It was the final two rounds of the 2023 Woods Foodservice Porsche Club Boxster Cup at Snetterton on Saturday October 7th, and a win and a second place saw champion-elect Jonny Lovell finish the season is style, and his title was confirmed when his car was proven to be fully legal after the standard post-season checks. A newcomer to the series, Lovell was always a front runner, and takes the title from Mike Thompson, runner-up for the second year in a row, and third-placed Faye Noble-Evans.
“I’m so shocked to be champion, I wouldn’t have expected this at the start of the season,” said Lovell. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, this series is one of the best things I have ever done, I’d encourage anyone to have a go. We took a win at every circuit we visited, and I aim to build on this for next year, it’s great to finish on a high.”
“It’s been a great season with some good racing,” said Thompson. “We have had to make a bit of a comeback as we had problems at the opening meeting, but since then I’ve won races and it’s been really good.”
“I’m ecstatic, it’s a dream come true,” said Noble-Evans. “I tried to be consistent all year and keep scoring points, and it’s paid off.”
Race One
Lovell was on pole for the opening race of the day but it was Thompson who made the better start, Lovell slotting into second and despite a challenge into Oggies it was Thompson ahead at the end of the opening lap, Faye Noble-Evans third ahead of Sarah Thomson and Perry Darling, the latter up from eighth on the grid.
Into lap four the lead pair were together and then side-by-side for several corners before Lovell nosed ahead, only to lose out heading into lap six when Thompson dived down the inside into the first corner. Their battle continued but became academic as Lovell picked up time penalties for track limit violations, Thompson taking his second win of the season.
Sarah Thomson spun which moved Darling up to fourth, and he then closed on Noble-Evans, going past early on lap 11 to take third, which was almost second as Lovell’s time penalty saw him cling onto second by the merest margin. Noble-Evans finished fourth ahead of Wayne Gregory and Thomson, to keep her bid for the third in the championship on track.
Race Two
Once more Thompson made the better start but within half a lap Lovell was ahead and a second clear over the line at the end of lap one, Gregory in third from Darling and Thomson. In the opening laps the front two eased away from the field, Lovell far enough ahead to deny Thompson the opportunity to resume their first race battle.
The race changed at the end of lap five as Thompson pitted from second with a loose undertray, promoting Gregory to second from Darling, who had Thomson closing in. Lovell duly took his 11th Boxster Cup win of the year, a delighted Gregory second having missed most of the season. Thomson was right with Darling in the final laps but lost ground with a spin, elevating Noble-Evans to fourth.