Press Release 2011
Redline Racing Champions 2011
Porsche Carerra Cup GB

 

 

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 16 October 2011
 
Tandy, Sutton and Brewster score in Carrera Cup GB
 
Nick Tandy, James Sutton and George Brewster were the big winners in the final round of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Silverstone today (Sunday 16 October). While Tandy made it three wins from four starts, Sutton clinched the overall title and Brewster claimed the Pro-Am2 crown in a superb finish to the best season so far for the Carrera Cup GB.
 
Sutton ran second behind Tandy all the way to the flag to win the title for the second time as his team mate and title rival Michael Meadows ran third before having to pit with a front puncture. Meanwhile, Brewster had to fight back from a first lap knock and subsequent puncture to win the Pro-Am2 title. In the final race of the season, Jonas Gelzinis bagged another Pro-Am1 win and Keith Webster dominated Pro-Am2.
 
Tandy (Nationwide/Motorbase) got the start he wanted to burst into the lead and when Sutton beat his SAS/Redline partner Meadows into Copse he stamped his authority on the title contest. Sutton needed to beat Meadows to claim his second Carrera Cup crown and had to withstand immense pressure over the opening laps. While Tandy consolidated his lead, Sutton soaked up the pressure and then, by lap five, started to edge clear. For Meadows, it was all going wrong and a slow front puncture eventually sent him into the pits.
 
Now, Sutton just had to hold position and had no need to try and chase the fleeing Tandy. “That was one of the best handling Porsches I’ve ever had,” said Tandy after a resounding win. “We saved a couple of new tyres for this race and I got a good gap in the first five laps.” For Sutton, the overall title was a massive achievement. “It’s not really sunk in yet,” said Sutton. “The race was very difficult and over the early laps the pressure from Michael was intense.”
 
With Meadows dropping down the order, the final podium position was a great result for Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) who drove a superb race under pressure from Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing), Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta). Jelley recovered to sixth after hitting the rear of Meadows’ car and spinning as he challenged for third in the early lap. “That’s a great way to end the season,” said 2011 Carrera Cup Scholarship winner Hetherington, who also earned the ‘driver of the weekend’ award. SAS/Redline earned the ‘team of the weekend’ award.
 
Gelzinis dominated Pro-Am1 as a tremendous drive from George Richardson (Motorbase Performance) earned him second and his best result to date. “It’s really good to end the season on a high,” said Richardson, who had to race hard to fend off the challenge of Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline).
 
In Pro-Am2 it all started badly for Brewster (Celtic Speed) when he was tipped into a first lap spin by Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport). With a rear puncture as a result, Brewster had to limp slowly back to the pits as title rival Webster (Redline Racing) took a commanding lead. While Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) and Denny completed the podium, Brewster rejoined a lap down and battled back to fourth and scored enough points to settle the Pro-Am2 crown.  “That was very difficult but we got through,” said a relieved Brewster. Webster, meanwhile, had given his all to try and win Pro-Am2. “That was the best drive I’ve ever had,” said Webster.
 
October 16th 2011
 
For more information, contact Paul Lawrence, Porsche Carrera Cup GB media co-ordinator, tel 01952 510382 (e-mail: paul@tfmpr.com).

 
 

 

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 16 October 2011
 
Tandy takes Carrera Cup GB victory at Silverstone
 
Nick Tandy clinched victory in the penultimate round of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Silverstone today (Sunday 16 October). While Tandy won from the front, James Sutton dived ahead of his team mate Michael Meadows to leave Meadows with a single point lead in the championship going into the final race later this afternoon.
 
However, there was disaster for title contender Stephen Jelley who went out with a damaged radiator, which leaves him with only a very slim chance of taking the title. Jonas Gelzinis won Pro-Am1 while George Brewster won an action-packed Pro-Am2 category to move closer to the title after rival Keith Webster spun on fluid when holding a clear lead. Finally, SAS/Redline claimed the teams’ championship.
 
The first 200 metres of the race was critical to the title contest as Sutton jumped ahead of SAS/Redline team mate Meadows to take second behind Tandy (Nationwide/Motorbase). “I just got a fairly good start,” said Sutton. Meadows knew it was the pivotal moment of the race. “He got me off the line; there was rubbish on my side of the track and I didn’t get the start I needed,” said Meadows.
 
