Dean Stoneman wins on championship debut Victor Jimenez takes Pro-Am1 victoryThrilling race in tough conditionsIn his first race for two years, Dean Stoneman scored a famous victory in the opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch today (Saturday 30 March). Stoneman coped with difficult track conditions, a safety car period and a strong challenge from Michael Meadows on his way to a very impressive win.The 200th race in the history of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB delivered a superb start to the 2013 season, with action all down the field in tricky conditions due to snow showers sweeping across the Kent track. In Pro-Am1, Victor Jimenez (Redline Racing) scored a well deserved victory while Peter Smallwood (Parr Motorsport) won Pro-Am2 on his championship debut.Despite snow in the air, the field went to the grid on slick tyres and Stoneman (Redline Racing) got off the line well to lead into Paddock Hill Bend from the fast-starting Dan Lloyd (Team Parker Racing). While Stoneman set about establishing his lead, a furious battle raged for second as Lloyd and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) traded the place several times while Meadows (Samsung Smart Motorsport) sat on their tail.On lap six, Butcher and Lloyd touched at Paddock and both spun into the gravel. Butcher managed to get going again and headed for the pits with a puncture, but Lloyd was out and the safety car was deployed while his car was moved. From the re-start, Stoneman took control once more, but Meadows was now second and started a dogged pursuit of the leader as Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) went with them in third.For lap after lap, with more snow showers coming, Meadows chased Stoneman and into the final three laps the gap was barely half a second. Even a brush with Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing) during lappery failed to unsettle Stoneman, who had it covered and kept his cool to score a brilliant victory on his return to racing after serious illness. I didnt expect to ever get back in a race car, and I didnt expect weather like this, said Stoneman. Theres a lot more to learn and towards the end I was being a bit over cautious. I had a good view of all the incidents, said Meadows. Thats a really good start to the season: there was only one dry line and to attack him Id have had to go off line onto the damp. Gelzinis completed the podium, having dropped back from the leaders in traffic, while Butcher mounted a remarkable recovery drive to fourth, despite another trip through the gravel at Paddock as he rejoined after his pit stop, which peeled the front splitter off his car. As the track dried, he fought increasing understeer.Fifth overall and Pro-Am1 victory was a great result for Jimenez, who had to work clear of Pro-Am1 rival George Brewster (Celtic Speed). That was very, very difficult: Ive never raced in the snow before, said the Spaniard. Brewster then had to deal with a big challenge from Ozbek as Kyle Barnes (Redline Racing) ran with them in a fine contest. I let the tyres get too cold under the safety car, said Brewster, who retook second from Ozbek when the Turkish racer had his moment with Stoneman.Round 1:Pro category: 1 Dean Stoneman; 2 Michael Meadows; 3 Jonas Gelzinis.Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez; 2 George Brewster; 3 Yucel Ozbek.Pro-Am2 category: 1 Peter Smallwood.