Oulton Park Shake Up Leaves Porsche Title Up for Grabs

Oulton Park ripped up the Fuel Protect Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli form book as the series visited on Saturday September 12th, with two drivers taking their first outright wins in the series – Mike Johnson taking race one and Kevin Harrison victorious later in the day. The title chase also suffered a shake up as points leader Pete Morris went off in the first race and was only fourth in the second, so the series heads to Croft for the final rounds in two week’s time with the title still up for grabs. Jonathan Evans and Steve Cheetham took a win and a second lace apiece in Class Two.Qualifying It was wets all round as the field went out for qualifying on a damp early-morning Oulton Park circuit, and it was championship leader Morris who set the pace, topping the times and going even quicker in the final seconds of the session to be the only driver to duck under the two-minute barrier. The 996s dominated in the conditions filling the first seven places on the grid, Craig Wilkins second quickest ahead of Mike Johnson and Kevin Harrison.“I have to start by saying a big thank you to Strasse for rebuilding my car after Snetterton,” said Morris. “It was slippery early on and I kept the traction control on at first, but towards the end I did a couple of quick laps and was pleased with the times.”Chris Dyer was quickest of the Cayman’s in eighth, while Steve Cheetham took his maiden Class Two pole and was a strong ninth overall ahead of Jonathan Evans. Richard Higgins headed the front-engined runners to be third in Class Two in his 968 CS, while Andy Toon was fourth in class having moved from his 968 to run a Boxster for the first time.Race One Front row starters Morris and Wilkins went through the first corner side-by-side, Wilkins emerging ahead with Johnson third as the field streamed through behind them on the damp track. The top three started easing away from fourth-placed Harrison, the fast-starting Dyer up to fifth at the end of the first lap from eighth on the grid. Johnson lost a little ground with a slide on lap three, but then it was Morris creating the drama as he went off heavily at Shell, the championship leader posting his first non-finish of the season. That put Wilkins in the sights of Johnson who closed in, forcing the leader to defend into Old Hall, Johnson then looking go down the outside there on lap seven only to touch the back of Wilkins as the challenger’s ABS cut in, the order staying the same. Into lap nine and Johnson looked for a way past again at Old Hall, Wilkins holding the inside as he defended, only to go wide on the exit and onto the grass, handing Johnson a handy lead. Six seconds clear, Johnson held on to take the win despite Wilkins halving that advantage in the final laps.“I’m delighted to take my first win – chuffed to bits for everyone including my sponsor Sylatech and all the guys who work on the car,” said Wilkins. “I had a touch with Craig into the first corner, I had a look down the inside and went for the brakes and the ABS decided it didn’t want me to brake that much, but he went wide all on his own the next lap and I was by.”“That was really difficult with constantly changing conditions,” said Wilkins. “It was entertaining but not really the result I wanted. Mike Johnson touched me into Old Hall but it was greasy and he had more grip and could have out-braked me but we touched. We seem to have this car sorted in the dry now but I am still not sure we really have it working well in the wet.”Harrison had been third for much of the race but had come under pressure from Dyer, who in turn had Karim Moudi right with him. A dramatic last lap saw Harrison and Dyer through Old Hall side-by-side, the latter’s Cayman taking the final podium slot at the flag ahead of Harrison and Moudi on the drag race to the line out the final corner..“I don’t usually like racing the rain but that was the best wet race of my life,” said Dyer. “It was a really close race and we were so close in the final laps, I got past Kevin Harrison as we came out the last corner down to the finish line and he missed a gear.’Jonathan Evans took the lead of Class Two at the start and opened a gap on the similar Boxster S of Cheetham as the race progressed, only to see his advantage slashed in the final laps as he took a trip through one of Oulton Park’s gravel traps. Evans held on to win by two and a half seconds, with Higgins third in class having been second early on and Speed passing Toon late on for fourth.“That was a good race, even though I went off with about three laps to go!” said Evans. “I don’t usually go well here but the car was working so well in the wet and I was able to build up a good lead.”Race Two Harrison made a storming start and was alongside the front row pair of Morris and Wilkins in the first corner, holding the outside line and slotting into third behind Wilkins on what was now a dry track. Harrison was putting leader Wilkins under pressure, as behind the order shuffled with Johnson and Mark McAleer going past Morris on lap three, the latter’s car still bearing he scars of his first race off. The lead pair were never more than feet apart, Harrison getting alongside into Old Hall corner going into lap nine only for Wilkins to hold on. Their battle was allowing Johnson and McAleer to close in, and after another big move by Harrison at Old Hall on lap 10 the top four were together. A lap later Harrison got a run on Wilkins as they came down the pit straight and was able to turn into the first corner ahead, Wilkins tumbling to fourth as a power loss that has hampered him all race grew worse. Harrison was able to hold off Johnson and McAleer in the two remaining laps to take his first outright win, Wilkins pitting on the final lap which saw Morris up to fourth ahead of Moudi.“I made a brilliant start and I was determined not to give in when I was going round the outside into the first corner,” said Harrison. “Craig was really quick then seemed to have a problem, and I was just trying not to make a mistake in the last few laps. It’s great to have finally taken a win and I am delighted for the team, ever since we built these cars all we have wanted was a win.”“It’s been a good day,” said Johnson, “the race went well and I still feel the car isn’t quite there on a dry set-up but today has taught us a lot and I had a great battle with Kevin Harrison. Then Mark McAleer was really quick and I was having to defend, I was trying to make my car wide and we touched at one point, to be honest his car was quicker so I was delighted to hold second!”“The car felt good after the issues we had in race one and we were one of the quickest ones out there,” said McAleer. “I had a clash with Mike Johnson at the chicane and after that the car didn’t really want to turn in.”Evans was the early Class Two leader, with Higgins second, but Cheetham , who lost ground in the early laps, started to close in and went past on lap five and took a lead he was to hold for the rest of the race. Evan took a close second, while behind Higgins and Sped had battled over third but were joined by Toon’s new Boxster in the final laps, Higgins taking third and Speed crossing the line just inches ahead of Toon.“I got past Jonathan with an ambitious move into the hairpin which just came off,” said Cheetham. “Then I pulled out a bit of a gap but he started to come back at me. I was on the ragged edge the last few laps and I think he could sense that and we were just tenths apart over the line.”Fuel Protect Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli Round Eleven (13 Laps): 1 Mike Johnson (996 C2); 2 Craig Wilkins 9996 C2) +3.200s; 3 Chris Dyer (Cayman S); 4 Kevin Harrison (996 C2); 5 Karim Moudi (996 C2); 6 Jonathan Evans (Boxster S); 7 Steve Cheetham (Boxster S); 8 Richard Higgins (996 C2); 9 Tim Speed (968 CS); 10 Andrew Toon (Boxster S). Class Winners: Johnson; Speed. Fastest lap: Pete Morris (996 C2) 2m00.968s (80.10mph).Round Twelve (13 Laps): 1 Harrison; 2 Johnson +0.478s; 3 Mark McAleer (996 C2); 4 Pete Morris (996 C2); 5 Moudi; 6 Wilkins; 7 Dyer; 8 Cheetham; 9 Evans; 10 Higgins. Class Winners: Harrison; Cheetham. Fastest Lap: McAleer 1m52.275s (86.30mph).Final Rounds: Croft, North Yorkshire, September 26th.

