Porsche Club Motorsport Championship with Pirelli
Race One
Ed Hayes had his Parr Motorsport Cayman S on pole but it was Jake McAleer’s RVR 997 that made the better start and headed the large field into the first corner, Hayes right with him and Steve Wood third with Chris Dyer next up. A strong first lap from Jake McAleer saw him open a gap, only for Hayes to respond and close back in, the pair together by lap four.
It was great action in the next few laps, the pair side-by-side more than once as Hayes looked for a way past, Jake McAleer managing to hold on. Behind, Wood’s Autofarm 996 was clear of Dyer while Mark McAleer was running fifth having got past Paul Simpson’s Supatune Cayman in the opening laps.
The battle at the front was settled on lap nine when Hayes lost time as they passed backmarkers at Becketts, McAleer reeling off the final laps to continue his winning streak. Wood claimed the final podium position with Dyer’s Strasse Cayman fourth from Mark McAleer.
“That was a bit weird compared to previous races,” said Jake McAleer. “It became pretty clear after a few laps the rears weren’t going to last and Ed was really quick, we were side-by-side a couple of times. I felt he was quicker and I was just lucky with how the traffic fell.”
“He was good out the corners,” said Hayes. “I was pleased to get away with Jake as the pace has been close here today, and I thought I had a bit more grip but he didn’t give me a way to round him.”
“I let the race settle down after holding off Chris Dyer,” said Wood. “I could hold the gap to the front two but couldn’t close in.
I’m going to make some changes for race two, the car is a little bit lively at the moment. Nice to show though that a 996 can still run near the front.”
Race Two
Mark McAleer had his 997 on pole for race two but it was Hayes ahead by the time they got to Becketts on lap one with Jake McAleer third and past his father as they braked for Stowe. Jake McAleer was right with Hayes as they headed into lap two and ahead by the end of the lap, Wood third having taken that position on lap one.
Hayes put in a fastest race lap to date on four and a lap later looked inside the leader at Becketts, before a yellow flag at Stowe just as they reached backmarkers saw the top five back together, Wood right with Hayes and Mark McAleer and Dyer now in the mix too. Dyer took fourth as Mark McAleer went wide at Aintree.
Hayes lost places on lap eight as they passed backmarkers exiting Club, Wood up to second and Dyer third. The chequer flag came out early at the end of the lap with the circuit’s curfew time in sight, Jake McAleer extending his run of wins to nine races, Wood second from Dyer with Hayes coming home fifth behind Mark McAleer.
“I thought I had no chance but that all changed when the amended grid had me up to row two,” said Jake McAleer. “I got a good start to claim third and got past my dad on the first lap for second. Towards the end we all closed up after a yellow flag, and I was pleased to see the chequer flag come out early!”
“That was quite a race, the backmarkers right at the end really fired it up,” said Wood. I really thought I could get Jake as I could see his tyres had gone by he held on. It was such clean racing all the way, really good fun.”
“I really enjoyed that,” said Dyer. “We were so close at the end, so when Jake and Ed got caught behind the backmarker due to the yellow flags we all concertinaed back up and it was a fight to the end. The car felt brilliant.”
Porsche Club Motorsport Championship with Pirelli
Race One: 1 Jake McAleer (997 C2S) 11 Laps; 2 Ed Hayes (Cayman S) +1.524s; 3 Steve Wood (996 C2); 4 Chris Dyer (Cayman S). Fastest Lap: Hayes 2m19.171s (94.68mph).
Race Two: 1 Jake McAleer 8 Laps; 2 Wood +0.245s; 3 Dyer; 4 Mark McAleer (997 C2S) Fastest Lap: Hayes 2m19.255s (94.63mph).
Porsche Club Motorsport AM Championship with Pirelli
Race One
It was a close battle early on with Iain Hill, visiting from New Zealand and new to the Silverstone GP circuit, strong on lap one before Baz Darcy came round ahead on lap two as regular front runner Charlie Dye spun down the order in his Boxster.
Hill was then running in second with Faye Noble-Evans third and Julian Dye fourth and going well.
Darcy had a gap to the rest and was going well in his Stand2-run Boxster, while Hill lost ground when the roof popped off the car, Julian Dye closing in on Noble-Evans and going past on lap nine. In the final laps Darcy was well clear and claimed the win, while Julian Dye came home second to record his first podium finish, Noble-Evans taking third.
“The first couple of laps were really hectic,” said Darcy. “Once I was in the lead they started squabbling behind and I was able to open a gap, and I was trying to get pulled round by some of the 911s. Really pleased with that, I was disappointed with qualifying.”
“That was brilliant,” said Julian Dye. “So pleased to take second, though a shame to see Charlie spin out. Faye and I had a massive battle, it was really hot and I feel exhausted now – but I loved it.”
“I am enjoying this season, had a great fight with Julian,” said Noble-Evans. “Iain Hill got a cracking start, we were all trying to keep up with him, then he spun and the roof came off. That was fun, and we get to do it again later.”
