The Porsche Open runners joined other sportscar racers for two Sports, Saloons and GT Challenge races at Croft, Jim Geddie winning both races on his welcome return to the series. Fellow front runner Mark Chilton had an unlucky weekend – given a penalty for a jump start in the first race before going off in the second while leading after a tangle with another car. Fraser Robertson claimed Class One in race two after Chilton’s demise, a fine result on his debut in his 996 RS.
Qualifying
Geddie headed the Porsche runners in qualifying, his 996 GT3 heading Chilton’s 993. Robertson was getting to grips with his new mount in third, ahead of Andrew Tate’s 996 RSR, local racer Mike Johnson and Dave Whelan – who had not seen the Croft circuit before qualifying. The 996 GT3 of Marcus Fothergill and Dave Benett had transmission problems and would miss the first race.
Race One
Geddie made the best of the start, with Chilton second of the Porsche runners, but the latter was adjudged a little too quick in his reactions and given a ten second penalty for a jump start. Tate was third, but a spin at the hairpin on lap three dropped him down the order.
Clear of the other Open runners, Geddie was mixing it with the sportscar exotica at the front of the field, embroiled in a tight battle for second overall. Chilton was fourth overall, and pulling clear of the rest unaware of his penalty, while Tate was recovering through the field and closing on Robertson, who was getting quicker by the lap as he got used to his 996, the first car he had ever raced on slicks and with a sequential gearbox.
At the end of the 20-minute race Geddie claimed third overall and the Porsche Open win and Class Two victory, while Chilton was second Porsche home, claiming Cass One and far enough clear of Robertson to hold that position after his penalty was applied. Tate claimed second in Class One, heading home Johnson and Whelan.
“The tyres were starting to go off towards the end which was frustrating,” said Geddie, “but it was a good race, good fun. We won the class which was the main thing.”
“I didn’t know until the end I had a penalty,” said Chilton, “this car has a small clutch and it is not easy to get off the line – I thought I had stopped the clutch dragging just before the lights changed.”
“The race was good,” said Class Three victor Johnson, “I didn’t really have too many other cars to race, so I stayed out everyone’s way and took the class win. Nice to be racing locally – I am going to drive the race car home now and back in the morning for another go!”
Race Two
Sunday’s race saw the Porsche runners bolstered by Marcus Fothergill, the 996 now repaired and back on song, and a trio of Porsche Club runners eager for another race at Croft after their round earlier in the afternoon. Geddie led the Porsche contingent in the race away, but Mark Chilton moved ahead on lap two, only to retire a lap later after he tangled with another car and went off.
Geddie was very soon under pressure from Robertson, who was getting quicker in his new 996 as the weekend went on. These two lapped closely in the first part of the race, and Robertson seized his chance when Geddie missed a gear exiting the hairpin to lead across the line going into lap eight, but Geddie recovered quickly and was back ahead into the first corner.
The pair stayed close, Robertson having a long look inside Geddie at the start of lap eleven, but a lock-up from Robertson a lap later lost him round and Geddie was clear to take his second Porsche Open win of the weekend. Robertson claimed the Class One win, with Fothergill second in class after coming off the best in a battle with Andre Tate.
“We were struggling with tyres there,“ said Geddie, “we were slower than yesterday but really good fun. I missed a gear at the hairpin and Fraser came down my outside, but I thought lets see how brave he is and I stayed on the inside. “
“That was brilliant!” exclaimed Robertson. “I tried to sneak past him twice, to have won first time out in this car would have been the ultimate. The car is awesome, it handles, has power, is forgiving – to come from a 944 and I have had an hour in the car, and to have been right up there is something special.”
“We had a gearbox problem,“ said Fothergill, “and had to take that out last night and fitted new bearings, then found the starter motor had gone this morning. We kept it together and even though this is my local circuit I haven’t been here for four years, and only did three laps in qualifying, but it all came back together for us!”
Johnson claimed Class Three, clear of Porsche Club runners Dave Botterill, Chris Dyer and Richard Ellis.
“That was a good race,” said Johnson, “I was dicing with another car, he was better on the brakes and I had the torque out the corners. Towards the end I was enjoying myself and sliding the car to entertain everyone.”
Porsche Open, Race One, 20 Minutes: 1, Jim Geddie (996 GT3 Cup) 22m20.468s; 2 Mark Chilton (993 GT2 Evo); 3 Fraser Robertson (996 RS); 4 Andrew Tate (996 RSR); 5 Mike Johnson (911 SC); 6 Dave Whelan (993 RSR). Class Winners: Chilton; Geddie; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m29.358s (84.604mph).
Race Two, 20 Minutes: 1, Geddie 21m25.888s; 2 Robertson; 3 Marcus Fothergill (996 GT3); 4 Tate; 5 Johnson; 6 David Botterill (964 C2); 7 Chris Dyer (944 S2); 8 Richard Ellis (993 C2); 9 Whelan. Class Winners: Robertson; Geddie; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m30.349s (83.676mph).
Final Rounds: Silverstone, Northants, October 2nd and 3rd.