Jon Barnes and Mark Farmer’s 22GT Racing Aston was awarded eighth position post-race following the decision to dock the Andrew Watson-driven Von Ryan Racing McLaren 16 seconds for contact with Silver Cup rival Ahmad Al Harthy’s co-driver Alex MacDowall. Ninth for Oman Racing’s Aston was enough to give Al Harthy the title ahead of Watson and Wylie, who completed the top-10.

Mowle might have missed out on the GT3 crown but he did pick up his second 2015 Blancpain Gentleman Driver of the Weekend Award for a battling performance over the opening 50 minutes. Fourth place was also enough to move him and Osborne up to third in the final Drivers’ standings above Griffin and Butcher but below Attard and Sims. However, in the Pro/Am points it was the Oman Racing pair that finished third.

Derek Johnston, #17 TF Sport Aston Martin V12 Vantage: “We had a real tough time over the first half of the season struggling with the car, which is very different to the BMW I drove last season. But since Brands we’ve taken huge steps and the intention was to come here and score another podium. I kicked myself for messing up qualifying so wanted to come out today and make amends. I drove my heart out, probably the hardest ever actually, and then Matt did the rest to build a big gap. The team have given their all, too. Switching the car from purple to white at Brands seems to have made a difference!”

Matt Bell, #17 TF Sport Aston Martin V12 Vantage: “Finishing one-two here is down to a lot of hard work, which has finally paid off. And, personally, I’m very happy to be back on the top step. It’s been a while! Donington is mine and Derek’s favourite circuit in the country, and Derek’s local track too. You always pick one on the calendar where you want to go well and this was the one for us, so I’m really glad to have made it happen. Having said that it was probably one of the most stressful stints I’ve ever done! We lost radio contact and our fuel consumption was unusually high, so I was having to save it based on pit boards. I didn’t know how much to save or back off, so there was a lot to think about. That stint was like a swan: serene on top but paddling like hell underneath!”

Jody Fannin, #27 TF Sport Aston Martin V12 Vantage: “That was an interesting last lap! The gap was big enough over Joe but I knew I’d catch a gaggle of GT4 cars that would compromise my final lap and, at the first corner, had a bit of a wobble trying to pass them. I didn’t know if anything was broken heading down the Craner Curves, which isn’t the best place in the world to have that thought! I couldn’t get by the next car until after the Old Hairpin, by which time Joe was right on my tail. I defended into McLeans and Joe, trying to get the cutback, touched my bumper and spun us both around. But there was no malice in it and he came straight up and apologised after. It’s just one of those things on the last lap. A TF Sport one-two is a brilliant way to end the year after our tough start. I’m over the moon.”

Phil Keen, #63 Team Russia by Barwell Racing with Demon Tweeks BMW Z4 GT3: “Jon drove well after a bad start to make up ground. The Safety Car helped us a bit but we got our heads down and tried to be consistent, which paid off in the end. I think we’ve had the speed all year but just been unlucky. We were taken out of both races at Oulton Park and then again while leading at Silverstone, so we lost a lot of points early on which has made it difficult. I feel sorry for Marco and Alex on the other side of the garage because I think they deserved the title, but at the same time congratulations to Jonny and Andrew. It’s great to have helped Barwell win the Teams’ Championship; hopefully they’ll keep me on for next year now!”

British GT will return in 2016…


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