Brands Hatch hosted the opening rounds of the 2010 Porsche Club Championship on Saturday April 10th, and the Kent circuit witnessed two exciting races that saw 2007 champion Mark McAleer start the season with a pair of outright wins.
Qualifying
Saturday morning’s 20-minute qualifying session saw reigning champion Jez Clark – out in Class One car for the first time – setting times good enough to take pole for both races. McAleer was second quickest in his similar 968 CS, with Porsche Club returnee Mark Sumpter third in his 911 Carrera 2, the car he raced with the Porsche Club in 1994.
“I’m stunned to be on pole,” said Clark, “I only sat in the car for the first time yesterday and it’s left-hand drive, which is new to me in this series. I’m amazed to do that time – but it is going to be hard in the races.”
Kevin Harrison was quickest in Class Two, out in the 944 S2 that Clark used to win the title in 2009. Having spun his 946 C2 in testing at Brands Hatch on Friday and buzzed the engine, Harrison jumped into the 944 and took class pole for both races.
Race One
Start of the day went to Sumpter in race one, who slotted his Paragon-run 911 between Clark and McAleer and led the field into Paddock Hill Bend. Too much wheelspin saw Clark lose out at the start to fall to fifth at the end of the first lap, while Marcus Carniel was another to make use of the speed of the rear – engined Porsches off the line to come round second in his 946 C2.
McAleer got inside Carniel at Clearways to take second on lap two, but lost out at two laps later at Druids to slip to third once more. Meanwhile, Clark went past Porsche Club debutant Miles Maserati for fourth.
Carniel took the lead from Sumpter on lap five, and a lap later McAleer got inside the early leader at Druids, forcing him wide and allowing Clark to move past as well. A series of fastest laps saw McAleer close on Carniel, and by lap 12 he was in the lead, with Clark in turn closing on Carniel’s 964. For the rest of the race Clark looked for a way past Carniel, but was never offered a clear opportunity and twice lost ground at Graham Bill Bend as he got used to racing a left-hand drive Porsche for the first time and just dropped a wheel off on the entry to the left-hand corner.
“I know the 911s would beat us off the line,” said McAleer, “but Mark Sumpter just rattled past us – he was trying hard. I went past Marcus into Clearways then he got me back into Druids. Once I was in front I wanted a gap, they were fighting behind and I let them get on with it. A pleasing race.”
“I got a good start,” said Carniel, “then had to squeeze past Jez who was slower away – but he didn’t fight too hard and I was past cleanly. I got inside Mark Sumpter at Paddock Hill Bend, but Mark McAleer got back at me and we changed places again before he went ahead, and then I was just having to defend from Jez.”
“I just had too much wheelspin at the start,” said Clark, “my practice start was good but then just really got it wrong. The 911 s shot past, and it was a case of trying to get back to Mark. I was up to third, then was behind Marcus all the way – he never gave me much opportunity.”
Behind the top three, Pete Morris worked his way through after dropping to seventh on the opening lap to claim fourth, ahead of an impressive race for Maserati who was fifth, with Sumpter sixth after a misfire slowed his 911 in the final laps.
“I got caught behind Jez Clark at the start,“ said Morris, “then had a good battle with Miles Maserati, but it was a cracking race. I’m happy with fourth, a podium would be nice, but I really had to work for it.”
“The 911 is always good car to start,” said Sumpter, “the car just digs in and go. We had a misfire right at the end – it would go over 5,500 revs.”
Class Two wet to Kevin Harrison, ahead of Chris Dyer and Cieran Brewer.
“A fantastic race, good fun,” said Harrison. “The 944 is so easy to drive fast, it feels very different to my 964 but just handles so well.”
Race Two
Sumpter again nailed his start in race two, but McAleer fought back immediately, seizing the chance to go past as Sumpter drifted wide at Clearways on the opening lap. Carniel was third at the end of race one, with Clark fourth ahead of Maserati, who went past as Clark went wide at Graham Hill Bend only to have the champion get inside him at Clearways to grab the slot back.
Some quick laps from McAleer saw him open a gap at the front, only to lose his advantage when the Safety Car emerged on lap six with Malcolm Jones’ 911 stranded at the side of the track at Surtees after contact with the barrier. Clark had just got past Carniel as the flags came out for the incident, and was third behind McAleer and Sumpter as racing resumed on lap seven.
The top three ran close before McAleer started to ease away, as Clark looked for a way past Sumpter. He finally got inside him at Clearways on lap 20, the two cars running side by side before Clark moved ahead as they entered the pits straight.
McAleer was clear to take win two, with Clark leading home Sumpter for the next two positions. Behind these three, another close battle saw Carniel just holding off Morris and Maserati.
“Two out of two – I am really pleased,” said McAleer. “When the Safety Car came out it was a bit disappointing, but I was good on the restart. Mark made a mistake and ran wide and I got past him into Clearways to take the lead. It’s going to be a happy drive home.”
“I was unsighted as the flags came out,” said Clark, “but I was right behind Marcus, and didn’t see the flags until I had completed the move. It was a hard battle with Mark Sumpter right at the end, I was inside him at the end, then we touched twice but I was through. A good race, disappointed I didn’t get up with Mark McAleer, I could see him a head but he was controlling the gap.”
“I just ran out of brakes at the end,” said Sumpter. “I was having a great battle with Jez, it was great fun, but I made a mistake at Surtees and he had a run on my. His nose was alongside, I tried to squeeze him but he was there and through. It’s good to know we can race against the much newer cars.”
Dyer took Class Two after a superb start saw him come round seventh at the end of the opening lap. He then ran in the top ten race long, Harrison two slots further back overall but never able to get close to the class leader.
“We were on new tyres and they really worked,” said Dyer. “I made a great start, inside and outside people and it was a dream opening lap. When the Safety Car came out I thought I was going to get mugged at the restart, but I got back in my rhythm and an enjoyable race.”
Porsche Club Championship Race One (28 Laps): 1 Mark McAleer (968 CS); 2 Marcus Carniel (964 C2) +1.688s; 3 Jeremy Clark (968 CS); 4 Peter Morris (968 CS); 5 Miles Maserati (968 CS); 6 Mark Sumpter (911 Carrera); 7 Richard Ellis (993 C2); 8 Tom Segrue (968 CS); 9 Kevin Harrison (944 S2); 10 Paul Follett (968 CS). Class Winners: McAleer; Harrison. Fastest Lap: McAleer 54.188s (77.63mph).
Race Two (21 Laps): 1 McAleer; 2 Clark +2.864s; 3 Sumpter; 4 Carniel; 5 Morris; 6 Masarati; 7 Chris Dyer (944 S2); 8 Follett; 9 Harrison; Segrue. Class Winners: McAleer; Dyer. Fastest Lap: McAleer 54.488s (79.19mph).
Next Races: Silverstone, Northants. June 26th / 27th.
