to Season at Donington
Ian White made a storming return to Porsche Club Championship action with two wins in his new 964 C2, the 2006 champion chased home in each of the races by last year's winner Mark McAleer. Trevor Lewis and Mike Clapham shared Class Two honours, while in Class Three there were two debut winners - Jeremy Clark and Sarah Bennett-Baggs.
Thirty-four cars qualified at Donington with 17 of them in Class One, promising a great season's racing.
QualifyingEach race had its own qualifying session, the second shared with the Porsche Open runners who would be racing alongside the Club competitors. White pipped McAleer to pole in the first session by mere hundredths of a second, the latter hampered by the loss of his bonnet fixings part way which saw him only do three quick laps.
"There was not much grip out there," said White. "It's only my second time in the car and it can go quicker, but that's the first point of the season in the bag."
Richard Bayston was quickest in Class Two just ahead of Lewis, while Jeremy Clark headed up the Class Three runners.
In second qualifying it was White again ahead of McAleer, with Lewis and Clark once more heading the other classes.
Race OneWhite made the most of his rear-wheel drive traction to make the best start, McAleer initially slow away but recovering to second by the end of the first lap. White was already a second clear, and gradually opened his advantage as the race progressed and they encountered back markers.
The front two stayed in that order race long, Demetriou holding a strong third in his new 968 CS.
"I'm back!" joked White after the race. "It's the first race and there is far more to come from the car, we have only done half a day's testing and it is still loose in places. It's a real rear-engined 911 so I made a great start today
"I just seemed to catch the slower cars wrong," said McAleer, "I think we were very even on pace, the traffic just slowed me down, but we have another race to come."
"I enjoyed that - I'm really pleased to be in the top three in my first Class One race," said Demetriou. "I couldn't stay with their pace, but there is a lot to come from the car yet. It's great to be on the podium."
A strong start from John Williams saw him slot his 1972 Carrera RS into fourth on his return to Porsche racing, though the newer cars found a way past and he became caught up in an entertaining scrap with David Botterill. Closing from behind was Gary Duckman, who had qualified only 22nd, and finally fought his way past the pair to take fifth behind David Holroyd, Botterill sixth ahead of Williams at the flag.
Lewis and Bayston fought over the Class Two lead in the early laps before the latter retired, leaving Lewis to take the win and 11th overall.
"I enjoyed that" said Lewis, "I stayed clear of the Class One cars and it's great to take a class in first time out, I can go and relax on holiday tomorrow now."
Clark stayed clear of Dave Roberts to win Class Three.
Race TwoWhite again made a strong start in race two, Livesey taking second into the first corner with McAleer third. Duckman was starting further up the grid this race and was soon in the mix, taking fourth on lap two and setting off after McAleer.
White was again making the his way through the traffic on the busy circuit - 36 cars starting the race counting the Porsche Open runners - able to stay clear of the rest to record his second win of the day. McAleer found a way past Livesey on lap six, the Club front-runners having to be careful as the leading Open cars lapped them.
Duckman took third from Livesey a lap later, and Demetriou claimed fourth on lap 10 with a dive down the inside of Livesey at Redgate. The lead group stayed in that order till the end, McAleer setting fastest lap in his pursuit of White.
"I've never won at Donington before in all my time with the Porsche Club," said White, "I've always had bad luck here and I was hoping today things would go right today. It was tricky out there with the Open cars, but it is a great start to the season."
"I thought I got a good start, but Paul Livesey got an even better one," said McAleer. "Once I got past him Ian was already too far in front, and again he seemed to make the best of the traffic. The car has had no running between last season and now, but it felt good."
"I was closing on Mark McAleer and got caught behind two Open cars," said Duckman, "by the time I was past them he was gone."
Mike Clapham took Class two victory, ahead of Chris Dyer and Charles Winterhalder, while Sarah Bennett-Baggs won Class Three on her first meeting with the Porsche Club.
"It was a bit hectic to start with," said Clapham, "you have to be careful racing the Class One guys in case someone from your class is closing in."
"That was good," said Bennet-Baggs, "the Open cars were going past me cleanly and it's been a big learning curve today but I'm pleased with a first and a third."
Paragon Porsche Club Championship, race one: 1 Ian White (964 C2) 18 laps in 24m42.051s (85.58mph); 2 Mark McAleer (968 CS) +9.687s; 3 Ben Demetriou (968 CS); 4 David Holroyd (968 CS); 5 Gary Duckman (968 CS); 6 David Botterill (964 C2); 7 John Williams (Carrera 2.7 RS); 8 Paul Livesy (968 CS); 9 Tom Segrue (968 CS); 10 Adrian Grieves (968 CS). Class winners: White; Trevor Lewis (944 S2); Jeremy Clark (922 2.7). Pole position: White 1.22.067 (85.86mph). Fastest lap: McAleer 1m20.987s (87.00mph). Starters: 33.
Paragon Porsche Club Championship, race two: 1 White 25m06.142s (968 CS); 84.21mph; 2 McAleer +5.737s; 3 Duckman; 4 Demetriou; 5 Livesey; 6 Williams; 7 Botterill; 8 Holroyd; 9 Segrue; 10 Richard Higgins (968 CS). Class Winners: White; Mike Clapham (944 S2); Sarah Bennett-Baggs (911 SC). Pole position: White 1m22.106s (85.82mph). Fastest lap; McAleer 1m12.232s (86.82mph). Starters: 36.
Next Races: Oulton Park, Cheshire, April 19th
