Rupert Lewin won the opening round of the 2007 Apex Tubulars Porsche Open at Oulton Park, Cheshire on Saturday April 14th, the full version of the circuit allowing him to stretch the legs of his 700BHP 996. Paul Hogarth was second in his 997, and went one better to win race two after Lewin retired. Peter Morris took Class Two in both races, and third overall in the second, while Mike Johnson continued his run of wins from last season with both Class Three victories.

QualifyingHogarth put his In2Racing 997 on pole after the 20-minute qualifying session, the large Open field seeing many drivers fighting to get a clear lap. "It was hard to get space out there," said Hogarth, "but I'm pleased as that is the quickest we have ever gone round here."

Lewin was second quickest, another hampered by traffic, while Mike Donovan and Nick Stavelely lined up third and fourth ahead of Morris. Johnson was quickest in Class Three.

Race OneLewin used all his horsepower to get a strong start, and finished the first lap over two seconds clear of the chasing Hogarth. From then on his silver GT2 R was never threatened, though Lewin kept pushing hard for the entire 12-laps of the 20-minute race.

"I used a new technique for getting the car off the line for the first time," said Lewin, "as it can be difficult to keep it on the revs, and we are really pleased it worked so well. The tyres didn't come in for a while, and in the final laps the rears were going off, but I was able to push hard and all the backmarkers were great. It was a good race, the 997s are really quick and push us to go quicker."

Behind, Hogarth led a train of 997 GT3 Cup cars, Nick Staveley and Mike Donovan close behind, until an incident at the Shell hairpin at the top of the circuit saw the pair eliminated on lap eight. This moved Mark Stephenson up to third, having moved to a 997 over the winter, with Class Two leader Peter Morris in fourth, his 996 unable to get on terms with the latest Porsche 911 evolution.

They stayed in that order till the flag, Hogarth heading Stephenson and Morris home, with series sponsor Jim Geddie coming through to take fifth in his 997.

"I didn't get a good start," explained Hogarth, "or I may have been able to challenge Rupert through the first couple of corners. I just couldn't live with his pace, that car just had the legs on us. It was all close and there was a coming together behind me at Shell."

"That is the best I have gone in that car," said Stephenson of his new mount, "and I felt really on it, the brakes are fantastic. I'm still only 95% there, it is very different to my old car, but I'm pleased to be on the podium today."

"It's hard to live with the 997s," said Morris, "I missed a gear and Mark went past me early on, and he just seemed to have so much more grip. I'm happy with the class win."

Mike Johnson won Class Three, taking tenth overall. "It was a bit lonely out there, said Johnson. "I tried to race Mark Albutt, but he was just ahead and not getting away, but I wasn't getting any closer. I'm happy to start the season with a class win and a top ten finish."

Race TwoFrom fourth on the grid Morris made a superb start, driving round the outside of those ahead and leading into Old Hall corner. Hogarth and Stephenson also got the drop on Lewin, slotting into second and third with the race one winner in fourth.

Morris had his 996 flying on the opening lap, crossing the line with a two second gap, but a lap later Hogarth's newer 997 model was right with him and Morris was defending into the opening corner. A lap later Hogarth got cleanly down the inside as they powered down the pit straight and took the lead into Old Hall, with Lewin pulling off the same manoeuvre behind to take third from Stephenson, who then went off heavily at the exit of Lakeside on the next lap.

Lewin got a good run down the pit straight and went past Morris on lap four, and then set about chasing Hogarth, an intriguing battle of the latest Porsche model in the series against Lewin's hugely powerful 996 GT3-R. They ran close, before Lewin went onto the grass while challenging for the lead and was forced to pit his car.

While the leaders were battling, a man on a charge had been Staveley. Having started 20th on the grid, he was into the top ten by the end of the opening lap, and into fourth by lap four. Lewin's demise saw him take second, and in the final laps he closed in on Hogarth's similar 997, to cross the line less than a second behind. The win gave Hogarth a first for the 997 GT3 Cup model in Porsche Open racing.

"That was a fantastic race," said Hogarth. "We all got the drop on Rupert, then I had to chase down Pete Morris, who defended without doing anything ridiculous, and when I saw a gap into Old Hall I took it. It's great to take the win."

"I decided at the end not to try to be to clever, and settle for second, " said Staveley. "My first race was a disaster and that made this one hard work. My car was really good in the fast corners, and after a while I saw a silver car ahead and couldn't believe I was catching Rupert Lewin. It was a good, fun race."

"I have always been good at starts," explained Morris, " and I just went outside all of them and turned in. I tried to keep them behind, but I lost the clutch with eight laps to go and I'm happy to be on the podium and take both Class Two wins. The team gave me a great car and my thanks got to my new sponsors - Kingsbury Jig and Tool - for helping me get here."

Geddie finished fifth ahead of George Brewster, while seventh went to Ian White after a battle with team-mate Tony Brown.

Johnson once more was the Class Three winner: "I had a good race, and made a better start in this one. I got ahead of Mark Albutt and could have held him behind, but that would have ruined his race so I let him go. Another 997 went past me and I tried to follow him through a corner but they are on slicks - so I spun. After that I just kept it tidy and it was an enjoyable day."

Race One - 20 Minutes (12 laps)

1 Rupert Lewin (996 GT2-R) 21m15.030s; 2 Paul Hogarth (997 GT3 Cup) 21m25.119s; 3 Mark Stephenson (997 GT3 Cup); 4 Peter Morris (996 GT3 Cup); 5 Jim Geddie (997 GT3 Cup); 6 George Brewster (996 GT3 Cup); 7 Ian White (993 RSR); 8 Gerry Harrison (996 GT3 RSR); 9 Mark Albutt (996 GT3 Cup); 10 Mike Johnson (911SC). Class Winners: Lewin; Morris; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Lewin, 1m44.312s (92.906mph).

Race Two - 20 Minutes (12 laps)

1 Hogarth 21m31.534s; 2 Nick Staveley (997 GT3 Cup); 3 Morris; 4 Geddie; 5 Brewster; 6 Steven Rance (996 GT3 Cup); 7 White; 8 Tony Brown (964 RSR); 9 Harrison; 10 Albutt. Class Winners: Hogarth; Morris; Johnson. Fastest lap: Staveley, 1m45.071s (92.235mph).

Next rounds: Snetteron, Norfolk, April 21 / 22