Tim Harvey and Richard Westbrook shared the victories in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Silverstone over the weekend (8/9 May). Competing with Red Line Racing for the first time, Westbrook won the opening race while Harvey (Team RPM) battled ahead of his rival to win the second race.QualifyingWestbrook mastered a wet and slippery track to head the qualifying times from Warren Hughes (Porsche Cars GB) and Tim Harvey.“That was nice and straightforward,” said Westbrook. “I think I did the time in just the right part of the session,” he added. After a dry test day on Friday, the teams and drivers had to contend with a very wet track for qualifying, but Westbrook drove superbly to set a stunning pace on his first outing with Red Line Racing.Despite losing his clutch in the closing stages of the session, Hughes was a fine second in the Porsche Cars GB VIP car. “I don’t know if I could have gone any quicker in those final laps,” said Hughes. “The biggest thing was getting used to the ABS in the wet,” he added after driving the car in the wet for the first time.
Harvey was third best for Team RPM. “We probably didn’t maximize the session on the tyres,” he admitted. “I wanted to scrub a new set of wets in case the race is wet, but I stayed out too long on the first set of tyres.” Harvey was joined on the second row of the grid by Chris Cooper (Team Parker Racing), after Cooper traded times throughout the session with teammate Martin Rich.
Having been a star of testing, Rich continued his excellent pace by posting fifth best time in qualifying. “Wet or dry, we seem to like Silverstone,” said a very pleased Rich after his best Carrera Cup qualifying performance to date.Race oneDespite tremendous pressure from Jason Templeman (Team VLR), Westbrook won round five on Saturday afternoon. “He was putting me under a lot of pressure,” admitted Westbrook, while championship leader Harvey battled back to third after a first corner spin.The drama started on the parade lap when Hughes retired to the pits with a broken driveshaft. “It’s just one of those things; naturally I’m disappointed,” said Hughes.With the track damp but drying and the field on slick tyres, it was a tricky first corner. Harvey and Cooper went into the corner side by side, just touched and both spun. That caused drama in the pack and both Nigel Rice (Red Line Racing) and Rich were eliminated as a result.
Others were delayed, including Harvey and Cooper and so it was Templeman who grabbed second behind Westbrook on the opening lap. Meanwhile, Jonathan Fildes (TCR) slotted into third as Harvey set about recovering lost ground and Cooper headed to the pits for attention to damage sustained. He later rejoined to finish tenth.
Templeman was now on a charge and closed rapidly on Westbrook. In the closing laps Templeman was right on the leader’s tail and pressing hard. However, Westbrook just held on for his second win of the season. “Jason gave me a good race,” said Westbrook, who had suffered problems getting third gear. “I didn’t expect to be up to second after the first corner,” admitted Jason, after starting seventh on the grid.
Harvey fought his way ahead of Fildes to claim third and retain his championship lead. “I was lucky that everyone missed me at the first corner,” reckoned Harvey. Into a fine fifth went Marcus Thomas (Team VLR) who made a lot of ground on the opening lap and then withstood race-long pressure from Andy Britnell (Motorbase Performance).Provisional results – race one (12 laps):1 Richard Westbrook (Red Line Racing) 17m33.659s; 2 Jason Templeman (Team VLR) 17m33.867s; 3 Tim Harvey (RPM Motorsport) 17m45.617s; 4 Jonathan Fildes (TCR) 17m48.558s; 5 Marcus Thomas (Team VLR) 17m58.084s; 6 Andy Britnell (Motorbase Performance) 17m58.635s; 7 Des Winks (Red Line Racing) 18m04.737s; 8 Gary Britnell (Motorbase Performance) 18m05.521s; 9 Jason Young (Red Line Racing) 18m06.200s; 10 Chris Cooper (Team Parker Racing) 11 laps. Fastest lap: Harvey 1m25.649s (94.53mph).Race twoHarvey battled ahead of Westbrook to win round six of the Carrera Cup GB on Sunday. Harvey swept ahead at Priory mid-race, while Hughes drove a mighty race to take third having started at the back of the grid.“The car was fantastic,” related Harvey. “We set it up for dry and cool conditions, which was just right.” Westbrook, however, found his car getting better later in the race. “In the middle of the race I had no answer to Tim’s pace,” he said.
When Harvey grabbed second into Copse on the first lap, the tone of the race was set. The Team RPM car slotted in behind Westbrook and they quickly pulled clear of the pack. Templeman went after the leading pair before a spin after contact with Fildes and a resultant suspension problem left him limping home at the tail of the field.
On lap six, Harvey saw his chance when he got a good run on Westbrook through Bridge. He then dived up the inside into Priory to take the lead. “I made a fairly decisive move and he didn’t fight me too hard,” explained Harvey.
Once ahead, Harvey never pulled very far clear and in the later stages Westbrook came back at him. However, Westbrook had a scare at Priory when Des Winks (Red Line Racing) spun and Westbrook had to take to the grass in avoidance. That was just enough to ensure Harvey ran securely to the flag.
Hughes made stunning progress from the back of the grid to take third place having battled ahead of Cooper and Fildes. “It was fantastic; one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven. I’m grateful to Porsche Cars GB for giving me the chance to race,” said a delighted Hughes.
Cooper claimed a strong fourth having worked ahead of Fildes, while a superb sixth went to Jason Young (Red Line Racing) after a long tussle with team mate Nigel Rice. “That’s the best I’ve ever driven,” said a delighted Young. Having fought up from the back of the grid, Rice was into sixth until a last lap spin dropped him back to eighth behind Young and Andy Britnell.Provisional results – race two (12 laps):1 Tim Harvey (RPM Motorsport) 17m13.494s; 2 Richard Westbrook (Red Line Racing) 17m14.453s; 3 Warren Hughes (Porsche Cars GB) 17m23.181s; 4 Chris Cooper (Team Parker Racing) 17m27.483s; 5 Jonathan Fildes (TCR) 17m31.469s; 6 Jason Young (Red Line Racing) 17m40.822s; 7 Andy Britnell (Motorbase Performance) 17m44.153s; 8 Nigel Rice (Red Line Racing) 17m52.279s; 9 Martin Rich (Team Parker Racing) 17m53.449s; 10 Gary Britnell (Motorbase Performance) 17m54.760s. Fastest lap: Harvey 1m25.022s (95.22mph).Provisional championship points after round six:1 Harvey 112; 2 Westbrook 90; 3 Fildes 88; 4 Templeman 76; 5 Cooper 64; 6 Rice 61; 7 Andy Britnell 60; 8 Young 46; 9 Thomas 31; 10 Gary Britnell 29; etc.
