Racecar client Leyton Clarke enjoys a smooth introduction to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge with 2 wins from 3 races. Leyton is also a 2010 Carrera GB scholarship finalist - The six finalists, chosen by an expert panel from nearly 40 applicants, will now be put through a rigorous two-day evaluation process at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone on 18/19 October, including driving the latest 450bhp 911GT3 Cup car on the Silverstone National circuit.
Race event PR below:
The 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge season ended with races in three very different conditions at Silverstone over the weekend – series newcomer Leyton Clarke winning the first two races, with Stephen Ritchie coming through the pack to take his first GT3 Cup Challenge win in the final race.
The GT3 regulars were joined by an invitation class for the event, providing an extra challenge on Silverstone’s ‘old’ Grand Prix circuit, Mike Johnson winning race three outright in his 996 GT3 R. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge ‘Driver of the Year’ accolade was also up for grabs, but Bertie Carruthers and Peter Smallwood left Silverstone tied on points, so the winner will be announced later this month at the Porsche Club awards dinner.
QualifyingClarke was the quickest by a substantial margin in Friday morning’s qualifying session in wet and windy conditions, using his circuit knowledge to find grip on the sodden track. Gary Marsh was second quickest in his Paragon 997 GT3, making is series debut after car problems saw him miss out at Oulton Park.
Mike Johnson was third quickest and the leading invitee, with Stephen Ritchie fourth overall. The 996 GT3 shared by Tim Speed and Paul Winter was fifth and leading Class Two runner, ahead of Peter Smallwood.
Race OneRain was still falling as Friday afternoon’s race started, Clarke powering away and leading from Marsh and Speed, who had taken advantage of a tardy getaway from Johnson. Ritchie was not on the grid, a gearbox issue sidelining his car for this race.
As Clarke continued to ease away at the front, conditions worsened, the rain starting to fall even heavier and cars twitching visibly on the exit to Woodcote. Johnson moved into third ahead of Speed, and then took second from Marsh on lap four.
At the end of lap six the race officials put out the chequer flag to bring the race to an early finish, Clarke taking the win ahead of Johnson and Marsh, Speed the leading Class Two runner in fourth overall ahead of Smallwood.
“At the start conditions were on a par with qualifying so I knew where the grip would be,” said Clarke. “Then halfway through the heavens opened and there was just no grip – you couldn’t use full-throttle even on the straights and when you touched the brakes the car wanted to lock up. I have never driven in conditions like it before, I was having to hunt for any grip that was out there. A difficult race – I was glad to finish and bring the car home safely!”
“You just couldn’t see in those conditions,” said Johnson, “cars were trying to take different lines looking for grip and I took second when the car in front slid at Bridge. It had just got to the point where the water was making you ease off and we were losing all brake and tyre temperature – which means even less grip.”
“That was a difficult race,” said Marsh, “it’s my first time out in one of these cars.”
“I got a blinding start, and went past Mike Johnson at first,” said Speed. “Then the heater vent packed up and it was hard to keep the windscreen clear. They were some leaps of faith out there with visibility, but it was a good race and the car was great.”
Race TwoFor Saturday morning’s race the rain had stopped, but the Silverstone track surface was wet and greasy, providing a different challenge to the drivers. Clarke again showed his pace with a good start, his choice of wet tyres proving the right one in the conditions, finishing the first lap over four seconds clear of Marsh, Johnson in third battling with Carruthers.
As Clarke eased away, with Marsh a secure second, the slick-shod Johnson was caught up in the battle of the race with Carruthers, Johnson only securing the position on the final lap, Clarke taking his second win with Marsh in second.
“We decided to run wets,” explained Clarke, “I was pretty sure the track would be slower to dry than most people thought, and that paid off. It was tricky at the start, having to take it nice and easy, then its started to dry out in the last few laps.”
“It was hard to tell before you are out there how slippery it is,” said Marsh, “it would have been very easy to have overdone things and thrown it all away. I’m pleased with two second places, hopefully we can have a race in the dry this afternoon, it’s my first time out in one of these cars and never driven one on slicks – it would be nice to try the cars in dry conditions.”
