Parkins & Greatorex dominate at Monza

Ryan Parkins dominated the latest two rounds of Porsche Club GB’s sim-racing series, taking two wins at Monza to extend his lead at the top of the championship table, a brace of second places for Austin Greatorex seeing him keep the pressure on in the championship battle.

Championship leader Parkins was on pole for race one, with series newcomer Dave Cameron alongside, and it was the poleman who led the field away with Cameron second and Greatorex third. Chaos down the field at the Ascari chicane on lap two spread out the middle order, while Cameron got past Parkins to lead by the end of the lap.

Geartorex had William Chadwick right with him as they went down the pit straight to end lap three and the latter driver slipstreamed by to take third, while ahead Parkins took advantage of a backmarker to dive inside Cameron into the first Lesmo to take back the lead.

The top five were easing away, but the race changed as they reached Ascari for the sixth time, the lead pair side-by-side and touching and going off, Chadwick also losing time, allowing Greatorex to go through to lead with Cark Sharkey into second. Parkins emerged third ahead of Cameron, while the unlucky Chadwick was forced to pit with damage.

Parkins was quickly past Sharkey and set off after the leader Greatorex, closing in and going past as they turned into the Parabolica at the end of lap nine. The leader was half a second clear at the flag, heading home Greatorex, Sharkey and the recovering Cameron.

The second of the day’s 20-minute races saw a full reverse grid, and it was Amreek Sachdev who led the field away, with the first chicane catching many of the cars behind out and allowing some of the cars from way down to the grid to gain places, Parking coming round eighth at the end of the first lap having gained 14^th places, with Greatorex right behind.

At the front Sachdev was under pressure from James Cummins for the lead, Parkins already up to fourth, and gaining places. It was never going to be long before Parkins was in the leas, and from there he was able to open a gap for his second win of the day.

Greatorex came through for second, with Charlie Oliver third ahead of Gavin Halls and Sharkey.
“I’m really happy,” said Parkins. “The first race was nerve-wracking as the temperatures kept going up on the car. Austin is really consistent and scoring points, it’s good fun and very close. It is Oulton Park next week I won’t have much time to practice due to other commitments, and then we have lots more circuits to come!”

“Ryan had too much pace today,” said Greatorex. “I just had to try not to make too many mistakes. I was fortunate in the first race when the leaders tangled, and race two was just about avoiding the early carnage and getting a good result.”

 Monza, Italy, Race One:
1 Ryan Parkins
2 Austin Greatorex +0.569s
3 Carl Sharkey +3.817s
4 Dave Cameron +4.530s
5 Stuart Clark +17.850s
6 Marc Bow +19.256s
7 Mark Philiips +21.735s
8 Johnny Elia +24.2663s
9 Paul Riga +28.633s
10 Angus Archer +29.905s
 
Race Two:
1 Parkins
2 Greatorex +8.601s
3 Charles Oliver +9.980
4 Gavin Halls +14.585s
5 Sharkey +21.315s
6 James Cummins +23.594s
7 Bow +28.584s
8 Danny Jones +28.730s
9 Chris Bowie +29.012s
10 Elia +44.402s