Awards Finale for Outstanding 2007 Porsche Race Season
An awards dinner at the Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel near Tewkesbury was a fitting finale to a hugely successful 2007 season for competitors in the Porsche Club Great Britain's two race series - the Apex Tubulars-sponsored Porsche Open and Porsche Club Championship. Held in the hotel ballroom, the black-tie event saw competitors from both series honoured for their efforts - as well as speeches from guests of honour representing Porsche Cars GB and Michelin Tyres GB.
Steve Dolby, Product Marketing Manager of Michelin Tyres GB spoke to the audience about his company's involvement in motorsport both at club and international level, while Geoff Turrell, General Manager - Sales and Marketing of Porsche Cars GB endorsed the parent company's support of the PCGB's race operations, and confirmed that once more the 2008 season will offer the prize of a one-off drive in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for leading drivers from the Porsche Club Championship and the Porsche Open.
"I'd like to thank Porsche Cars Great Britain for their support," said series co-ordinator Steve Kevlin from the podium, "and also Michelin for all the work they do behind the scenes to make the races happen. We have had support this season from Apex Tubulars - Jim Geddie and his crew have brought a lot of colour to the series. Also we must thank PMC Midlands - Pete Morris and his company have given us a lot of support. My main thanks goes to the competitors, without them nothing works and I think they help make the environment we have at each meeting by and large always friendly!"
The top-three in each class of the Porsche Club Championship were awarded their trophies, Mark McAleer, Ben Demetriou and Neil Harvey having won Classes One, Two and Three respectively, while the team trophy went to Harvey Automotive Engineering for the success of their cars over the season. The overall title went to McAleer, who emerged from the final race of the season just one point clear of Harvey to take the title and the prize of a one-off drive in the 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
"I've been involved in a few championships," said McAleer on receiving his trophy, "and this one is professionally run even though it is a club series. I think it is a great achievement for the club that every competitor is made to feel special. This year has been very competitive, but I think very enjoyable for everyone involved as well."
Rookie of the Year in the Porsche Open went to Andrew Tate, who had jumped straight into Class One in his potent 996 GT3 RSR. The team award in that series went to Parr Motorsport who had a spectacular season which included running the two highest points scoring cars in Class Two of the series, with one of their drivers - Steve Rance - winning a Carrera Cup prize drive after dominating the 996 GT3 section of the class. As a result of his extremely competitive season, Rance was announced as the Apex Tubulars Porsche Open 'Driver of the Year'.
With no overall championship on the Porsche Open, one of the other prized awards is the annual 'Spirit of the Series Trophy' - which for once went to two drivers, Paul McLean and Peter Fairbairn, who shared the former's 993 GT2 during the season. Their self-tended Porsche was always driven competitively, but very much in the spirit of the series and despite some set-backs they produced some great results.
With plans already well underway for the 2008 season to build on the success of 2007 - which saw the two series race at such high-profile meetings as rounds of the World Touring Car Championship and the Silverstone Classic Meeting, as well as race on five Grand Prix circuits - and further details will be released shortly.
