The 2004 Porsche Carrera Cup GB switches to Silverstone over the weekend of 8/9 May for the fifth and sixth races of the season with former BTCC champion Tim Harvey (Team RPM) heading the points battle. Tim is back racing a Porsche for Team RPM in a full campaign and will head to Silverstone having won three of the first four races.

Harvey, who will be firmly on home ground, has taken the early championship lead and will start the Silverstone weekend with a 14-point lead after three wins and a fifth in the opening four races. However, with 43 points on offer each weekend, there is an awfully long way to go in this title battle.

"Silverstone in a good track," says Harvey. "It's got some good overtaking places and some fast technical sections. It should sort the men out from the boys!" Harvey emerged from Brands recently with a brace of wins. Yet, in qualifying Jason Templeman (Team VLR) set the pace, and the fastest man in the second race was Richard Westbrook (BEAST Racing), so Harvey knows he faces a mighty challenge.

In truth, Templeman and Westbrook have both suffered some early season misfortune. Templeman had a clutch problem put him out at Thruxton and Westbrook was leading the opening race at Brands when he was tipped into a first lap spin. His drive from the back of the grid to third in the later race will rate as one of the best of the season. "Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks," reckons Templeman. "I always go well there." Equally, Westbrook will be right on the pace, having been a winner at Silverstone in 2003.

Currently second in the points to Harvey is Jonathan Fildes (TCR), who has been both quick and consistent in his first four Porsche races. Fildes, the reigning Renault Clio champion, will aim to build on those results at a circuit he knows well. Chris Cooper meanwhile, ran Harvey very close in the second race at Thruxton, before having a less profitable weekend at Brands for Team Parker Racing. Other strong campaigners for the 2003 championship winning team are Mark Hazell and Martin Rich.

Right in the thick of the action is seasoned Porsche campaigner Nigel Rice (Red Line Racing) who has bounced back strongly this season after missing 2003 due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. His podium finish at Thruxton was a tremendous boost as he returns to full fitness. He is joined in the Red Line squad by Jason Young and Des Winks.

Brothers Andy and Gary Britnell (Motorbase Performance) had one of the dices of the weekend at Brands, running side-by-side at places where logic said it wouldn’t work! That fraternal rivalry will continue at Silverstone, while David Pinkney (BEAST Racing) is due a dose of good fortune to go with his obvious front-running pace. The BEAST line-up should be completed by series newcomer Michael Corridan, who is set for his Carrera Cup debut at Silverstone.

Racing alongside Templeman in the Team VLR squad is Marcus Thomas from Northampton, in only his second season of racing. Backed by his father's business, Steve Thomas Haulage based in Crick, Marcus (25) is aiming for a strong showing at his home track. "I started racing at the school at Silverstone. I've raced there and done track days in cars and on bikes," says Marcus as he prepares for the most important weekend of his season.

The fast sweeps of Silverstone will really suit the mighty 390bhp racing Porsches. Westbrook was a winner here a year ago, but Harvey, Templeman and the rest have other ideas!

Provisional championship points after round four:

1 Tim Harvey 74; 2 Jonathan Fildes 60; 3 Jason Templeman 55; 4 Nigel Rice 52; 5 Richard Westbrook 51; 6 Chris Cooper 42; 7 Andy Britnell 40; 8 Jason Young 27; 9 Jonathon Cocker 18; 10 Martin Rich 17;