Jim Geddie returned to his winning ways as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge visited Oulton Park, but this time the flying Scot was pushed hard by Stephen Ritchie who led the first half of race one and pushed Jim hard in race two. Ritchie was rewarded with a pair of second place finishes, with Bertie Carruthers taking the final podium slot in each race, The consistent Peter Smallwood took both Class Two wins, with Mike Johnson the man to beat in Class Three.
Qualifying
The track was damp for qualifying early on Saturday morning, Geddie quickest and well clear of Ritchie. Smallwood was third quickest and headed up Class Two, with Carruthers fourth in the tricky conditions. Mike Johnson headed up the Class Three runners.
“It was damp and the tyres were going off, but you couldn’t have gone out on slicks,“ said Geddie. “It was greasy under the trees, but dry on the first part of the track, it’s only the second time I have ever raced here.”
Race
From the outside of the front row Ritchie made a storming start, alongside Geddie into the first corner and emerging ahead on the exit to lead a race for the first time. Behind, Carruthers slotted into third, and Johnson was briefly fourth before Smallwood retook the postion.
At the front, Ritchie and Geddie traded fastest laps as they eased away from the rest, Ritchie holding the experienced Geddie at bay until the start of lap eight when the Apex Tubulars backed 997 of Geddie lanced down the inside at Old Hall and claimed the lead. Geddie opened a gap, only for Ritchie to start to close it again, before Geddie upped his pace and stayed clear to the end to take his fourth win of the season.
“I didn’t get the best start, and Stephen got a great one,“ said Geddie, “I sat back and waited and watched where he was quick, I could see he was working his tyres hard, and I was trying to keep smooth and really think about what I was doing with the tyres, and I could see him starting to struggle and that was where I put the pressure on. It was a good race, he drove really well.”
“It was a good race, I wish I had stayed with Jim when he went inside me,” said Ritchie. “It was brilliant having Jim behind me as I knew he would push me to a quick time but also that I could trust him. The car didn’t feel good through Old Hall – and it was good to lead a race. I want a win now.”
Carruthers was safely in third, with Smallwood heading up Class Two and Johnson secure in Class Three.
“I tested here yesterday in the wet so we didn’t gain anything,” said Carruthers, “and then qualifying was again wet and my tyres were not working properly. I was slower than I wanted to be then, but happy enough in the race. Stephen got a magnificent race – I was wondering what he had for breakfast – and it was good to see one of us giving Jim a race.”
“It’s my first time here and it’s a really full-on circuit,” said Smallwood. “I didn’t make the best of starts and got jumped by Mike Johnson, and then I was quick enough but couldn’t stay with the 997s.”
“I always enjoy Oulton,” said Johnson, “so I thought it would be good to give the car a run. I got a good start, then ran out of people to play with!”
Race Two
Geddie made the best start to head the field away, Ritchie slotting in behind ahead of Carruthers and Smallwood. The leader had a gap at the end of the first lap, but Ritchie pushed hard and again the pair took turns setting fastest race laps as they pulled clear.
Ricthie closed in, halving the gap to Geddie, before a spin for the charging second placed man at Cascades saw him fall back and have to settle for second. The spin was a double blow for Ritchie as Geddie was in car trouble, the usually bullet-proof Apex Tubulars 997 having problems as he went down through the gears.
Geddie held on to take his second win of the day, with Ritchie second and Carruthers once more taking third.
“It was just as well Stephen spun, I was losing my gears going down through the box, then started to lose power,” explained Geddie. “I concentrated at the start and made a better one, but was having to nurse the car in the final eight laps. I am really pleased with my times here today, it’s a hard and technical circuit.”
“I made an ok start but Jim got a better one,” said Ritchie, “the only think that really happened was that the rear was locking up when I was braking so I started playing with the brake bias and that was when I spun at Cascades. At least I ended up facing the right way. It’s been a good weekend, I’m getting the confidence now and it is great to be racing in this series.”
“They got away from me again,” said Caruthers, “and I am hoping when I see the times I was quicker than this morning and have improved my best lap times. It was great again to see Stephen push Jim so hard today. A superb weekend, this is a fabulous circuit to drive on.”
Smallwood was unchallenged on his way to another Class Two win and fourth overall in his older 996, while Johnson drove his usual strong race to take Class Three.
“Two class wins and two fourth places on my first time here, so it is a good day’s racing,” said Smallwood. “You need a lot of commitment here, and I’m looking forwards to Silverstone now, it will be good to go to a circuit I have raced on before.”
“It’s great to race here again,” said Johnson, “and that was great fun. The GT3s are just to powerful to stay with, but it is good to get to push my car hard.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race One: 1 Jim Geddie (997 GT3 Cup) 13 laps in 23m04.184s (91.01mph); 2 Stephen Ritchie (997 GT3 Cup) +2.453s; 3 Bertie Carruthers (997 GT3 Cup); 4 Peter Smallwood (996 GT3 Cup); 5 Mike Johnson (911 SC). Class Winners: Geddie; Smallwood; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m44.764s (92.50mph).
Race Two: 1 Geddie 14 laps in 25m03.873s (90.21mph); 2 Ritchie +5.668s; 3 Carruthers; 4 Smallwood; 5 Johnson; 6 Peter Erceg (968 CS). Class Winners: Geddie; Smallwood; Johnson. Fastest Lap: Geddie 1m45.949s.
Next Races: 1st / 2nd October, Silverstone Northants.
