Purdie and Sumpter take Bill Taylor Memorial Race Win

Andy Purdie and Mark Sumpter claimed victory in the annual Bill Taylor Memorial race at Brands Hatch on Saturday, the 28-car Porsche Open field for the 2006 race keeping up the high-standards expected for the event. Peter Chambers fought race long with Peter Morris to take second, the latter third and first in Class Two. Class Three was one by John Allam and Graham Hellier, while Frank Cortes won Class Four in the hour long race.

As is traditional, there was a handicap result in addition to the overall winner, Chambers winning the coveted trophy with Cortes second and Adrian Dixon from Class Four third.

Open QualifyingPurdie and Sumpter showed their pace with pole for Saturday afternoon's race, lining up ahead of the GT3 Cup of Jean-Marc Rotsaert and John Gaw and the similar car of Peter Morris. Gerry Harrison and John Bussell - winner of the one-hour race at Silverstone in May - were fourth quickest, but suffering teething troubles with Harrison's new 911 GT3 RS, which was 'acting as if the pit lane limiter keeps cutting in' according to the car's owner.

"It was very busy out there," said Purdie, racing the 997 GT3 he usually campaigns in the Porsche Carrera Cup,  "there is a big difference in speeds but they are all good drivers and it was nice to be so quick."

Mike Johnson was quickest in Class Three once more, while the 944s of Class Four were headed by Charles Winterhalder - who was destined not to start the race. Winterhalder got into a slide during the session, and before he could straighten his car up he was collected by the rapid 996 GT2-R of Rupert Lewin at speed. The drivers were unhurt, but both cars were severely damaged, Lewin's on its return to racing after engine failure in the opening meeting of the season.

"I'm a bit sore," said Winterhalder, who has dominated Class Four "I got into a slide at the top of Paddock, and was trying to gather it up when I was hit hard in the driver's door. The car will need a new shell at least, and it is a shame as we have won six of the seven races so far - but we will be out at Silverstone."

"I crested the hill and saw a car sideways across the track," said Lewin. "I decided to go to the right as there was more room there, just as I saw his tyres grip and he moved that way. I think that has put us out for the season, but these things happen in racing."

RacePurdie led off the line at the start as the sun blazed down, Morris initially second before the fast starting GT2 R of Paul McLean moved into that position. Purdie continued to extend his advantage lap by lap, Morris losing third to Peter Chambers in traffic on lap seven, these two closely matched all race.

By the time the pit stop window opened after 20-minutes Purdie had lapped every other car up to fourth place, and he finally pitted to hand over to Sumpter on lap 37. They rejoined in the lead despite being the only car in the field to change all four tyres during their stop, and had moved a lap clear of the field when the Safety Car came out on lap 59 with a car stranded in the Paddock Hill Bend gravel trap.

After two laps the field was set racing again, but two more cars visited the Paddock gravel and the red flags came out to stop the race with four minutes of the hour remaining, Purdie and Sumpter taking the win.

"That was an enjoyable race," said Purdie, "I just had to keep out of trouble and keep my lap times right up there."

"Andy was fantastic," said Sumpter, "we were worried about how he would start, but he got it just right. The car was lovely to drive, I seemed to have traffic on every lap though."

McLean pitted to hand over to Peter Fairbairn on lap 35, while the battling Chambers and Morris stayed out longer, Morris pitting at the last possible moment as the window closed at the 40-minute mark.  Once everyone had stopped and order became clear Morris was ahead of Chambers and in second, with Fairbairn fourth after losing time in the pit lane. Chambers took second from Morris just two laps before the race was stopped, to take second overall and win the handicap element of the race.

"That was a good race," said Chambers, "it seemed a good idea beforehand to do the whole race myself  - but I think I'm getting too old for this!"

"I had a hard race with Peter," said an equally hot looking Morris, the Class Two winner "but he got me in the end - he must be fitter than me!"

A man on the move was Gaw, who had taken over from Rotsaert and had the GT3 running at the pace of the runaway leader. Into fifth, he closed right in on Fairbairn only to go wide at Paddock and be one of the cars that ultimately brought out the red flag.

"I got wide and on the marbles," explained Gaw, " and that was that. It was a shame - there was a place on the podium there for us."

John Allam and Graham Hellier won Class Three, after usual class pace setter Mike Johnson was forced to pit early in the race after contact off the start line. "I hit Ian White after Gerry Harrison stalled on the line," said Johnson. "That wrinkled my bonnet, which came off taking the electrical kill switch with it! I managed to get into the pits and we had to fit another." Despite that Johnson took second in class.

"I didn't make a good start," said Allam, in just his second race, "but the car was good and we made a good handover."

"I was expecting to have to work my way though," joked Hellier, " but John had done all the hard work for me!"

Frank Cortes took his second Class Four win of the season, having held off Peter Garrod and Adrian Dixon during the race.

"I'm really pleased to win - it's just a shame that Charles Winterhalder wasn't able to race," said Cortes. "It was an enjoyable race - and it's the first time my son had ever seen me win."

Results Bill Taylor Memorial Race - One Hour (64 Laps):

1 Andy Purdie / Mark Sumpter (997 GT3 Cup) 56m14.133s (83.75mph); 2 Peter Chambers (GT3 Cup) +1 Lap; 3 Peter Morris (GT3 Cup); 4 Peter Fairbairn / Paul McLean (GT2 R); 5 Henry Firmin (GT3 Cup); 6 Steve Russell / Peter Lavender (GT3 Cup); 7 Malcolm Spendlove (GT3 Cup); 8 John Taylor / Steve Leighton (996 GT3 Cup); 9 Mark Stephenson (GT3 Cup); 10 Ian White / Tony Brown (993 RSR). Class Winners: Purdie / Sumpter; Morris; Graham Hellier / John Allam (993); Frank Cortes (944). Fastest Lap: Purdie 49.581s (89.03mph).

Next round: Silverstone, September 8 / 9