While Tandy set about consolidating his lead, Jelley (Parker with Juta) was scything up the order from seventh on the grid and dived through to fourth after just three laps. But Jelley struggled to close the gap to Meadows and that was how they ran until lap 19 when Tandy caught a backmarker under a yellow flag at Brooklands. He had to back off and not overtake and in an instant his lead evaporated. Sutton, Meadows and Jelley all closed right in and as they braked for Becketts, Jelley clipped the back of Meadows’ car and punctured a front radiator. Jelley limped back to the pits to retire, but dropped coolant at Brooklands in the process. “There was already coolant down and I sailed into the back of Michael,” said Jelley.
 
Tandy quickly re-established his leading margin to secure victory as Sutton chased and Meadows recovered to take third, finishing under pressure from Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta). “Over the last half of the race the line was changing every lap due to the fluid,” said Tandy. “After the start it was a case of managing the gap,” said Sutton after a very important result for his championship bid.
 
Gelzinis was always clear in Pro-Am1 as Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) ran a strong race to take a clear second and move closer to the championship runner-up position. “It was very challenging with the dropped fluid, but I had a good rhythm,” said Butcher. Delighted to complete the Pro-Am1 podium was George Richardson (Motorbase Performance) despite a pursuit from Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) and Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker).
 
There was a dramatic race in Pro-Am2 as Webster (Redline Racing) set a cracking pace from the start and looked set for a commanding win. Meanwhile Brewster (Celtic Speed) made a poor start and dropped to fourth in class behind Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing) and Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance). As Brewster set about fighting up the order, Webster controlled the pace until the fluid from Jelley’s car went down at Brooklands.
 
“There was fluid everywhere and a car parked in the middle of the road,” said Webster after spinning and losing a lot of time. “I was pacing myself but it just wasn’t meant to be.” Instead, Brewster battled through to win after surviving an attack by Ozbek at Becketts on the dropped fluid. “I saw the fluid down and Yucel didn’t. I had to abort the corner to give him room,” said Brewster. “I couldn’t have caught Keith,” he added as Parish got ahead of Ozbek to take third.
 
October 16th 2011

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 2 October 2011
 
Jelley wins Carrera Cup GB round 17 at Brands Hatch
 
Stephen Jelley swept to victory in round 17 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch today (Sunday 2 October) to set up an incredibly close championship showdown with Michael Meadows and James Sutton over the final two races at Silverstone later this month.
 
From the start of the race, Nick Tandy (Nationwide/Motorbase) went clear, but a rear puncture ended his race after six laps and it was Jelley (Parker with Juta) who moved ahead to take a very important victory as Meadows (SAS/Redline) and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) completed the overall podium. When Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) went out with a puncture, Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) took Pro-Am1 victory and the ‘driver of the weekend’ award. Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport) drove a fine race to win Pro-Am2, while Celtic Speed clinched four podium finishes to earn the ‘team of the weekend’ award.
 
Tandy had everything under control at the head of the race until he plunged through Paddock Hill Bend for the seventh time. “As soon as I hit the compression at the bottom of the hill, just as I’ve done all weekend, the tyre went down,” said Tandy. “We think it might be a cut from a stone; it’s a disappointing end to a superb weekend.”
 
Jelley took over the lead and ran smoothly to the finish, but there was nearly disaster as he had a rear tyre go flat as the car stood in parc ferme after the race. “Someone was on my side today,” said Jelley who had battled hard to take second from Meadows at Surtees on the third lap. “It got a bit racy in the first couple of laps,” reported Jelley.
 
Meadows had to spend the whole race defending second from Hankey and there was only a third of a second between them at the flag. “I didn’t seem to have the pace at the start and that was when Jelley made the move,” said Meadows. Hankey was pleased to be back on the podium as they stretched away from the battle between Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) and Sutton (SAS/Redline). It was a strong run from Tordoff to fend off title contender Sutton as Kieran Vernon (Nationwide/Motorbase) chased them home to round out the top six.
 
