Snetterton hosted the final rounds of the Woods Foodservice Porsche Club Motorsport Boxster Cup on Sunday October 6th, and while Mike Thompson and Scott Evans claimed the two race wins, it was Wayne Gregory who is the new 2024 champion after two drives through the field. It wasn’t all about scoring points as the lead cars were sealed for technical inspection after the final race, but Gregory’s Boxster passed with flying colours so the first title for not only the driver, but his Unique Racing team can now be confirmed.
It wasn’t plain sailing for Gregory, an issue in qualifying meant he had to start both races from the back of the grid, while his championship rivals were well up the order. He drove through to ninth in race one, a drive he was more than happy with:
“That was the first time I have ever wished there were more laps in a race,” said Gregory as he stepped from his Boxster. “It was just a case of picking them off one by one and with another couple of laps I could have got further up the pack. I had to be careful getting past as I didn’t want to mess up anyone’s else’s race, but it was fun…the last race should be spectacular.”
Race two saw another charge, a mid-race red flag leading to a three-lap sprint to close out the season, fourth more than enough to see Gregory top the points table.
“What a day, I’m over the moon,” declared Gregory. “I joked with the guys in the week ‘wouldn’t it be funny if I had to start at the back’ but we pulled it off. I was worried when we saw the red flag in case, I was at the back again, but I held my position and when I could see the cars I needed to be with for the points I knew I just had to just stay with them. I need to let it sink in…but it has all been great and we had to work for it today!”
Race One
It was a different looking race grid to expected from qualifying with Perry Darling and championship leader Gregory starting from the very back with a 10-second delay. That put Scott Evans on pole, but at the end of lap one it was Mike Thomson’s Boxster who led the field, Darren King second from Ben Grewcock.
Thompson was never quite able to break clear, and as the race progressed King became under increasing pressure from Evans. Behind, Gregory, keen to score as many points as possible, was charging through the field, up to 13th after three laps and into the top ten by lap seven.
As Thompson stayed clear to take win number five of 2024, King lost out to Evans on the final lap and had to settle for third. Barrington Darcy took a fine fourth place finish, while Gregory had to settle for ninth, but crucially only lost out by one point to his closest championship rival, Ryan Charters.
“Win number five, which was a surprise as I didn’t expect that at all,” said Thompson. “The car wasn’t at its best, but I got a good start and got in front and got a gap. Happy with that.”
Race Two
The final race of the 2024 Boxster Cup season was later in the afternoon, and again Gregory was starting from the back of the grid. Evans was once more on pole, but lost places at the start, Grewcock leading from King, Thompson fourth as that group ran close in the early laps.
The lead pack were greeted by the safety car at the end of lap five, several cars stopped at different points of the circuit and fluid down making conditions treacherous, the race red flagged a lap later due to the track condition. It was declared a new six-minute race with the order as that before the stoppage, Grewcock on pole but Evans taking the lead and staying ahead for the three laps to the flag, Grewcock second.
The red flag played into the hands of the drivers who had started from the back of the original grid, fourth for Gregory more than enough to see him as the 2024 Woods Foodservice Porsche Club Motorsport Boxster Cup champion on the day.
“Really happy with that,” said Evans. “It’s a great way to end the season, we have gone well in qualifying but have had to work so hard with the car in the races.”
The Porsche Club Motorsport season concludes with the annual prize giving on Saturday 16th November at the Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa, Northamptonshire.