take Silverstone Double Victories
Mark McAleer made up for his Donington Park disappointment with wins in both Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship PMC Trophy races at Silverstone, putting his title challenge back on track. Ben Demetriou took both Class Two wins, with Mark Taylor doubling up in Class Three. The Club runners shared the Silverstone track with the Apex Tubulars Porsche Open - the two huge grids providing action packed racing.
QualifyingNeal set the Club pace in qualifying, 16th overall on the 44-car grid. Donington Park race-winner and Class Two runner Brian Robinson was second quickest, McAleer third despite a long brake pedal which had hampered his session. Out in a car previously raced by Paul Livesey, McAleer was having problems getting comfortable in the new 968.
Race OneThe Club runners were set off with the assistance of a flag for those well back from the lights, 25-seconds after the Open cars, James Neal making the best start with McAleer moving into second ahead of Trevor Lewis. There was drama behind, a start line incident seeing Brian Robinson and Chris Dyer out on the spot, Robinson's car stopping at the edge of the circuit and bringing out the Safety Car.
The Safety Car picked up the overall race leader, which had the effect of closing the Club field up onto the back of the Porsche Open runners. Racing resumed on lap four, Neal and McAleer leading the Club pack through the Open backmarkers, McAleer taking the lead on that first lap back at pace.
Carniel moved up to second, and headed Class Two, before coming under pressure from class rival Ben Demetriou, who found a way past and then closed on McAleer, going ahead on lap 11. The front group caught a gaggle of slower cars at Vale a lap later, and McAleer took the opportunity to slice down the inside and regain the lead, a move that was to seal his win.
Demetriou was second and took the Class Two win, Neal holding off Carniel to take third.
"The car is really uncomfortable!" said McAleer of his new mount. "The seat is set up for someone a bit shorter, and then halfway through the race I lost my brakes - which was when Ben went past, he drove brilliantly. It was a win - but not a comfortable one."
"I got past Mark coming onto the pit straight," said Demetriou, "he went a bit wide and I was able to box him in behind another car. I could tell he was struggling with his car, but he got past when we were surrounded by Open cars."
"That was good fun," said Carniel. "I was in second for a while and with Mark, then Ben went down the inside into Stowe, but I should have put new brakes on the car and they started to go off. I wasn't decisive enough when Ben made his move, it will be new brakes for tomorrow."
In Class Three, championship leader Neil Harvey pitted under the Safety Car, his windscreen coated in power-steering fluid making vision marginal. Taylor held off Charles Winterhalder to take the win, Harvey recovering to take sixth in class and just cling on to his overall points lead.
Race TwoJames Neal made the best of the start, McAleer sliding into second with Carniel and Demetriou heading Class Two in third and fourth. McAleer was soon challenging for the lead, looking either side of Neal through Vale for the second time, the leader having to defend in the early laps.
Into the stadium section on lap three McAleer was nosing inside Neal, and they exited Luffield side by side, Neal just claiming the inside line into Copse and holding on. Again close the next lap, a touch between the two saw Neal lose places, McAleer continuing in the lead and clear of the rest.
It was the battle for second that was getting the attention, Carniel heading Demetriou and Trevor Lewis, with the rapid Duckworth working his way up the order. Past Demetriou for second on lap 12, Duckworth was closing on the leader before McAleer increases his pace and took his second win of the weekend.
"It's been a brilliant weekend. The car is getting better but I still can't get comfortable in the car. James and I were close and went through Luffield side by side, he gave me lots of room, I think he may not have seen me when we touched. I got in cruise mode but then had to pick it up in the last couple of laps."
"I was worried when I wasn't catching the Class Two guys," said Duckworth. "Then they lost time and I got past, and found myself catching Mark. I think he may have backed off a bit, then he started to go again as I was catching him, but it was rewarding to be closing on him in only my second outing. It was fabulous race."
"Battling at the front is getting to be a nice habit to have," said Demetriou. "I was a bit of the pace at the start and Trevor and Marcus got past, but they clashed which was what gave me the lead. I had a battle with Gary but I needed the points and had to be sensible. A good weekend."
Taylor made it a Class Three double, ahead of Winterhalder and the recovering Harvey who had started at the rear of the field.
"I kept expecting Neil Harvey to appear in my mirrors any moment," said Taylor. "It's good that the 944s are so quick now and Charles Winterhalder and Dave Roberts were hard to shake off. It's my first time round the full circuit here - a big variety of corners and is tricky to learn - but its good to win here!"
Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship PMC Trophy, race one: 1 Mark McAleer (968 CS) 12 laps in 31m51.533s (78.19mph); 2 Ben Demetriou (944 S2) 31m52.386s; 3 James Neal (964 C2); 4 Marcus Carniel (911 SC); 5 Trevor Lewis (944 S2); 6 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 7 Gary Duckman (968 CS); 8 Cieran Brewer (944 S2); 9 Chris Milne (911 SC); 10 Alan Newbold (944 S2). Class Winners: McAleer; Demetriou; Mark Taylor (911 SC). Fastest lap: Demetriou 2m15.528s (84.84mph).
Race two: 1 McAleer 13 laps in 30m22.279s (82.02mph); 2 Duckman 30m24.216s; 3 Demetriou; 4 Carniel; 5 Higgins; 6 Neal; 7 Holden; 8 Milne; 9 David Botterill (964 C2); 10 Newbold. Class winners: McAleer; Demetriou; Harvey. Fastest lap: Duckman 2m15.470s (84.87mph).
Next rounds: Brands Hatch, Kent, September 22nd / 23rd