Gelzinis ran fifth overall in the early laps but was another to fall foul of a rear puncture and pulled off to retire, leaving Al Harthy to head the class under pressure from Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed). Over the first half of the race Butcher attacked Al Harthy but little by little Al Harthy edged clear for an impressive victory. “It was so important to get this win; it’s exactly what I needed,” said Al Harthy. Alex Martin (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) was heading for third in Pro-Am1 after a fighting drive, but another puncture put him out on the penultimate lap and so George Richardson (Motorbase Performance) wrapped up the Pro-Am1 podium.
 
Denny was mighty in Pro-Am2 and won from the front as Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing) fended off George Brewster (Celtic Speed) for second. “I had a good start and just drove as many qualifying laps as I could, and tried not to make any mistakes,” said Denny. “The team has worked so hard for this.” Ozbek had to race hard to hold off Brewster for second, while Keith Webster (Redline Racing) got ahead of Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) for fourth after a long battle.
 
October 2nd 2011

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 1 October 2011
 
Tandy takes Carrera Cup GB victory at Brands Hatch
 
Nick Tandy raced to victory in round 16 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch today (Saturday 1 October) as James Sutton lead a determined chase in second place. With fellow title contenders Stephen Jelley and Michael Meadows finishing third and fourth, the championship battle remains finely balanced.
 
However, the Pro-Am1 title is now secure in the hands of Jonas Gelzinis who won the category with sixth place overall. In Pro-Am2, title contenders George Brewster and Keith Webster finished first and second in a race that was full of drama and incident.
 
Tandy (Nationwide/Motorbase) got the start he wanted to head the field into Paddock Hill Bend and immediately set about building his lead as Sutton (SAS/Redline) slotted into second from Jelley (Parker with Juta) and Gelzinis (Juta Racing). At Surtees further round the first lap Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) suffered a broken radiator after a tangle in the pack and left coolant on the track.
 
Next time around, the leaders avoided the slippery section of track, but Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) slid wide and lost time and further back Pro-Am2 poleman Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport) dropped to the back of the pack with a spin. Up front, Tandy established his leading margin at up to two seconds as Sutton concentrated on fending off Jelley. Gelzinis was next to run wide at Surtees and lost a lot of ground slithering across the grass. He managed to rejoin just ahead of his Pro-Am1 rivals Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline), Butcher and Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker).
 
“Over the first few laps I pushed to get a gap,” said Tandy, who was never more than two and a half seconds clear of Sutton. “Then I eased off to protect the tyres and stay off the kerbs. We were all pushing hard,” added Tandy after taking a nicely measured victory. Sutton knew that chasing Tandy to the flag was a good result for his title ambitions and he was able to fend off Jelley. “Nick is doing an extraordinarily good job; I thought I might be able to give him a race in the second half,” said Sutton. “James put up with the pressure very well,” added Jelley after taking the final podium place.
 
Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) had run right behind Jelley for many laps before sliding off into the gravel at Druids and so Meadows (SAS/Redline) moved through to fourth with Kieran Vernon (Nationwide/Motorbase) and the recovering Gelzinis close behind. Out of this battle with a rear puncture went Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) as Al Harthy and Butcher battled for second in Pro-Am1. Pierce was another to go out with a puncture.
 
The action was just as busy in Pro-Am2 as Brewster went ahead in the early stages. However, Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) and Webster (Redline Racing) chased hard and battled at just about every corner. Just as the three cars got very close together, Parish spun at Surtees and Webster was delayed, which allowed Brewster to rebuild his leading margin. Webster never stopped chasing on his way to second while Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing) took third despite a spin at Paddock Hill Bend.
 
“That’s job done,” said Brewster. “I got a decent start and managed to avoid the melees. Thankfully we got it to the end.” Webster, meanwhile, lost his chance of challenging Brewster when Parish spun out of the race. “I had to back off big time when Steve spun,” confirmed Webster.
 
October 1st 2011

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 4 September 2011
 
Meadows wins Carrera Cup GB round 12 at Knockhill
 
Michael Meadows took a resounding victory in round 12 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill today (Sunday 4 September) and moved into a narrow championship lead as he fended off Euan Hankey and James Sutton.
     
