Porsche Open - Races 6 and 7, Cadwell Park

Gerry Harrison's 996 was the class of the Porsche Open runners at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire, this weekend, taking a double victory with a win on each day - and making it three in a row after winning the one-hour race at Silverstone in May. Mike Johnson and Peter Bamford both made sure he didn't have it all his own way though, the top three battling hard in both races.

Qualifying

Due to a shortage of marshals, qualifying and Saturday's race was on the rarely used Club Circuit. 

Peter Bamford secured pole in RPM's 997 that started the year with Mark Cole in the Porsche Carrera Cup. Only 0.368 secs adrift was Harrison, winner last time out at Silverstone, with Mike Johnson's Class Three 911SC third quickest. Dave Roberts had the edge over David Parnell and Charles Winterhalder in their 944's, leaving 944's of Andy Brown an David Yap to complete the line up.

Race One

Harrison grabbed the advantage from the start, with Johnson in his wheeltracks and Bamford about a length back in third. But out of the Club Hairpin Harrison ran very wide onto the loose stones and struggled to get back on. "I was just trying too hard and got over excited!" he reckoned.

Johnson was the new leader with Bamford on his tail, while Harrison charged back into contention within a lap. He was second on lap three, but Johnson wasn't going to lie down easily. Exiting the Hairpin wide on lap five almost saw Harrison seize his chance, though the inevitable soon followed. "I got a good run into Park from the straight and managed to get back in front," said Harrison.

Johnson's efforts to stay in touch sent him wide exiting the Hairpin again, and left the way clear for Bamford to slip through to second. "I kept locking up as I couldn't be sure the car was braking or not. I was just trying to keep up," said Johnson. All three had begun to spread out when red flags brought the race to an end after Roberts had crashed out at Park. Roberts had been holding off Winterhalder, Parnell and Brown in the Class Four battle for most of the race until then.

With Roberts gone, Winterhalder was a comfortable class winner, while Brown eased away from Parnell to take fifth.

Qualifying

There was another qualifying session as the programme reverted to the full circuit for Sunday's races. Bamford secured pole again, 0.885secs clear of David Botterill's 944. Johnson had the edge over Harrison, while Tim Bryan lined his 928 GTS up in fifth. Botterill failed to join the line up for the afternoon's race.

Parnell was the top Class Four qualifier over Winterhalder, followed by Brown and Yap. After some rapid repairwork Roberts was able to race though he missed qualifying.

Race Two

As well as losing out to Harrison and Johnson at the start, Bamford also picked up a 10 sec penalty for not lining up in the correct place for the start.

Harrison pushed hard from the start and had a huge lock-up at Mansfield on lap two, but still managed to retain his lead. Bryan eased himself into a secure fourth, while Winterhalder was tracked by class rivals Parnell, Roberts and Brown.

Bamford started to close on Johnson in the early laps as Harrison consolidated his lead. The gaps opened and closed among the leaders, without real threat of place changes. The lead pair were still close at the flag, but, despite struggling with his gears, Harrison retained the advantage.

Bryan retained a solitary fourth and Winterhalder eventually saw off his rivals to claim another class win, over Parnell, Brown, Roberts and Yap.

Race One: 1 Gerry Harrison (Porsche 996 GT3RS) 10 laps in 11m45.245s (74.32mph); 2 Peter Bamford (Porsche 997) +3.222s; 3 Mike Johnson (Porsche 911 SC); 4 Charles Winterhalder (Porsche 944); 5 Andy Brown (Porsche 944;  6 David Parnell (Porsche 944; 7 David Yap (Porsche 944). Class Winners: Johnson; Winterhalder. Pole Position: Bamford 1m09.792s (76.14mph). Fastest Lap: Harrison 1m08.699s (66.87mph).

Race Two: 1 Harrison 15 laps in 25m48.673s (75.76mph); 2 Johnson +0.183s; 3 Bamford; 4 Tim Bryan (Porsche 928 GTS); 5 Winterhalder; 6 Parnell; 7 Brown; 8 Dave Roberts; 9 Yapp. Class Winners: Johnson; Winterhalder. Pole Position: Bamford 1m39.745s (78.42mph). Fastest Lap: Bamford 1m41.335s (77.19mph).Hollins 1m41.217s (77.28mph).

Next rounds: Brands Hatch, Kent, July 22 / 23