Richard Westbrook fended off a ferocious challenge from Damien Faulkner to win round four of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Thruxton on Sunday.

For lap after lap, the two cars were only inches apart as Faulkner pushed Westbrook to the limit. After 18 minutes of nose-to-tail racing, Westbrook won by barely a car’s length, while Tim Harvey completed the podium after starting at the tail of the grid.While Harvey blasted up the order off the start, Westbrook (Red Line Racing) grabbed the lead from Faulkner (Team Parker Racing) and that was how it stayed in a brilliant contest. Lap after lap Faulkner kept enormous pressure on Westbrook and even got alongside under braking for the chicane on lap nine. The cars touched briefly and Westbrook dived through the middle of the chicane as Faulkner took the normal route. Westbrook just emerged ahead, and Faulkner again challenged. But Westbrook’s defence was resolute and that was how they crossed the line, to rapturous applause from the grandstands.“That was a really hard race, but very fair,” said Westbrook. “It was tough being in the lead and there was a big moment going into the chicane. Damien’s really sorted his car out!” he added. “At least we kept Richard honest this time and it’s very encouraging for the team,” said Faulkner.Harvey (Team RPM) claimed third, but had to shake off a determined Jason Young (Red Line Racing), who was on a real charge and re-passed Harvey in the early laps. Eventually Harvey made good his escape, but by then the leaders were out of his reach. Having run third until Harvey battled ahead, Nigel Rice (Red Line Racing) then had to fend off Young over the second half of the race to secure fourth, while Steve Clark (Team RPM) wrapped up the top six after Stephen Shanly (Red Line Racing) slid into the tyre wall at the chicane when trying to wrest fifth place form Young on the final lap. Though winded by the impact, Shanly was able to wave to the appreciative crowd as he got out of the car. Jason Templeman (Team Parker Racing) struggled home eighth with mechanical problems behind Jon Barnes (Porsche Cars/Team Autosport).Provisional results (14 laps):

1 Richard Westbrook (Red Line Racing)                   18m18.394s2 Damien Faulkner (Team Parker Racing)          18m18.654s3 Tim Harvey (Team RPM)                               18m27.400s4 Nigel Rice (Red Line Racing)                             18m42.932s5 Jason Young (Red Line Racing)                      18m45.831s6 Steve Clark (Team RPM)                               18m53.403s7 Jon Barnes (Porsche Cars GB)                           19m06.174s8 Jason Templeman (Team Parker Racing)          19m07.936s9 David Ashburn (Track Speed)                             19m22.978sNF Stephen Shanly (Red Line Racing)            13 laps