The Porsche Club Championship runners combined with the Porsche Open field to produce a huge grid of racing Porsches at the Silverstone Classic Historic meeting. Ian White, back in his own car, took the win on each day of the weekend to keep his championship challenge on track, while Class Two wins went to Chris Dyer and Trevor Lewis, and Jeremy Clark took both Class Three wins.
Qualifying
Ben Demetriou took pole in Friday's 20-minute qualifying session, a superb 12th overall of the 51-cars who qualified. White was second quickest ahead of Gary Duckman, Brian Robinson and Mark McAleer.
Race One
The Club runners lined up behind the Open field and were released after a short delay, White once more making the most of the traction of his re-fettled 964 C2 to lead away. Duckman stayed in close formation, while Robinson and McAleer battled over third with returnee Marcus Carniel fifth.
On lap six Duckman had a long look outside the leader into Brooklands, but White held his line and stayed ahead. Two laps later Duckman was again looking at the same place, and then the pair were close on the final lap, Duckman going outside White through Woodcote on the run to the line but just losing their drag-race.
"That was a fantastic race, I have a lot of respect for Gary," said White. "He made moves on me, he got alongside, we never made contact, it was a great battle. The team have done a superb job on the car, I have the car back in great condition and this win is my thank you to them."
"I needed a 30-minute race as I think Ian's tyres were on the limit," said Duckman, "but he's a wily fox and knew just where to place the car. We had a great battle and shook hands after."
McAleer took third getting the better of the 968 CS tussle with Robinson in the final laps, both drivers suffering car problems, Robinson trailing smoke near the end.
"My car was understeering everywhere, maybe it was just the hot weather," said McAleer. "I was on new tyres, but I also made a mistake at Copse and let Brian catch me back up."
"Near the end I had something break at the back of the car," said Robinson, "it seems to be steering from the back and I only have front brakes, and I spun on the last lap."
Class Two went to Chris Dyer, while Jeremy Clark kept up his run of fine results with the Class Three win.
"That was a good race, I got past Richard Bayston and then was able to get away," said Dyer. "There was not a lot of front end grip out there but it got better towards the end of the race. Fraser Robinson got past me but he had a problem and went off, but the race went well for me."
"The track was slippery," said Clark. "There were a few spinners so I don't know if there was oil down, and it was hard work in the race. We out-qualified quite a few of the quicker cars and I knew they were going to go past early on. This a fantastic circuit to drive - I was a bit in awe of it in testing, but after a while it clicked."
Race Two
White once more made the best start in Sunday's race, but the field was soon behind the Safety Car after Charles Winterhalder went off in his 944 exiting Abbey. Racing resumed at the end of lap four and it was Duckman once more leading the chase of White, with McAleer and the rapid Ben Demetriou in close attendance.
Duckman slid into the Abbey gravel on lap six - "I just left my breaking too late!" - promoting Demetrious to second with McAleer third and Robinson fourth. The top three closed up in the final laps, and were all together coming through Luffield in the final laps, White once more holding on in the run to the line for his second win of the weekend.
"That was close at the end," said White, "but it was good to get across the line first at the end. I had a decent lead when the Safety Car came out, but was lucky in that I had just passed an Open car and him between myself and the rest, so I nailed it when the race started again and got away. I needed a good weekend after my big smash here last time."
"I started fifth and dropped a couple of places at the beginning," explained Demetriou, "but got up back there. I think Gary just out-braked himself at Abbey, then I went past Mark when he went a bit wide at Copse. I was chasing Ian - but needed another ten minutes to get past him. It was a good result today."
"I got a good start," said McAleer, "but had to wait for the tyres to come together but the Safety Car didn't work in our favour, and I got bottled up into Copse and Ben got past. Once the tyres were up to temperature the car was good again. We needed a longer race."
Trevor Lewis took Class Two honours this time, after a good dice with Richard Bayston and Chris Dyer.
"That was a close race," said Lewis. "I would have been happy with second as we were having such a close but clean race. It was exciting in the car and watching the other guys - you have to keep your speed through the corners here, but it seemed very slippery today."
Clark kept his run of Class Three wins going, despite being clipped by the Open leader on the very last lap.
"The exhaust manifold broke on lap two, and we lost a little power," said Clark, "then I got hit by a GT3 near the end but he has come and apologised - you don't get that in many championships. It is our second win of the weekend which is brilliant - we have had little things breaking all weekend and it has been busy but we got the results."
Porsche Club Championship, round eight: 1 Ian White (964 C2) 10 laps in 22m17.819s (85.38mph); 2 Gary Duckman (968 CS) +0.220s; 3 Mark McAleer (968 CS); 4 Brian Robinson (968 CS); 5 Ben Demetriou (968 CS); 6 Marcus Carniel (964 C2); 7 Ed Hayes (968 CS); 8 Peter Erceg (968 CS); 9 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 10 Chris Stannard (968 CS). Class Winners: White; Chris Dyer (944 S2); Jeremy Clark (944). Pole Position: Demetriou 2m08.972s (88.56mph). Fastest Lap: McAleer 2m09748s (88.03mph) Starters: 48.
Round Nine: 1 White 9 laps in 21m17.534s (80.47mph); 2 Demetriou +0.350s; 3 McAleer; 4 Robinson; 5 Hayes; 6 Carniel; 7 Erceg; 8 Higgins; 9 Trevor Lewis (944 S2); 10 Richard Bayston (944 S2). Class Winners: White; Lewis; Clark. Pole Position: White. Fastest lap: Demetriou 2m10.414s (87.58mph). Starters: 48.
Next Races: Brands Hatch, Kent, August 16th 2008.