“I enjoyed the battle,” said Johnson, “but the track wasn’t ready yet for slick tyres – the grip only came in the final few laps. The infield was very greasy all race, maybe another half hour and the slicks would have worked. I enjoyed some of the battles and had a good race.”
“I was behind Mike Johnson for a lot of the race,” said Carruthers, “then got him going into Copse. I was pulling away until we got into back markers and on the very last lap he pulled a brave move into Becketts and I thought he was never going to make the second turn – but he did. I was over the moon to have made a good tyre choice and have a real battle in that race.”
David Fissenden took Class two ahead of Paul Winter, his first class win.
“I made the right choice by going with wets,” said Fissenden, “in the assembly area I was not sure if we had made the right decision, but had a great time and enjoyed the class win.”
Race ThreeSaturday afternoon saw the field finally able to let their cars loose on a dry track, Clarke once more leading away but immediately under pressure from Johnson’s ex-ALMS 996 GT3 R, which was leading at the end of lap one. The two were together out the back of the circuit, and close in the opening laps.
Ritchie was pushing hard early on – hard enough to spin at Brooklands on the opening lap, then set off on a charge up the order. He took third from Winter down the inside at Brooklands on lap three, but already the front two were clear.
What was an entertaining battle at the front came to a halt on lap five when Clarke slowed just after nosing inside Johnson at Stowe, cruising back to the pits.
“I was having a good fight with Mike Johnson,” said Clarke, “he was quick on the straights, and whenever I go near him he could pull away. I got inside him at Stowe when I felt a bang form the front right corner. It’s been a good weekend and I have had a good chance to see what one of these cars is like in all conditions”
That left Johnson clear at the front to take the win, but Ritchie was up to second after his fine recovery drive and took his first GT3 Cup Challenge win, well deserved by the newcomer who gained pace as the season progressed.
“That was a good battle early on,” said Johnson, “and it was nice to be on the right tyres in this race. Always good to take a win.”
“I had a proper spin at Brooklands on the first lap,” said Ritchie. “I got the bit between my teeth and had to fight back. The car was superb on this circuit in the dry, the tyres went away a bit late on but it was a fabulous race, and it’s a great result.”First in Class Two and an impressive third overall was Paul Winter, out in his 996 for the first time this season, who held off Marsh for the position in the final laps.
“I’m very happy,” said Winter, “I’m starting to lose a bit of the rust and get in the thick of it. It’s always good to have a close race, and it’s a great end to the weekend.”
Porsche Club Motorsport PMC Midlands Trophy Race One: 1 Leyton Clarke (997 GT3 Cup) 6 laps in 14m45.680s (77.67mph); 2 Mike Johnson (996 GT3 R) +36.242s; 3 Gary Marsh (997 GT3 Cup); 4 Tim Speed (996 GT3 Cup); 5 Mark Chilton (993 GT2); 6 Peter Smallwood (996 GT3 Cup); 7 Bertie Carruthers (997 GT3 Cup); 8 Dave Whelan (993 RSR Cup); 9 Fraser Robertson (996 GT3 R); 10 David Fissenden (996 GT3 Cup). Fastest lap: Clarke 2m21.154s (81.22mph). Class winners: Clarke; Johnson; Speed; Peter Erceg (968 CS).Race Two: 1 Clarke 11 laps in 25m23.419s (82.78mph); 2 Marsh +1m00.343s; 3 Johnson; 4 Carruthers; 5 Robertson; 6 Fissenden; 7 Paul Winter (996 GT3 Cup); 8 Smallwood; 9 Stephen Ritchie (997 GT3 Cup); 10 Peter Erceg (968 CS). Fastest lap: Clarke 2m16.573s (83.95mph). Class winners: Clarke; Johnson; Fissenden; Erceg.
Race Three: 1 Johnson 13 laps in 26m40.259s (93.14mph); 2 Stephen Ritchie (997 GT3 Cup) +25.259s; 3 Winter; 4 Marsh; 5 Chilton; 6 Carruthers; 7 Smallwood; 8 Whelan; 9 Fissenden; 10 Erceg. Fastest lap: Johnson 1m59.907s (96.62mph). Class winners: Johnson; Ritchie; Winter; Erceg.
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