Race Two
A good first lap from Charlie Dye saw him lead the AM Championship runners at the start of race two, Andreas Georgiou in second in his Bradley Performance Boxster with Hill third and Darcy next in line. Darcy was into third on lap three, Charlie Dye clear but the cars behind now running together.
Darcy moved into second at Becketts on lap four, though Charlie Dye was already two seconds down the road and running quickly, Georgiou retiring on that lap. The pace f the leader did not deter Darcy who closed in, the pair side-by-side down the pit straight heading into lap eight, only to be greeted by the flag at the end of that lap, Charlie Dye just ahead to take his third win of the season.
Hill came home third to claim a fine podium on his first ever visit to Silverstone, with Noble-Evans fourth ahead of welcome series returnee Jessica Wilkinson.
“That was a tough one,” said Charlie Dye. “I was getting caught and kept looking at him in my rear-view mirror but over the moon to take that after spinning out of race one – I was so pleased to see the flag early.”
“I got past him briefly then messed it up a couple of corners later,” said Darcy. “I would have loved having more racing laps!”
“I was unlucky in the first race when the roof came off,” said Hill, “but this was a tough race, a lot of cars and you have to manage your tyres. I was getting used to slicks and the circuit but what an experience. We’ve invited everyone down to race in New Zealand over the winter!”
Porsche Club Motorsport AM Championship with Pirelli
Race One: 1 Barrington Darcy (Boxster S) 11 Laps; 2 Julian Dye (Boxster S); 3 Faye Nobel-Evans (Boxster S); 4 Jamie Callendar (Boxster S). Fastest Lap:Darcy 2m25.454s (90.59mph).
Race Two: 1 Charlie Dye (Boxster S) 8 Laps; 2 Darcy; 3 Iain Hill (Boxster S); 4 Noble-Evans. Fastest Lap: Darcy 2m27.793s (90.38mph).
Porsche Club Motorsport Boxster Cup
Race One
A storming first lap from Ethan Hall in his Classic FX Boxster saw him come round with other cars between him and his class rivals, Brandan Haffner’s Supatune car in second from Matt Shears. Luca Masarati slipped to fourth on what was a hectic opening lap but was already looking to regain places.
Masarati had his Vision Boxster past Shears on lap two and was closing on Haffner, Hall taking advantage of the dicing behind to extend his lead and control the race. Masarati got past Haffner at Copse as they headed into lap six, and Kuba Wozniak, on a charge from the back of the grid got past Haffner later in the lap to claim third, only to slow with a throttle problem.
Hall stayed well clear to claim the win, Masarati in second from Haffner, while Brooklyn Howell claimed fourth after a drive through the field that saw him gain 14 places on the opening lap. Haffner claimed the Masters category from David Watt and Tony Levy.
“I was pleased to get amongst the AM category cars,” said Hall. “This car just seems to have so much grip round here and it works so well, I love driving this car and in that race it was just immense.”
“That was hectic early on,” said Masarati, “but it was exactly how I thought it would be at the start and I just got caught up in it. The first lap was cars everywhere and by then Ethan had gone, but I got past Brendan after a good fight.”
“I was in second for a long time but I could see Luca clawing me back in” said Haffner. “I overheated the tyres trying to stay clear and he caught me and did a great pass. Kuba was coming up but had a problem so I’m pleased with third, it’s nice to race the youngsters.”
Race Two
It was another strong first lap for Hall in race two, Masarati holding second on lap one this time ahead of Haffner and David Watt. Behind, Wozniak and Howell were again charging up the order from the back of the grid, both gaining more than ten places on the opening tour.
Hall was able to open a gap and again keep cars from other classes between him and Masarati, Haffner in third and Wozniak up to fourth by lap two and aiming to close on Haffner. Wozniak’s second good drive of the day sadly ended in retirement, Howell then running fourth in class.
Hall stayed clear to take his eight win of the season, Masarati took his second runner-up slot of the day with Haffner again rounding out the podium and taking Masters honours.
“Really delighted with the day,” said Hall. “It has been a chill weekend, we just had so much pace and our car really works well here – I’m happy.”
“I managed to stay out the first lap chaos this time,” said Masarati. “I didn’t get boxed in and had a car or two between me and Brendan, the car felt better after some changes and looking forward to Donington.”
“I’m trying give the youngsters something to think about,” said Haffner. “I had a good dice with Luca at the start but then he got away, I could see Kuba closing and he was flying but then he sadly had another problem. They all drive so well, I’m sure I can learn something from them!”
Porsche Club Motorsport Boxster Cup
Race One: 1 Ethan Hall (Boxster S) 11 Laps; 2 Luca Masarati (Boxster S); 3 Brendan Haffner (Boxster S); 4 Brooklyn Howell (Boxster S). Fastest Lap: Hall 2m26.616s (89.87mph).
Race Two: 1 Hall 8 Laps; 2 Masarati; 3 Haffner. Fastest Lap: Hall 2m26.733s (89.80mph).
Results here
Race 1 on YouTube here
Race 2 on YouTube here