Meadows tops Carrera Cup GB test at Oulton Park
Michael Meadows sets fierce pace in CheshireDean Stoneman heads the chase of MeadowsKarl Leonard tops Pro-Am1 in styleMichael Meadows set a mighty Porsche Carrera Cup GB pace in testing (Friday 7 June) at Oulton Park ahead of rounds seven and eight. Meadows ended the second session over three-quarters of a second clear of Dean Stoneman and Dan Lloyd.Run in warm sunshine, the two test sessions at the three-dimensional Cheshire track showed that Meadows (Samsung Smart Motorsport) is in fine form following the six-week break since rounds five and six at Thruxton. Meanwhile, Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) and Peter Smallwood (Parr Motorsport) headed Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2.The best times came in the final 15 minutes of the second 45-minute test as most of the leading drivers fitted a new set of tyres. But it was when Meadows posted a 1m22.979s best that the true benchmark was established. That put him 0.773s clear of Stoneman (Redline Racing) and Lloyd (Team Parker Racing) with an emphatic display.Leonard was a fine fourth overall to head Pro-Am1, as Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) completed the top six and Smallwood headed Pro-Am2 with a strong overall showing. Championship leader Gelzinis had on off into the tyre wall at Druids in the first session and then concentrated on race set-up on old tyres in the later session. He ended the day very content with the cars pace.Michael Meadows (Samsung Smart Motorsport) fastest overall:I expected to be at the front, but not with a gap like that. Id like to think there is a bit more to come and I think a 1m22.5s lap would be reasonable for pole in qualifying tomorrow. I want to try and find two or three tenths.Dean Stoneman (Redline Racing) second overall:We tried a lot of stuff on the car and weve now got a set-up that I like. There is definitely more time to come in qualifying.Daniel Lloyd (Team Parker Racing) third overall:It was a bit frustrating because of Michaels time. We can see places where we need to find a bit of time and so we just need to concentrate on those and do the best we can.Karl Leonard (Team Parker Racing) fastest in Pro-Am1:To be honest I made a few mistakes and had a big moment at Old Hall on my best lap, so Im a bit disappointed. But Ive got to be pleased with P4 overall. There is a bit of time left to come.Dan De Zille (Redline Racing) second fastest in Pro-Am1:Thats the first day of dry running after a lot of testing since Thruxton. We probably left the old tyres on too long, but it is another step forward and Im a lot more comfortable in the car.