McAleer Takes Porsche Title at Brands Hatch ShowdownMark McAleer sealed the 2007 Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship title with victory in the final race of the year in front of a large crowd at Brands Hatch. Both McAleer and Neil Harvey won their class and took fastest lap- but McAleer took the title by a point with Ben Demetriou third. A supporting race to the visit of the World Touring Car Championship to the Kent circuit, the Club championship combined with the Porsche Open runners to provide a huge grid and superb racing to close a successful season.QualifyingIt was a Class Two front row after Friday's two 30-minute qualifying sessions, Ben Demetriou taking pole in his 944 S2 with Brian Robinson alongside in a similar car. "We wanted to set a time early in the first session," said Demetriou, "and I was on pole for 25-minutes then came in because the temperatures were getting high. In the second session I didn't get a clear run into the last two laps when I managed to set a time. It's my first time here on the Grand Prix circuit, but we have been quick before on the Indy layout and it could be a good weekend for us." James Neal was quickest of the Class One cars and third overall, ahead of Gary Duckman and championship challenger Mark McAleer. Race OneDemetriou led the field away, with a short delay after the Porsche Open field has started, with Neal slotting into second. McAleer went wide exiting Graham Hill Bend, taking to the grass and slipping down the order to be tenth at the end of the first lap. When they reached the line to start lap two Neal was ahead, with Demetriou second heading Duckman, Robinson and Carniel.Demetriou started to close on Neal, Duckman losing places on lap four, the front two close through Graham Hill Bend on lap 12. A lap later Robinson went past Demetriou into Paddock Hill Bend, and was then right with Neal, taking the lead on lap 14, Demetriou moving into second the lap after that.Robinson claimed his second overall win of the season, also winning Class Two, Demetriou keeping his title hopes on track with second in class. McAleer's recovery drive saw him right with Neal on the final lap, but unable to take third and crucial extra points for winning Class Two."That was good fun and I enjoyed it," said Robinson. "I got the lead at the little complex after the straight, I was quicker than both the guys in front all the way, it was just a case of finding a way by.""That was a busy race," said Demetriou, "second overall is good but it is a shame that Brian got me in the end. I was quicker than him out the back, but once he got down my inside that was that."Neil Harvey had been the championship points leader going into the race, and with just minutes to go looked to have Class Three under control, before dramatically slowing and tumbling to third in class, Charles Winterhalder taking the win,"I thought 'this is nice'," said Harvey, "a comfortable lead with three minutes to go, and then I came out of bottom bend and it felt like I had no power. We have no idea what the problem is, but it makes things rather traumatic for tomorrow!"  Race TwoSunday's race was to be the title decider, with Harvey, Demetriou and McAleer all in with a shot at the title, and dropped scores to be crucial in the final outcome. Again released shortly after the Porsche Open field, as they crossed the start line Marcus Carniel was swung round and his 911 slammed into the barriers on the inside of the track, coming to rest in the middle of the circuit and bringing out the red flags.The race was reduced to 20-minutes for the re-start, and again it was Demetriou who made the best of the start, Neal taking second and McAleer third. With the championship points on his mind McAleer was soon looking for a way past Neal, but had Robinson closing up in fourth, and he went past McAleer on lap three.The three were close together over the line to start lap four, and Robinson got alongside Neal at Graham Hill Bend. McAleer saw him chance and dive past Robinson, then went inside Neal into Surtees to claim second and set off after Demetriou. Meanwhile, Harvey was leading Class Three and on course for a maximum points score from his class.McAleer closed in on the leader, and took the lead out on the Grand Prix loop on lap nine, Robinson also having closed in on Demetriou. Robinson took second on lap ten, and they stayed in that order until the end, McAleer winning overall and taking Class One. The result made it close in the points, but McAleer was champion by a point from Harvey who also won his class and claimed fastest lap, with Demetriou third overall."I got a really good start," said McAleer, "and didn't have to work too hard to catch up the leaders. I knew I was quicker than James and it was just a case of getting past him, Brian came past me and was putting pressure on James, and I was able to go inside both of them. It was a case of tracking Ben down, and when I had the opportunity I thought I would take the win. "After the year that we have had - which has been so up and down - it's brilliant to win the championship.""It all went to plan," joked Robinson, "I was trying to help my team-mate Mark and it has been a great weekend for us.""I was flying early on," said Demetriou, "but once I saw Mark go past James, I knew it was only a matter of time. I didn't realise Brian was so close behind him - I was going to let Mark past, and didn't see Brian there. I tried everything I could to stay with Brian but there was no way I was going to get past him. It's been a great year.""Yesterday we had fuel vaporisation due to high temperatures," explained Harvey, "today it was cooler and we had more power and the car flew! I have thoroughly enjoyed the season and it couldn't have been closer at the end, I have done the season for enjoyment and I am really happy with what we have done."Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship, race one: 1 Brian Robinson (944 S2) 17 laps in 30m49.442s; 2 Ben Demetriou (944 S2) 30m51.387s; 3 James Neal (964 C2); 4 Mark McAleer (968 CS); 5 Scott Kavanagh (944 S2); 6 Gary Duckman (968 Cs); 7 Marcus Carniel (911 SC); 8 Mike Clapham (968 CS); 9 Carlo Bonetti (911 Carrera 3.2); 10 Trevor Lewis (944 S2). Class winners: Robinson; Neal, Charles Winterhalder (944). Fastest lap: Robinson, 1m45.342s.Race two: 1 McAleer 12 laps in 21m50.913s; 2 Robinson 21m51.309s; 3 Demetriou; 4 Neal; 5 Duckman; 6 Clapham; 7 Lewis; 8 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 9 Kavanagh; 10 David Botterill (964 C2). Class winners: McAleer; Robinson; Neil Harvey (911 SC). Fastest lap: Robinson, 1m45.590.