Running as part of the Club Championship, and in support of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe, rounds 3 and 4 of the Restoracing Championship unfolded at Brands Hatch last Saturday.
Finished in a range of iconic Porsche racing liveries, 15 mechanically identical ‘Type 986’ Boxster S racers formed part of a 34-car field on the full 2.4-mile Grand Prix circuit. In front of the Blancpain GT’s international audience, the Restoracing Championship once again produced close and exciting racing in some occasionally challenging weather conditions.
Dry conditions greeted the cars at the start of round three. Ben McLoughlin (Porsche Centre Bournemouth) made a perfect start from the front, leading a fast-starting Wayne Minogue (Porsche Centre Nottingham) who slotted into P2 from the second row. Ollie Coles (Porsche Centre Swindon) quickly found his way into P3 as Christian Short (Porsche Centre Wolverhampton) fell back from his front row starting position to P4.
As the cars streamed through Graham Hill bend Jamie Woods (Premier Panel Skills) spun across to the inside of the track, his "Hippie" liveried machine making light contact with the barriers before continuing.
When the chequered flag fell at 25 minutes it was McLoughlin who claimed his third consecutive win of the 2019 season – a lights to flag victory – with Short following McLoughlin home in second and Minogue third.
Following some heavy rain, race 2 began on a slowly drying track, with McLoughlin away well once again from his second pole of the day. Shadowing him was fellow front row starter Wayne Minogue, while also maintaining formation off the line were second row qualifiers Christian Short and Jamie Woods in third and fourth respectively.
In the tricky conditions on lap one, Ollie Coles ran off the track at Druids before continuing his race and Woods, in a repeat of his first race, left the track at Graham Hill before also continuing. When the flag fell after lap nine it was McLoughlin – despite now carrying 45 kgs of ballast – who triumphed once again. Blakesey took second while Minogue just beat Short at the line for the final podium spot.
Rounds five and six of the Porsche Classic Restoracing Championship will take place at the shorter Brands Hatch Indy circuit on 7 July, returning to a standalone grid as the Club Championship supports Deutsche Fest – an enthusiast-led celebration of German vehicles with spectator attractions both on and off the track. We hope to see you there.