In an action-packed race, it was a good day for the Scottish drivers as Derek Pierce took his first Pro-Am1 victory and George Brewster topped Pro-Am2.
 
Meadows (SAS/Redline) converted his pole position into a first corner lead, but it nearly went wrong just behind him as team mate Sutton made contact with Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) and Sutton caught a big moment to slot into third behind Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta). However, the knock upset the geometry on Barker’s car and he eventually retired to the pits.
 
Up front, Meadows assumed control as Hankey tracked him and Sutton settled into third ahead of Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline). Once Barker headed for the pits, Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) moved into fifth from Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing). But Gelzinis then spun at the Hairpin after a nudge and as he tried to rejoin he clipped the car of Yucel Ozbek (Redline Racing). With damage to his rear wing, Ozbek spun into the gravel at Duffus Dip and prompted a safety car while his car removed.
 
The leading pack duly bunched up behind the safety car, but from the re-start Meadows again took control with Hankey and Sutton tucked in behind and Hetherington having his best race to date in a strong fourth. That was how the order remained, but in the closing laps the major issue was Sutton’s pressure on Hankey as Meadows edged clear by around a second. “It was good to have a relatively clean race,” said race winner Meadows. “Apart from the safety car there wasn’t too much trouble.”
 
Hankey was pleased to be back on the podium and reckoned that he always had things under control as Sutton ran close over the closing laps. But Hankey could not take the fight to Meadows. “Michael drove very, very well; he didn’t put a wheel wrong,” said Hankey. Sutton considered a big attack on Hankey, but was conscious of the need to score strong points for his own title bid. “The car felt really manageable and consistent,” said Sutton. Hetherington was a fine fourth and Sam Tordoff (Parker with Juta) worked ahead of Jelley for a strong fifth. “The first quarter of the race was okay, then the handling just fell off a log,” said Jelley, who was just hanging on to sixth at the finish.
 
The contest for Pro-Am1 had many twists and once Gelzinis had spun it was Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) who battled ahead of Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) to lead the class. Pierce then went clear, but a stirring drive from George Richardson (Motorbase Performance) took him through to second and he was chasing Pierce over the closing laps.
 
“That was really, really hard,” said Pierce. “The car was very good but I worked the tyres hard when Kieran Vernon and Richard Plant from the Pro category caught me.” Richardson was elated with his best result of the season. “Fantastic; I’m really chuffed,” said Richardson as Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) fended off the recovering Gelzinis for third place.
 
Brewster was always the class of Pro-Am2, but had to survive a knock from the car of Daniele Perfetti (Motorbase Performance) at Duffus Dip that tipped Brewster’s car into a spin. “I managed to get back to the tarmac as I spun and I was lucky not to get a puncture, but I lost the front splitter,” said Brewster. Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport) also survived a spin to fight back and take second, while Tommy Dreelan (Celtic Speed) made it a great race for the home team by taking the final podium place.
 
September 4th 2011

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 1 August 2011
 
Snetterton next for Porsche Carrera Cup GB
 
Three drivers covered by 11 points and with 10 races to run; the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB is wide open as the second half of the season kicks off at Snetterton over the weekend of 6/7 August.
 
The biggest grid of the season will line up for two races on the new Snetterton 300 circuit and with a field of 26 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars in the field, the pair of Carrera Cup races will be real thrillers.
 
It has been six weeks since the ninth round of the Carrera Cup GB, an incredible race within the Porsche Carrera World Cup on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Now, it’s back to more familiar surroundings for the start of a 10-race burst over the next two and a half months.
 
Coming to the newly re-developed Snetterton, James Sutton (SAS/Redline) has the title lead despite a torrid time in Germany when he slid off on the opening lap of the race in treacherous conditions. Second place among the British contingent at the Nurburgring for Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) gave him the chance to close down Sutton’s lead and the margin is now just seven points. The weekend offers 44 points, so it is very close. But then Michael Meadows (SAS/Redline) is only four points down on Jelley and is ready to win again is what is proving to be a cracking season for Meadows.
 
