Championship race report - Rounds 9 and 10: Brands Hatch, 29/30 August 2004Two hard fought Michelin Porsche Club Championship were star attractions of the Porsche Festival at Brands Hatch over the Bank Holiday weekend (29/30 August), with race victories going to Tony Brown (911 RS) and Peter Morris (968CS). Rob Williams, Richard Lambert and Fraser Robertson claimed the class victories.Race oneIt took three goes to finally get Sunday’s round started, and each time Brown stormed into the lead from second on the grid. With the first two stoppages being due to cars beaching themselves in the Paddock Hill gravel, Brown finally led all the way, holding off a challenge from team-mate Ian White (3.2 Carrera) in the early laps. “I got a good start every time,” explained Brown, “though when they stopped the race for the second time I was wondering if it was personal. In the end I could see they were dicing behind, so I kept it smooth and built up a lead.”Behind championship returnee Brown, White fended off the attention of Team GVR’s Chris Egginton (968CS) and Peter Morris (968CS), as the front-engined cars ran in close formation over the 16-lap race. Egginton looked to the outside through Paddock on several occasions, aiming to dive to the inside at Druids, but White held on. On lap 14 his move to the outside tempted Morris to move inside Egginton and the two went round Druids side by side, Egginton prevailing as the turned left through Graham Hill Bend, the three staying in that close order to the end.“That was very hard work,” said White, “I had to keep the car on the track and keep them behind! I need to go one place better tomorrow now.” Mike Clapham (968CS) passed class two winner Rob Williams (Carrera 3) to take fifth, after Craig Rapp (3.2 Carrera) spun out of that slot. Unfortunately, Rapp later inverted his car in the Paddock Hill gravel trap. Fraser Robertson (944) claimed the class three spoils once more to maintain his cracking record.Results - 16 laps:1 Tony Brown (911 RS) 15m03.586s (78.24mph); 2 Ian White (3.2 Carrera) 15m06.695s; 3 Chris Egginton (968CS); 4 Peter Morris (968CS); 5 Mike Clapham (968CS); 6 Rob Williams (Carrera 3); 7 Mark Campbell (911 RS); 8 Richard Lambert (Carrera 3); 9 Mark Lillington (968CS). Class winners: Brown; Williams; Fraser Robertson (944). Fastest lap: Egginton 55.150s (80.04mph).Race twoBrown repeated his starting prowess in Monday afternoon’s 40-minute race, but lost out to team-mate White at Druids on lap two. These two battled hard as Morris set a series of fastest laps to close on them in third.They stayed in that order until Brown went wide at Druids, and Morris took advantage to dive past the pair and take the lead. He soon opened a gap, but lost that when the safety car came out after a car stopped in the gravel on the edge of the circuit at Clearways. “The safety car really made a difference,” said Morris, “I’d eased off, and then had to press on again.”With just ten minutes remaining once racing resumed, Morris again opened a gap, White and Brown giving chase until Egginton closed in to challenge for third. With the 968 on his tail, Brown had to defend over the final laps. Morris was clear at the font, while less than half a second covered White, Brown and Egginton as they crossed the line in that order.“I said yesterday that the 968 would be more suited to a 40 minute race,” said Morris, “but that was hard work and I was pretty emotional crossing the finish line!” “I thought the safety car would give me my chance,” added White, “but he was too quick today.”Mark Lillington (968CS) claimed fifth, ahead of class two winner Richard Lambert (Carrera 3), while class three victor Robertson completed a perfect weekend.Results – 41 laps:1 Peter Morris (968CS) 40m06.193s (75.24mph); 2 Ian White (3.2 Carrera) 40m10.095s; 3 Tony Brown (911 RS); 4 Chris Egginton (968CS); 5 Mark Lillington (968CS); 6 Richard Lambert (Carrera 3); 7 Adam Egar (911SC); 8 Lee Birkett (911SC); 9 David Botterill (924 Carrera GT); 10 Marcus Holden (3.2 Carrera). Class winners: Morris; Lambert; Fraser Robertson (944). Fastest lap: Egginton 54.903s (80.40mph).The Michelin Porsche Club Championship returns to Brands Hatch on 18/19 September.