9th September 2003

Newsletter                           www.teamgvr.com

Brands Hatch  -  6th August 2003

Michelin Porsche Club Championship - 30 minute race: Qualifying times had the first nine cars split by just 1 second around Brands Hatch's short Indy circuit. And with Class 2 and now Class 1 runners both turning up the pressure for those all important championship points, it was expected to be an exciting race. Colin Broster's 3.2 Carrera made the best start and was through Paddock Hill bend ahead of Salmon (968 CS), Rothwell (911 SC), Lambert (911 C3) & Brown (968 CS) for the run up to Druids. The action at the front remained intense with the 968's of championship leader Tony Brown and Mike Salmon really putting the pressure on Colin Broster's lead. On lap 11 there was contact at the front as the leading pack of cars squeezed through Druids. This put Broster into a spin and Salmon's car was launched over the top. The chaos took out David Rothwell who made contact with a spinning Salmon, puncturing a tyre and leaving both cars now out of the race. Tony Brown somehow managed to avoid getting caught up in the drama and took the lead with Ian White (911C), Craig Rapp (GT3), Dave Bennett (911 C) and Richard Lambert in pursuit. Unfortunately this didn't last as Browns front suspension failed 2 laps later. The lead now went to Browns team mate Ian White, who had started from 7th, and was under increasing pressure from Craig Rapp in 2nd. On lap 25 White spun and the lead changed for the final time in the 30 minute race, giving Craig Rapp his first victory of the season - made even sweeter after an incident in the Porsche Open race just a couple of hours earlier had seen Rapp's Open car damaged. The final drama for the race came from Class 2's Richard Lambert who was now running 2nd on the road ahead of Dave Bennett when he buzzed his engine going into Druids, with just one and a half laps to go. He managed to bring the car home 5th on the road and 1st in class for the much needed championship points. Dave Bennett finished 2nd, Colin Broster took a well deserved 3rd after only just completing the race with bodywork rubbing on his rear tyre, and Ian White had to settle for 4th after his spin. To view the full Porsche Club race results, click here Michelin Porsche Open Series - 30 minute race:  In Class 1 Rupert Lewin (996 GT2R) took a back to back victory following Pembrey, over Series front-runner Richard Chamberlain (935). Chamberlain lost gears going through Druids, but could fortunately complete the race with just 3rd gear, giving Lewin the chance to take the lead by almost 10 seconds and leaving Chamberlain to take 2nd and fastest lap. Nick James finished a lap ahead of David Lees, the only other Class 2 car to make it to the finish. Craig Rapp  dramatically spun out at Paddock Hill Bend. Rod Carman, who was making his debut race in the Series, in his brand new GT3 Cup car had to retire on lap 12 after some good close racing with David Lees got a bit too close. Philip Harris, who was returning to the Open Series in a 3.2 RSR after his untimely departure from the Snetterton race which has left his Class 1 car garage bound, went out on lap 17 with a mechanical problem. Class 3 promised to produce some exciting racing with seven cars in the class, including FIA GT's Mark Sumpter running in his 964 Carrera Cup car and the Porsche Club leader Tony Brown running in a 964 RS. The race started with Sumpter having qualified just under 0.2 seconds ahead of Peter Morris (964 RS). Morris made the better start and flew round the outside of Paddock Hill Bend to take the class lead, however his glory was short lived when his throttle pedal came loose. He managed to fix it on the side of the track but by this time his chance of a top 3 finish was over. Mark Sumpter stroked his car around for the remainder of the race, with David Macmillan (911 RS) and Tony Brown enjoying some good close racing behind him. Brown passed Macmillan to take 2nd place, with Macmillan enjoying the glory of fastest lap. The battle at the back was between Henry Firman (993 C2), Stephen Archer (993 RS) and Dave Bennett (911 C) who had a great scrap for the first part of the race. Unfortunately Bennett went out on lap 18 and Firman lost it on the last lap on the way through Druids.  To view the full Porsche Open race results, click here Check out the reports already sent in by drivers who were out at Brands Hatch by logging on to www.teamgvr.com - read all about their weekends' highs and lows.  DRIVERS / TEAMS:  If you haven't already sent in your post-race report, e-mail a few lines now about how your weekend went. You've read other peoples, so now share your experiences and what you thought of the action.

[submit my race report]

Picture gallery
We've now got a great range of shots in the picture gallery from the Porsche Club and Porsche Open events at Brands Hatch, along with the paddock action! If you see anything you'd like a copy of, please do contact the photographers direct (see info on links page) and they'll be happy to sort you out.
[view gallery]

And finally...  Welcome to all of our new newsletter subscribers. If you have any thoughts or comments about our web site or newsletter we would love to receive your feedback. Plus, don't forget to check out the race reports and photographs from Brands Hatch on the event calendar. We look forward to seeing many of you out for the next event at Oulton Park on October 11th.

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