Dorrington and Parkins taste victory at Silverstone

The Porsche Club GB Sim Racing Championship made a return to “home soil” this weekend as drivers tackled the historic Silverstone Circuit for rounds 10 and 11. The fans were in for a treat this week, as a packed grid of 22 911 GT3 Cup cars headed for qualifying. Ryan Parkins took a healthy championship lead into the weekend, looking to gain valuable points with championship rival Austin Greatorex not at the race meeting.

The championship also welcomed back Matt Kyle-Henney, fresh from taking a real-world Class Two win in the Petro-Canada Lubricants Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli at Snetterton only the day prior. Matt Dorrington, who also looked strong in the early season, returned to the championship after missing a majority of rounds and would ultimately claim pole position on his return.

Dorrington showcased his impressive skills and dominated the 10-lap race on Sunday, claiming his second podium victory in the series. Parkins continued his stellar season keeping Dorrington in his sight and comfortably taking home second position. Carl Sharkey replicated his performances throughout the season by claiming the final podium spot for Round 11.

Kyle-Henney’s return looked bleak as he hit Gavin Halls from behind going into Abbey, spinning himself off the track and putting Halls at the mercy of the following traffic. Halls, another notable figure in the championship, sustained heavy damage to his 911 in the incident. Despite this, Kyle-Henney clawed his way back up the field into 5th with an impressive drive, matched equally by Halls who brought home 6th position.

The reversed grid race was full of action, carnage rained down right from the start, but it was Ryan Penny and Mark Baxter-Jones who came out leading the race. Also managing to avoid the incidents was Luke Holroyd, moving up into third place in the early stages of the race. Matt Kyle-Henney, who started 15th, carved his way through the field and was up into fourth putting pressure on Holroyd for third position. By lap three, Kyle-Henney took the position and was leading the race by lap four. His lead was short lived however as moments later he span, dropping him down the order into sixth place. 

At this point in the race it was hard to say who was going to win, with the top six constantly changing positions. By lap seven it was Mark Baxter-Jones leading, followed by Gavin Halls and Mark Phillips in third. The battles continued throughout the race and with only five minutes remaining the top four had all changed again. Baxter-Jones still leading but now with Dorrington in third, behind Halls in second and Phillips in fourth. The battle behind them was led by Parkins in fifth, Kyle-Henney following in sixth and Holroyd in seventh. 

The drama was not over yet, with only two laps remaining Dorrington and Halls both made contact spinning them both out resulting in retirement for Halls after making heavy contact with the pit wall. It was Parkins who went on to take the checkered flag with Baxter-Jones in second and Phillips taking the final podium spot. Carl Sharkey took fourth place with Kyle-Henney in fifth and Holroyd rounding off the top six. 

Report by PorscheSport.com

Race 1:
1 Matt Dorrington
2 Ryan Parkins +1.439s
3 Carl Sharkey +10.764s
4 Paul Riga +14.070s
5 Matt Kyle-Henney +22.145s
6 Gavin Halls +24.826s
7 Oliver Carwardine +30.284s
8 Stuart Clark +31.384s
9 Mark Phillips +32.657s
10 James Cummings +34.386s 

Race Two:
1 Ryan Parkins
2 Mark Baxter-Jones +3.991
3 Mark Phillips +4.160s
4 Carl Sharkey +4.447s
5 Matt Kyle-Henney +4.969s
6 Luke Holroyd +11.486
7 James Cummings +12.048s
8 Matt Dorrington +16.343s
9 Oliver Carwardine +28.773s
10 Paul Riga 31.473s 

Championship Points:
1 Parkins 265 points
2 Sharkey 186
3 Greatorex 154
4 Mark Phillips 153
5 Marc Bow 123
6 Gavin Halls 115 

Watch the replay here.

Next Round: Sunday 19 July at Spa Francorchamps

Watch the racing here.