to Porsche Open Season
The 2008 Porsche Open season opened in style with a superb race at Donington Park, the lead trio scything though a massive field of Porsches to put on a superb display at the circuit's 75th Anniversary meeting. Mike Donovan kept his 997 GT3 clear of the GT2 of Paul McLean, the pair together on the final lap. Mike Johnson was a close third, while Paul Winter claimed Class Two and fourth overall. Tim Bryan took Class Three honours.
QualifyingDonovan was quickest by over two seconds, but qualifying was made difficult for all the drivers as oil down through the daunting Craner Curves made that section of the track slippery. McLean was second ahead of Johnson and Winter, with the 964 RSR of Tony Brown quickest in Class Three.
"You had to be careful," said Donovan, "we are at least three seconds off the pace but the oil and cement dust was right on line through the Craner Curves and you had to work out where to cross it in traffic. I'm delighted with pole though."
"I got nowhere near a time," said McLean, "with the oil down and the traffic the tyres never got up to temperature and there is much more to come."
RaceIt was a huge grid of 36-cars with the Porsche Club competitors racing at the same time as the Open runners, and it was Donovan who led the field away. Johnson was with McLean through the corner of the same name, and into second by the start-finish straight at the end of the first lap.
A lap later McLean was looking up the inside of Johnson's GT3 into Redgate, and went by there a lap later for second. Donovan was over four seconds ahead, but the gaps between the lead three fluctuated wildly as they caught the tail of the Porsche Club field, Donovan on one occasion going three-abreast with other cars into Redgate.
Johnson retook second on lap six, and set a new fastest lap in his pursuit of Donovan, but was baulked badly on the exit of the chicane going into lap 12 and McLean dived ahead by the first corner. Two laps later the three leaders were all in the same clutch of backmarkers through Redgate, and McLean was right on the back of Donovan's 997, having beaten Johnson's fastest lap time on the way.
Together on the final lap, McLean could not find a way past the newer car and Donovan held on for a fine victory, Johnson taking third with Winter having had a lonely run to fourth and win Class Two.
"Fantastic race!" declared Donovan after his first win in Porsche Open. "I got in a good first couple of laps, but then it was just pot-luck on the traffic and the other guys kept pushing me hard. You have to be aggressive in traffic without tripping over them. I could see Paul and Mike up behind me, and you had to pick your moment in traffic."
"It took me four or five laps to get the tyres working," said McLean. "It was a good race, the traffic forces you to take a few risks, you have to weigh up the balance between going past and holding back, the Club guys are having their own race. It's a good start to the season, I'd have liked a win, but second is ok."
"That was good," said Winter, "a bit lonely but I enjoyed it with the backmarkers, they were all very sensible and let me past. Exciting race, would have been good to have clung onto the front runners."
Brown looked to be getting the better of Bryan for Class Three victory before his car was called in by the officials after lapping trailing smoke, giving the win to Bryan's 928 GTS.
Porsche Open and Porsche Club Championship: 1 Mike Donovan (997 GT3 Cup) 20 laps in 25m00.80s (93.94mph); 2 Paul McLean (911 GT2) +0.568s; 3 Mike Johnson (911 GT3 R); 4 Paul Winter (996 GT3 Cup); 5 John Taylor (911 GT3 Cup); 6 Mark Chilton (993 GT2 Evo); 7 Tim Bryan (928 GTS); 8 Neil Primrose (964 RS CS); 9 Adrian Clark (928 GTS); 10 Tony Brown (964 RSR). Class winners: Donovan; Winter; Tim Bryan (928 GTS). Pole position: Donovan 1m14.766s (94.24mph). Fastest lap; McLean 1m12.232s (97.55mph). Starters: 36.
Next Race: Oulton Park, Cheshire, April 19th
