Two races for the Porsche Open runners round the tight Brands Hatch Indy circuit saw wins for Paul Mace and Mike Johnson. The combined times and an applied handicap gave the winner of the annual Bill Taylor Memorial Trophy, a long-standing traditional Porsche season highlight, which went to Paul Follett in his 968 CS.
Qualifying
Ray Dias and Mace put their 996 on pole, over half a second clear of Johnson, their practice only marred by a clash with Tony Brown which saw the latter’s 964 RSR go into the pit wall. The Paul Fairbairn / Peter McLean 993 GT2 was third quickest, with Class Two pace setters Tim Speed and Paul Winter next up.
Race One
Johnson made the best start and led away, McLean looking inside Mace at the first corner and moving into second at Druids. A lap later McLean went past Johnson into Surtees, the top three clear of Winter who had recovered from a poor start to move into third.
McLean began to ease away at the front, as Johnson went wide at Paddock on lap five allowing Mace into second. The gaps in the top three varied as they started to encounter back-markers, when on lap eleven Johnson was out, going wide again at Paddock with steering failure and into the gravel and tyre barriers at the bottom of the hill.
“The car sat up on me at Paddock,” said Johnson, “the off side bottom ball joint had sheared and I went into the gravel.”
Lesniewski closed on Winter for what was now the battle for third. Their battle culminating in a move by Winter down the inside to take the position back at Druids, Lesniewski doing the same at the next corner, Winter having to take to the grass and lose ground.
McLean was well clear when the silver 993 slowed going up the hill to Druids on lap 26, the car coasting round the hairpin before coming to a halt at the side of the track due to a blown fuel pump fuse. That left Mace well clear to take the win and Class Two victory, Lesniewski second, Winter spinning at Clearways just before the end.
“I was happy to win, cars were going off everywhere but I am happy to take the win,” said Mace. “The car did all I wanted and we were quick enough, so it is always good to take a win.”
“We’ve only raced this car once before so didn’t know what to expect,” said Lesniewski. “We came here open minded and had some problems, but the start went well – I have always done rolling starts before. We were lucky with some cars going out, but we raced to the end so second is great.”
“I made a terrible start – again,” said Winter. “I got some places back, back up to fourth, then got caught with back-markers at Druids and that allowed Dominic to close up.”
“It was a bit lonely, once Tony Brown was out it was a case of collecting points,” said Chilton.
Race Two
Lesniewski made the best start, with Johnson taking second and Dias into third. Johnson closed on the leader and went past on lap three, claiming the inside line through Clearways.
Fairbairn had been slow away, but recovered to be third by lap three, five seconds behind Lesniewski, these three pulling clear of the rest. Lesniewski pitted his 968 RS Turbo at the end of lap ten with the pedal box overheating, promoting Fairbairn to second, though Johnson was now well clear and on his way to victory.
The interest was now on the battle for third, Dias working hard to keep Speed at arm’s length. Third looked safe for Dias before a spin at Druids with a lap to go saw Speed go by to claim Class Two and third overall.
“I have to thank Paul Mace for lending me a steering arm,” said Johnson. “The steering was still a bit out, but it all went to plan and I got off the line well and from there it was great.”
“There was no grip early on,” said Fairbairn, “and Mike was had already got away. There was lots of traffic and when I saw the gap I was happy with second. I went off lapping someone so I had to be careful.”
“It was a good battle with Ray,” said Speed. “I was trying to put some clean laps together and put some pressure on him then he lost it at Druids.”
“I just overcooked it coming out of Druids,” said Dias. “I didn’t know it was the last lap and just made a mistake – I was too excitable!
Class Three again went to Mark Chilton, who stayed clear of Paul McLean, out in a 964 RS.
Porsche Open race one: 1, Paul Mace (966)35 laps in 30m14.805s (83.21mph); 2 Dominic Lesniewski (968 RS Turbo) +36.102s; 3 Mark Chilton (928 GTS); 4 Paul Follett (968 CS). Class Winners: Lesniewski; Mace; Chilton. Pole Position: Mace 49.724s (88.78mph). Class Winners: Lesniewski; Mace; Chilton. Fastest Lap: Paul McLean (993 GT2) 50.124s (86.08mph).
Race two: 1 Mike Johnson (996 GT3R) 30m19.655s (82.99mph); 2 Peter Fairbairn (993 GT2) +29.568s; 3 Tim Speed (996 GT3 Cup); 4 Ray Dias (966); 5 Mark Chilton; 6 Paul McLean (964 RS); 7 Paul Follett (968 CS). Class Winners: Johnson; Speed; Chilton. Fastest Lap: Johnson 50.726s (85.06mph).
Next Races: Donington Park, East Midlands, September 1st / 2nd
