It is a Silverstone showdown this weekend for the Porsche Club Championship runners, with the title to be settled over the three races on the full Grand Prix circuit. Class one pace setter Mark Sumpter heads 2010 champion and Class Two leader Chris Dyer by just six points, and with 20 points for a race win plus end of season bonus points, it is still all to play for the title contenders.
Sumpter hit the ground running at the start of the season in his Paragon 911 Carrera, winning the first four rounds in the oldest car in the field, and has hit form again with wins in both races at Castle Combe in August. The 911 Carrera proved to be the car to have at Silverstone last year as Sumpter took all three races in varying conditions. That was on the ‘old’ Grand Prix layout, now the pressure will be on to show that form again as the series races for the first time on the latest Silverstone long circuit.
His Class One rivals haven’t been letting him have all his own way, Pete Morris, who is supporting this final meeting by putting up the PMC Midlands Trophies, broke Sumpter’s run with a win at Donington Park in May, but destroyed his 968 CS at Oulton Park in early August and was out in another chassis at Combe. Second in the Club points in 2007 champion Mark McAleer, who chased Sumpter all the way at Castle Combe. Out in a new 968 CS this season, McAleer has got his car sorted and is always on the front-engined pace, so will be eager to end his season on a high, but is just one point clear of Morris.
Fourth in the Class One points is Paul Follett, who has been a consistent finisher but is still chasing is first podium finish, just missing out on a top-three finish several times but now running on the lead pace. Other to watch for are the returning Thruxton winners Miles Maserati and Richard Lambert in a 968 CS and 964 C2, Richard Ellis, rapid in his 993 C32, the newest and most powerful Porsche model in the field, and Dave Botterill, always a keen Porsche supporter and one of the distinctive Strasse liveried cars.
Reigning Champion Dyer heads Class Two, having taken ten class wins from the 14 races to date. He claimed the title at the Silverstone finale last season and would love to repeat his feat, Dyer often this season outpacing his class rivals and getting his 944 S2 well up the top ten overall. Class rivalry should come from Tim Barber and Paul Seagrave – while the class is boosted by Stuart Ings out in a Boxter and Ross, son of Pete, Morris in another 944 S2.
The Club runners with be sharing the circuit with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge runners plus an invitation class, with qualifying at 11.05 on Friday (September 30th) morning, and the first race that afternoon at 15.30. First race on Saturday morning is at 10.30, with the final 25-minute race of the season at 14.30.
Championship Points:
Class One Class Two
Mark Sumpter 373 Chris Dyer 367
Mark McAleer 258 Paul Seagrave 272
Pete Morris 257 Malcolm Scott 146
Paul Follett 248 Tim Barber 116
