro-am1, only to be forced out with a detached hose, so Neate completed the pro-am1 podium with Rice and Clarke. In pro-am2, Steve Rance (Parr Motorsport) came back from an early spin to take second from George Mackintosh (RSS Performance).


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