McLean and Chamberlain Take Brands Wins - Rance Claims Class Two Prize DriveRace wins went to Paul McLean and Richard Chamberlain as the Apex Tubulars Porsche Open combined with the Porsche Club series to entertain large crowds at Brands Hatch's World Touring Car Championship meeting.  Steve Rance won Class Two on both days to confirm the Porsche Carrera Cup GB prize drive that had been his target season long.QualifyingUnusually qualifying was split into two 30-minute sessions on Friday, the best times in either session setting the grid. The Chamberlain / John Allen 935 came out on top, with the Peter Fairbairn / McLean GT2 alongside on the front row."This is the fourth weekend of racing on the trot for our car," explained Chamberlain, "so we should be fine if it manages to stay together. It's exciting to race on a proper like the Brands Hatch Grand Prix layout."Paul Hogarth headed the second row with Colin Broster alongside, and Mark Ticehurst, driving the John Griffiths 935 this weekend, was fifth, Class Two pace setter Rance filling out row three.Race OneAllen led off the line, but Colin Broster went wide into Paddock and moved ahead by Druids, with McLean and Hogarth further demoting the pole man before the end of the lap. McLean took the lead on the pit straight going into lap two, Ticehurst taking fourth from Allen on the same lap.A series of quickest race laps saw McLean rapidly extend his advantage, the leaders quickly amongst the backmarkers on the 44-car grid. Ticehurst was pushing hard and up to third, then passed Broster with a classic move down the inside as they turned into Paddock Hill Bend for the fifth time. A touch between the two at Surtees saw Broster have to pit, his front splitter awry. While at the front McLean only had backmarkers to worry about on his way to a well-deserved win, the silver and yellow GT2 slicing through slower cars over the remainder of the 30-minute race."The car was really good," said McLean, "but I got too much wheelspin at the start,  got it all back by the end of lap one, then pushed for a gap before we got into traffic. We seem to have got over our reliability problems and it is always nice to take a win and great to do it on the Brands Hatch GP circuit."If the victory was settled early, the battle for the rest of the podium slots was an eye-catching one. Ticehurst was deposed by Hogarth on lap eight, Allen then finding a way past on lap 13 and setting off to close on Hogarth's 997. The Allen 935 moved into second, and closed the gap to McLean over the final laps, but a change at the front was never threatened.""I got away well, but out-braked myself into Paddock," said Allen. "I dropped down to maybe fifth, and then it was a question of getting the tyres working. Mark was blinding in the other 935, and I was catching Paul towards the end but he was long gone.""I got off the line well then bogged down," said Hogarth. "The 935s were everywhere, but I got up to second after a good dice with Mark Ticehurst, then I twice got baulked by backmarkers, it was a very busy race, but I really enjoyed it.""That was fantastic," said Ticehurst, " there was traffic everywhere. I wanted to be quick early on and that worked, but once the other guys got into their stride it was harder. Ultimately, once John was past me there was no keeping with him."Behind Ticehurst, the battle for fifth had also become the Class Two dice, Paul Mace leading Steve Rance by never more than a length or two across the line for lap after lap. Rance finally found a way past on lap 11, and went on to take his eighth class win of the season."Paul is a good driver and we had a real battle," said Rance. "My aim was just to beat him. The last few races have been really good, there has been some classic racing which is great for the series."Zubin Randeria claimed the Class Three win, his 993 well clear of the 928 GTS of Adrian Clark."I had a good start and seemed to get through loads of GT3 Cup cars," said Randeria. Race TwoFairbairn was slow away as the red lights went out, and Chamberlain moved ahead - only for the red flags to fly and stop the race on the first lap due to a start line incident amongst the Porsche Club runners. Chamberlain got the best of the start once again to lead from Fairbairn once the track was clear, Ticehurst starting from the pit lane due to a door latch problem - and forced to wait until the Club field had started, and was right at the back of the 42-car field.Chamberlain rapidly opened a gap, and Paul Winter went inside Colin Ingram at Druids to take third, class rival Rance in fifth but making ground. Rance was up with Winter on lap three, and moved into third, with Chamberlain long gone at the front and Fairbairn lapping rapidly in second.Ticehurst was on the move - having gained 30 places by lap six, while another driver on a charge was Peter Morris, who had taken over the car raced by Broster the day before and had started from the back of the grid. Morris reached fifth and was right with Winter as they took the flag, while Ticehurst fought his way through to take eighth overall.The top three stayed in that order, Chamberlain taking the final victory of a high-quality 2007 season, and Rance chasing Fairbairn home."This is such a great circuit, " said Chamberlain. "There was so much traffic but all the guys were great, they were using the mirrors and I had no problems at all." "It always a bit tricky to get this car going," said Fairbairn, "but I saw Richard disappear and I think was too cautious in the opening laps. It was fun in the traffic and great to be on the podium - and get the ride around the circuit afterwards. It has been a great year - we have raced at some great circuits this season.""I was trying to catch Peter Fairbairn for second," said Rance, who clinched the Porsche Carrera Cup GB prize drive for 2008, "I could catch him in the corners but he was driving well and could get away. It was a great race, every driver out there was driving so well - I must have made so many passes, and everyone was clean.""Steve was really quick," said Winter, "I kept him behind me as long as I could - but it is a good way to tend the season.""That was great fun," said Ticehurst of his charge through the field, "but a shame as we could have had a one-two for the team. I started 42nd and got through to eighth - I think I took 20 cars on the first lap!"Randeria once again took Class Three honours, this time after a battle with Mark Chilton's 928 GTS."I had a good race with Mark," said Randeria, "but then he went off. I am very happy with my season - I started with my novice cross on the car, and have had six starts, six poles, and six wins!"Apex Tubulars Porsche, race one: 1 Paul McLean (993 GT2) 19 laps in 30m27.840s; 2 John Allen (935) 30m31.568s); 3 Paul Hogarth (997 GT3 Cup); 4 Mark Ticehurst (935); 5 Steve Rance (996 GT3 Cup); 6 Paul Mace (996 GT3 Cup); 7 Colin Ingram (996 GT3 Cup); 8 John Taylor (996 GT3 Cup); 9 Bob Lyons (993 GT2); 10 Colin Broster (996 GT3 Cup). Class winners: McLean; Rance; Zubin Randeria (993 Cup). Fastest lap: Allen, 1m33.695.Race two: 1 Chamberlain, 13 laps in 20m21.891s; 2 Fairbairn (993 GT2) 21m07.988s; 3 Rance; 4 Paul Winter (996 GT3 Cup); 5 Peter Morris (996 GT3 Cup); 6 Jim Geddie (997 GT3 Cup); 7 Ingram; 8 Ticehurst; 9 Henry Firman (996 GT3 Cup); 10 Taylor. Class winners: Chamerlain; Rance; Zanderia. Fastest lap: Chamberlain, 1m31.885s (90.15mph).