Team Parker Racing provided the revelation of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB’s opening round at Thruxton as newcomer Euan Hankey took second and third positions.
Before 2010, Hankey had only raced single-seaters, but he won a Carrera Cup Scholarship last winter and Thruxton was his debut race weekend in a roofed racer.
The Somerset driver qualified fourth, but made superb starts to both races and ran second in each. He faded to third in race one, but maintained the runner-up position in race two and holds third place in the championship after the opening weekend. He won the Carrera Cup ‘Driver of the Weekend’ award into the bargain.
Thruxton also provided a solid start to the season for Team Parker Racing’s Glynn Geddie, who took fifth and seventh positions at his jinx circuit. Meanwhile, former British Touring Car star Stephen Jelley drove the team’s other car to sixth in race one, but did not start the second race due to a gearbox problem.
Hankey was justifiably delighted with his weekend, which could have gone even better: he set the fastest time in the wet qualifying session but was stripped of his best lap, during which he straight-lined the chicane.
“I’m absolutely over the moon with my races and I never thought this could happen,” he said. “Before today I’d never done a practice start in a Porsche. The first time I tried it was on the green-flag lap for race one, and that wasn’t particularly good. Then at the real start I nailed it – I couldn’t believe it.”
Hankey had a problem with muscle build-up in his right arm in race two, so had to change gear with his left arm over the last few laps. “It’s seriously tough and hot,” he added, “and I’m dreading what it’s going to be like in the summer! But the whole weekend has gone better than I expected, although it’s going to be very tough to beat the older guys and win a race.”
Geddie added: “The plan this weekend was just to get some points on the board so I’m pleased with the results. At the end of the first race I felt there was a clutch problem starting, and in race two the gearbox wouldn’t go into second on downshifts, but I’m happy to finish both races.”
Jelley was satisfied with his first race in a Carrera Cup car. “Because I didn’t do the test, those were actually my first dry laps around Thruxton in a Porsche!” he remarked. “The first few laps I just braked where the guy in front did, and from then on it was so difficult to overtake.”
Team principal Stuart Parker said: “Euan should have had pole position, because his fastest lap was so good he would have been quickest without straight-lining the chicane. For him to come away with second and third on his first weekend is great. It was good for Glynn to get points and he’ll be a major title contender from now on, and Stephen was unlucky but did a good job in race one.”
The Porsche Carrera Cup again enjoyed live coverage of both races at Thruxton on ITV4, and was streamed live on itv.com. The second round takes place at Rockingham, Northamptonshire, over the weekend of April 24/25.
