The first one-hour race of 2006 for the Porsche Open Series runners saw a cracking race on Silverstone's National Circuit, Gerry Harrison and John Bussell making canny use of a Safety Car period to come out on top - though the Class Two GT3 of Mark Stephenson and Aaron Scott was closing in at the end. Class Three went to Mike Johnson, while Charles Winterhalder held off Frank Cortes for the Class Four win.

QualificationThe qualifying session was in two halves to give track time to the two driver entries. The pole time was set right at the end as John Gaw, sharing Jean-Marc Rotsaert's GT3 Cup car, ducked under a minute for a lap of National circuit, just pipping the Gerry Harrison and John Bussell 911 GT3 RS, the only other pairing under the 60-second mark.

"It was a case of getting a clear lap," said Gaw, "Jean-Marc's car is brilliant to drive and I've still got lots to learn."

"Our car is really nicely balanced," explained Harrison, who headed up Class One. "It's a nice long race and I'm really hoping for rain as that will suit us."

The Peter Morris and Henry Firman GT3 Cup was third quickest, with series debutants Paul McLean and Peter Fairbairn fourth with their GT2 R. Peter Garrod outpaced Mike Johnson to head up Class Three, while the ongoing battle in Class Four between Winterhalder and Frank Cortes saw the pair less than a tenth apart, Winterhalder just quickest.

Race - One HourAt the start Rotsaert was slow away from pole, losing places, while a strong start from McLean saw the GT2 R leading at the end of the first lap with Morris giving chase. McLean opened a gap in the early laps, while behind Morris the 996 RS of Brian Robinson rapidly moved up the order to slot into third on lap five, with series visitor Jim Geddie taking fourth a lap later.

McLean was over seven seconds clear on lap 14 when the Safety Car came out - Rotsaert having been pitched into a gravel trap by driveshaft failure. The Safety Car picked up Morris, the leader joining near the end of the queue. Harrison promptly brought his car in at the start of the Safety Car period for his compulsory stop to hand over to Bussell, others also stopping as the pack were waved past so that when racing was resumed the leader was again at the front.

The leader pitted almost exactly on the 30-minute mark for what proved a lengthy stop, which put Robinson ahead until he in turn pitted three laps later. Morris and Geddie were then clear at the front with all the other front-runners having made their pit stop, Morris handing over to Firman on lap 30. Geddie then led for five laps, before leaving his stop late - "My crew were signalling for me to come in for 10 laps, but they were on the pit wall right at my braking point and I kept missing them," said Geddie.

With all the stops complete it was Bussell at the front, Harrison's move to pit at the start of the Safety Car period having proved the best strategy. Into second was the GT3 Cup car that had been started by Mark Stephenson, their stop under the Safety Car seeing the rapid Aaron Scott in sight of the leader.

A final drama with minutes to go saw Peter Garrod have a mechanical problem that laid oil down on the pit straight. Malcolm Spendlove spun out of fifth place on the oil, and with Scott closing on the now defensive Bussell, the chequer flag came out early. Morris was third with Geddie fourth ahead of Tony Brown's 964 RSR and Mark Russell in the GT3 Cup started by Peter Lavender.

"It's my first win!" said series regular Harrison. "The car was going really well, I did one lap behind the Safety Car and then pitted for John to take over."

"The Safety Car really helped us," said Bussell, "Gerry brought the car in at just the right time and that is what won it for us. I was having to get defensive at the end - I've never been more pleased to see a chequered flag!"

"I hadn't realised he was in a more powerful car," said Steele about his chase of the leader, "I thought we were down on power! It was good race though, I'm hoping I can be back for more."

"That was my first two-driver race" said Stephenson, who took his first Class Two win, "the car was great and Aaron was quick - a good race for us."

"I'm sure we would have won if it wasn't for the timing of the Safety Car," said third-placed Morris, "but that is the luck of the draw."

Early leaders McLean and Fairbairn came home eighth after losing time in the pits.

Mike Johnson took Class Three, and 13th overall after having moved ahead of Garrod in the early laps. "I had to beat him after he took pole," said Johnson. "That was a good race though, with a good mix of cars out there. I'm pleased to be still unbeaten so far this season."

Once again the Class Four battle saw Winterhalder and Cortes running close together race-long, their pace so evenly matched that Cortes was never able to close up that last second and make a challenge. "We weren't sure if the car would last an hour," said Winterhalder, "but it seems to have done it ok I'm just not so sure about the driver! It was another good battle with Frank, though we had to watch out for the fast guys all the time."

"I was just waiting for him to make a mistake," said Cortes, "but I never got close enough to pass, though it was good fun there."

Result, 47 Laps: 1 Gerry Harrison / John Bussell (911 GT3 RS) 54m07.145s (85.45mph); 2 Mark Stephenson / Aaron Scott (GT3 Cup) +1.481s; 3 Peter Morris / Henry Firman (GT3 Cup); 4 Jim Geddie (911 GT3); 5 Tony Brown (964 RSR); 6 Steve Russell /     (GT3 Cup); 7 Paul Livesey / Brian Robinson (996 RS); 8 Paul McLean / Peter Fairbairn (GT2 R); 9 John Griffiths / Shephard (935); 10 Tommy Dreelan (993). Class Winners: Harrison / Bussell; Stephenson / Scott; Mike Johnson (911 SC); Charles Winterhalder (944). Fastest lap: Livesey / Robinson 1m00.556s (97.43mph).

Next rounds: Cadwell Park, Lincs. July 1 / 2