McAleer Breaks Neal's Run of Wins at Snetterton

James Neal made it three wins in a row with victory in round three of the Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship at Snetterton, but despite storming through the field could not stop Mark McAleer opening his 2007 account with a win in round four. Richard Lambert won Class Two in both races on a one-off return to the series, while Mark Taylor took two Class Three wins on his series debut.

QualifyingNeal continued his run of form with pole in Saturday's 15-minute qualifying session, with McAleer second despite a spin that saw his car in the tyre barriers. Lambert, on a one-off return to the series, headed up Class Two, with series rookie Taylor quickest in Class Three. "We're shocked to be on pole," said Taylor after the session.

Race OneJames Neal kept up his run of victories in Saturday's race, but was pushed hard till virtually the end of the race by the rapid Segrue. Once Neal had recovered from a poor start, he fought his back to get on terms with Segrue, and then moved into the lead.

Together down the Revett Straight, the pair dived inside a backmarker only for contact with Neal to tip him into a spin, and heavily into Segrue's 968's passenger door. Neal went on to take the win, while Segrue brought his battered car home third behind McAleer - who had struggled for pace all race.

"Someone hit me at the start, and I was fourth into the first corner," said Neal. "Once I was past Mark McAleer, I followed him for a while before looking inside into Riches. Finally I was able to get ahead and make it stick, then at the end of the straight we caught a backmarker and went inside him, but he turned in - I think he hadn't seen us - and I touched him and he spun, then hit Tom."

"The race was good," said Segrue, "I made the same start as Oulton Park and was away well. I was with James Neal into the chicane and we were catching a back-marker, he turned in with us, touched James, spun, and then came back across and hit me. The car took a big impact on the passenger side door, we've straightened the suspension and we'll have to see how we go tomorrow."

"I went off on oil in qualifying and only managed six laps," explained McAleer, "and I just didn't have the pace today and couldn't stay with them."

Continuing the train of 968s to finish behind Neal was Livesey in fourth, and Alex Eacock in his family-built car fifth. Lambert took Class Two, but only after long-term leader Marcus Carniel went from first to third in the final half-lap after a gearbox problem.

"That wasn't an easy win, explained Lambert. "I was happy with qualifying, it was nice to get pole, but then race start wasn't the best, I spun at the first corner. Everyone managed to avoid me, but it must have dropped me down into the mid-20s. I was pushing hard, and started making ground in the second half of the race. I was with Brian Robinson and then suddenly we were right with Marcus. I got past Marcus on the way to the finish line and Brian just before the line."

"I got a good start, and was up to third by the first corner, " said Carniel. "The front three went away and I could see no-one in my mirrors, so it was a bit lonely for a while. I could see Richard Lambert and Brian Robinson behind me, but into the Esses I missed third gear and couldn't get a gear. I finally got first, but they were past me."

Class Three went to series debutant Taylor, who brought his 911SC home 21st overall.

Race Two

Neal was away cleanly initially off the line, but his car suddenly bogged down losing him places and causing cars behind to swerve round him. That put McAleer into the lead with Livesey and Segrue behind, and Neal well down the order.

McAleer rapidly opened a gap as Neal charged back up through the field, moving back into fourth on lap four and set off after the lead three. Livesey in second could do nothing about catching team-mate McAleer, while behind, Neal had a brief spin at Russell and continued without losing a place.

By lap ten the lead group were in traffic, and McAleer lost time, allowing the three behind to close right up. Livesey had a look inside the leader at Russell, while Neal got inside Segrue at Riches to move into third. A lap later he was into second, but despite setting fastest lap on his pursuit of McAleer could find no way into the lead to preserve his run of wins and the Yorkshireman held on for victory.

"The new tyres I put on must have really made a difference," said McAleer after his first win of 2007. "I got held up by traffic into Sear, then found it really hard to step back up the pace again. It's good to take a win - we couldn't let James have them all."

"The car bogged down off the line, I'm not really sure what happened," said Neal of his poor start. "With that and the spin I really did what the team asked - they said my races were becoming boring! Mark drove well, I thought I was in the perfect position behind him when the last lap board came out, but he held on."

Segrue had moved ahead of Livesey with a lap to go, but as they came into Russell on the very last lap Livesy looked down the inside and they touched, Segrue spinning and rejoining to take fourth.

"It was a good race," said Livesey, "my touch with Tom was unintentional, I had no brakes left and felt I was inside him."

The Class Two battle was equally exciting, Lewis holding sway for much of the race after Lambert had been delayed off the line by Neal's tardy start. Once back up to pace Lambert closed in, and was past with two laps to go, then held of a challenge by Lewis to take his second win of the weekend.

"I had to swerve round James," said Lambert, "and after that couldn't relax for a second as I tried to get back up the field. Trevor drove really well, but I knew where I was quicker and I was able to get past."

"That was an enjoyable clean race," said Lewis, "and only my second race meeting in ten years. I missed a gear and Richard got the power down better on the pit straight, then it was a good battle, we were side-by-side several times."

"My two races were very similar," said Class Three winner Taylor, "and really good fun. I think we have surprised ourselves with our performance, and we'll definitely be back for more."

Race One - 20 Minutes (15 Laps):

1 James Neal (964 C2) 20m37.513 (85.177mph); 2 Mark McAleer (968CS) 20m56.925s; 3 Tom Segrue (968CS); 4 Paul Livesey (968CS); 5 Alex Eaccock (968CS); 6 Ian Oliver (911); 7 Richard Lambert (911SC); 8 7 Brian Robinson (944 S2); 9 Marcus Carniel (911SC); 10 Trevor Lewis (944 S2). Class Winners: Neal; Lambert; Mark Taylor (911SC).  Fastest Lap: Segrue, 1m21.187s (86.556mph).

Race Two - 20 Minutes (15 Laps):

1 McAleer 20m49.556s (84.356mph); 2 Neal 20m49.931s; 3 Livesey; 4 Segrue; 5 Eacock; 6 Oliver; 7 Lambert; 8 Lewis; 9 Carniel; 10 Mike Chapman (968CS). Class Winners: McAleer; Lambert; Taylor. Fastest Lap: Neal 1m21.049s (86.703mph).