Pull in Open runners

Three one-hour races for 2006

With entries already into the mid-twenties, the 2006 Porsche Open series looks to be once again looking forward to a strong season of racing. Run as a series of races rather than a points scoring championship, this season the Open offers more of the popular one-hour races as well as a prize drive in the Porsche Carrera Cup for the most successful and consistent driver in Class Two.

A feature of the Open in for many seasons has been the annual Bill Taylor memorial race, which raises money for the memorial fund of the same name, and given the level of entries for that race in recent years, in 2006 there will be two more one-hour races on the Open calendar. These will take place at Silverstone in May and at Croft in September, with the Bill Taylor itself taking place at Brands Hatch in July.

The lure of the one-off Carrera Cup drive has already seen entries drawn to Class Two, with former Porsche stars Peter Morris and Peter Chambers both entering eligible 911 GT3s to take a shot at the prize. In Class One Rupert Lewin is back with his rapid 996 GT2 R, while John Allen and John Griffiths have both entered crowd-pleasing 935s - ensuring exciting racing from the most powerful cars in the Open field.

With entries approaching the mid-20s, and more expected before the opening rounds at Snetterton over Easter Weekend, the 2006 Porsche Open series is on track for one of its best seasons ever.