Mark McAleer took two outright and Class One wins as the Porsche Club Championship runners raced under a bright Brands Hatch sun, but reigning champion Jeremy Clark took a brace of Class Two victories and remains unbeaten this year and still clear at the top of the points table.
Gary Duckman gave the new 993 C2 model its first podium in the series, while Class Three wins were shared by Mark Taylor and Anthony Oliver.
Qualifying
McAleer came out on top in the morning’s 15-minute qualifying session, his 968 CS just pipping Harrison by less than a tenth of a second. Richard Higgins was third quickest and was joined on row two of the 24-car grid by championship leader Clark – easily quickest of the Class Two runners.
“The car was good,” said McAleer, “and I was able to get some clear laps. It’s all about converting it to a good start now.”
“The car was a bit of a handful,” said Clark, “I’d hoped for better but I aim to be up there somewhere come the end of the race.”
Race One
Harrison leapt into the lead at the start, McAleer briefly bogging down off the line and having to fend off Clark into the first corner. At the end of the first lap it was Harrison a second clear of McAleer, with Clark third ahead of a fast-starting Duckman, up from eighth on the grid.
A series of fastest laps saw McAleer close in on the 946 of Harrison, and went by on lap 11. Behind, Clark was not defending too vigorously from the Class One cars, Duckman moving into third on lap four and Demetriou soon following through, before closing in on Duckman and then taking third on lap 13.
Demetriou was lapping quickly and started closing in on Harrison and drawing clear of the battle for fourth which now saw Marcus Carniel heading Duckman, Scott Kavanagh, out for the first time in his new 993 C2, and Richard Lambert.
Crossing the line to start lap twenty Demetriou was right with Harrison, and dived down the inside into Paddock Hill Bend to take second.
McAleer was six seconds clear, but just as it looked like Demetriou could mount a charge in the remaining time, the Safety Car came out promising an exciting finish as the field closed up, but then the red flags flew to stop the race with cars off at the first three corners of the circuit. That saw McAleer win from Demetriou, with Harrison third ahead of Carniel, Duckman, Kavanagh and Lambert.
“That was my worst start of the year,” said McAleer, “I had to hold Jeremy off in the first corner. Once I was past Kevin Harrison when he made a small mistake it was just a case of keeping him behind and I felt in control of the race – then I saw the Safety Car and thought ‘oh no’. The car felt good – but the 968s always seem to go well round here.”
“I went past Richard Higgins off the line,” said Demetriou, “but got hit by another car behind at Druids and ended up fifth. I went past Gary Duckman, then Jeremy Clark let me past, and was looking to catch Mark when the red flags came out.”
“I got a good start, but I knew that the 968s would close in on me,” said Harrison. “On a hot day like this my car is always going to be squirmy at the back, and they are well balanced. It was an enjoyable race, and good to be on the podium at my local track.”
Clark stayed out of trouble to take the Class Two win, with championship rival Chris Dyer pulling off before the end of the race and James Hilliard taking second on his series return.
“It was a great start – I was looking for the lead,” said Clark. “People were always going to get past, so I wasn’t fighting hard, but my tyres were gone after four laps, they were the same ones I have used all season. The pit board was giving me the gap back to second in class, but with four laps to go I was worried we would not make it to the end on the tyres, so it was lucky for me they red-flagged the race.”
The usual Class Three battle between Anthony Oliver and Mark Taylor was denied us when Oliver was hot by another car on the opening lap, retiring with deranged steering and handing Taylor the class win.
Race Two
McAleer was on pole for race two, with Clark alongside, but from the second row Harrison made a storming start and blasted between the lead duo to head the field into Paddock Hill Bend. In his 993 Duckman made another great start, coming through third at the end of lap one from eighth on the grid.
Once more McAleer homed in on Harrison, but the leader was driver superbly, not giving the harrying 968 a glimpse of an opportunity to go for the lead. Behind, Duckman was already under pressure from Demetriou, who had Kavanagh in close attendance.
It took McAleer 20-laps for finally find a way past Harrison, getting to the inside at Clearways and going past before opening a gap. Now able to drive freely and not defend, Harrison promptly set his fastest race lap, but could do nothing to stop McAleer taking his second win of the day.
The battling front two let Duckman close to within a second, and even looked to go inside McAleer at one point for second, but in the final laps the battle for third was a highlight of the race. With two laps to go Kavanagh got to the inside of Demetriou exiting Graham Hill Bend, and the pair were side by side into Clearways. Demetriou held to the inside and forced Kavanagh wide, then looked to go outside Duckman a lap later at Druids as Kavanagh again looked to the inside – before taking the flag with Duckman third, first podium finish for a 993 model, ahead of Demetriou and Kavanagh.
“That was a good result,” said McAleer. “I had my doubts, Kevin was driving very well, but I got past at the same place as last race, when I was able to get alongside through Clearways. He was very fair with his driving and made it difficult, but with two wins it’s been a great day out.”
“I had a fantastic start – I launched from eighth to third, said Duckman. “The 968s are always really quick here, and in another few laps Ben would have been rally causing me problems. I had look at Mark McAleer through Paddock on one lap, but those cars are so good through the corners. I was getting quicker and quicker, and it’s great to take my first podium in the 993.”
“That was hard work,” said Demetriou. “I got a bit start and got baulked a bit into the first corner. Gary Duckman drove a great race, I was always trying to get past the guy in front but having to defend from behind.”
“I thought I had Ben at one point,” said Kavanagh, “but then had to go sideways and had to back out. I was driving as hard as I could, really enjoyable and a great race.”
Clark made it a Class Two double and retained his championship lead, winning the class despite using the same tyres that were struggling for grip in race one. Oliver recovered form his first race dramas to reel in Taylor and pass him for the Class Three win.
“That was another battle, I had a go early on but the tyres just went – they are totally gone now. The pit signals from the guys were great as I knew what was going on and held the gap to ten seconds. I wasn’t expecting to win the class at the beginning of this race – we need to find a way to get new tyres for the next meeting.”
Porsche Club Championship Round Five, 21 minutes: 1 Mark McAleer (968 CS) 21m29.886s (76.94mph); 2 Ben Demetriou (968 CS) + 5.093s; 3 Kevin Harrison (964 C2); 4 Marcus Carniel (964 C2); 5 Gary Duckman (993 C2); 6 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2);7 Richard Lambert (962 C2); 8 Richard Higgins (968 CS); 9 Jeremy Clark (944 S2); 10 Adrian Stock (968 CS). Class Winners: McAleer; Clark; Mark Taylor (911 SC). Fastest Lap: McAleer 55.026s (78.41mph).
Round Six, 25 minutes: 1 McAleer 25m12.322s (77.03mph); 2 Harrison +2.538s; 3 Duckman; 4 Demetriou; 5 Kavanagh; 6 Higgins; 7 Carniel; 8 Lambert; 9 Stock; 10 David Botterill (964 C2). Class Winners: McAleer; Clark; Anthony Oliver (911 SC). Fastest Lap: McAleer 54.881s (78.62mph).
Next Rounds: Oulton Park, Cheshire, June 13th
