Open 2009 Porsche Account
Paul McLean and Peter Fairbairn won the first Porsche Open one-hour race of the season at Brand Hatch on Saturday May 30th, leading home the field by over a lap with series newcomer Alex Martin taking second ahead of Class Two winners Zubin Randeria and Richard Chamberlain. Mike Johnson won a close battle to take Class Three.
Qualifying
McLean and Fairbairn were quickest in qualifying, front suspension changes to their 993 GT2 Evo even further improving its performance. Gerry Harrison was second quickest on his return to the series, while Martin was third in his 996 GT3 Cup – running in Class One due to non-standard tyres.
Randeria and Chamberlain headed Class Two in their borrowed 996 GT3. Scott Kavanagh – moonlighting from the Porsche Club Championship in his 993 C2 – headed the Class Three runners.
Race
McLean led the field at the end of lap one, but it was a short race for Harrison who snapped a driveshaft off the line and was out on the spot. The leader had the pace to pull away from the field, Martin getting past Randeria on lap two for second.
By lap 25 McLean had lapped everyone up to second place, and finally pitted on lap 32 to hand over to Fairbairn. Martin moved ahead, and stayed out for another five laps before making his compulsory stop – a set thirty seconds stationary for a single driver car.
Once all the stops had been made it was Fairbairn clear at the front, and he made no mistakes as he brought the sliver 993 home for the race win, a lap clear of Martin, with Chamberlain, who took over from Randeria, third.
“We are really pleased with the car,” said McLean. “I made a bad start, but these cars were designed in the 1990s for rolling starts so they are hard to get off the line on a standing start. Zubin almost had me at the first corner but I just managed to squeeze through.”
“The car is a lot easier to drive,” said Fairbairn. “The rear tyres started going off a bit at the end and it was a case of bring it home.”
“I tried to chase them early on but just didn’t have the horsepower,” said Martin. “It was a wicked race, I hope to come back and do more races.”
“The car was so much better in the race than in qualifying,” said Randeria, “I have to thank James Fillingham for lending us his car. It was a good drive.”
“This car could probably do another hour,” said Chamberlain, “I’m just not sure I could.”
Jonson led the Class Three runners for much of the race, and was the first to pit on lap 21. That put Kavanagh into the class lead, and once the pit stops had all cycled through he was still ahead. A series of personal fastest laps saw Jonson reel him in – and go past to take the win ahead of Kavanagh, with Mark Chilton slowing late in the race with a problem and taking third in class.
“I had to get the bull by the horns later in the race,” said Johnson. “The car kept locking a wheel under braking, but I had to get my act together and go for it.”
Porsche Open, 55 Minutes: 1 Paul McLean / Peter Fairbairn (993 GT2 Evo) 55m05.203s (78.33mph); 2 Alex Martin (996 GT3 Cup) +1 lap; 3 Zubin Randeria / Richard Chamberlain (996 GT3 Cup); 4 Mike Johnson (911 SC); 5 Scott Kavanagh (993 C2); 6 Mark Chilton (928 GTS); 7 David Whelan (993 RSR); 8 Wolfgang Noelscher / Alfred Piesinger (924); 9 Clive Bate (911 RSR). Class Winners: McLean / Fairbairn; Randeria / Chamberlain; Jonson. Fastest Lap: McLean 49.108s (87.66mph).
