Several cars and drivers made their debut in the Michelin Porsche Open Series at Silverstone on Saturday (15 May). Notably, the cars of Steve Donovan (911 GT3RS), Nick Staveley (911 GT3 Cup) and Gerry Harrison (911 GT3 Cup) all scored top 10 finishes in the tremendous 26-car field.

Donovan has acquired the 911 GT3RS that PK Sport previously campaigned in the American Le Mans Series and team boss Mike Pickup was on hand at Silverstone to oversee Donovan's first race in the car.

"The plan is to do all the remaining Open races and just get used to the car," says Donovan, who previously raced Radicals. He started well, with fourth place against the hugely powerful cars of Richard Chamberlain and Rupert Lewin.

Staveley, a former Porsche Cup and British GT racer, concluded a late deal to enter the race in his Tech 9 tended GT3 Cup car and netted second in class two after a race-long battle with the similar car of Kevin Harrison.

"I just love being back out racing again," reckoned Staveley. He expects to do some more races later in the season, and hopes to do the rounds at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps.

Harrison, meanwhile, was making his Porsche debut and racing for the first time in eight years. He previously did a couple of seasons in the TVR Tuscan Challenge but has now acquired the ex-Peter Chambers 911 GT3 Cup car, which finished seventh in the 2002 Michelin Porsche Cup. Harrison plans to contest the balance of the Open season and started with tenth overall at Silverstone.