Of course, it is premature to see this as a three-horse race and, despite a massive accident at the Nurburgring, Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) is still well in contention. Meanwhile, rising stars like Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) are all chasing a place on the podium. Local ace Michael Caine (Nationwide/Motorbase) is ready to win again after a trying start to the season. His season turned a real corner at Oulton Park when he challenged Sutton, Jelley and Meadows and there is nowhere better for the Newmarket racer to score his first win of 2011 than here at his home track. Joining Caine in the Motorbase squad is series newcomer Kieran Vernon.
 
New on the grid this weekend will be reigning Australian Formula 3 champion Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport). The 20-year old, originally from Cambridge, is racing in the Australian Carrera Cup this season and is taking advantage of a gap in the Australian calendar to sample the Carrera Cup GB.
 
In Pro-Am1, Lithuanian racer Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) has a handy lead over Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline). Al Harthy has gone well in recent testing at Snetterton, while Butcher was awesome on a wet track at Oulton Park and the Nurburgring. However, with a 34-point lead, Gelzinis will be very hard to catch. Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker team mates Derek Pierce and Alex Martin both had great races in Germany and will be keen to carry that form forward to Snetterton. New in Pro-Am1 this weekend will be Freddy Nordstrom with GT Marques.
 
The Pro-Am2 contest is wide open as Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) has a small margin over George Brewster (Celtic Speed), Keith Webster (Redline Racing) and Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport). Only 16 points cover the top four right now, so it is all to play for and Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) is also likely to be right in thick of another pair of entertaining Pro-Am2 battles.
 
After qualifying at 15.00 on Saturday, round ten will start at 09.00 on Sunday, with round eleven at 15.25. Round eleven will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme, which starts at 11.00 on Sunday.
 
August 1st 2011
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 11 July 2011
 
Sutton chases top 10 finish in Silverstone Supercup race
 
James Sutton was the top finisher of the seven drivers from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB to contest the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup race supporting the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday (10 July).
 
Team SAS/Redline racers Sutton and Michael Meadows used their previous experience of the race to finish 11th and 13th in the 26-strong field, with Sutton racing with former Supercup champion Patrick Huisman and 2011 title contender Sean Edwards in a bid for a place in the top 10. Meadows, meanwhile, was one of the stars of the race as he battled back to 13th after being boxed in at the start.
 
The other drivers from the Carrera Cup GB all enjoyed an incredible experience, with Sam Tordoff finishing 15th and Ben Hetherington 16th. Ahmad Al Harthy was unfortunately sidelined by a mechanical problem on the opening lap, while Carrera Cup Pro-Am2 racers Keith Webster and Andrew Shelley finished 23rd and 24th.
 
The weekend started in challenging style for the Carrera Cup racers when free practice on Friday ran in very wet conditions. “That put us on the back foot,” said SAS/Redline team boss Simon Leonard. “Qualifying was more like testing as the drivers got used to the Formula 1 rubber on the track.” Despite the challenge, Sutton qualified an excellent ninth, just seven-tenths of a second away from the pole position time for the two-minute lap around the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Meadows was only a tenth of a second slower in 11th place as the SAS cars sandwiched Edwards.
 
Unfortunately, Sutton and Meadows didn’t get good starts and Meadows in particular lost out as he got boxed in on the run to the first corner. While Sutton shadowed Huisman and Edwards, Meadows battled back up to 13th after passing four cars during the race. “Michael had a fantastic race,” said Leonard. “Both the SAS boys did well; they were in with the best in the world.”
 
In such tough company, both Tordoff and Hetherington drove excellent races on their first experience of the Porsche Supercup, finishing ahead of established Supercup racers Alessandro Zampedri and Mathias Lauda. Having started 20th on the grid, Tordoff drove very well to work through to 15th in a race largely devoid of retirements.
 
The drivers will now return to the domestic championship for the start of the second half of the Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton over the weekend of 6/7 August.
 
July 11th 2011
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 20 June 2011
 
Nurburgring adventure for Porsche Carrera Cup GB
 
The biggest challenge in the history of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB awaits the drivers as the series heads to the Nurburgring Nordschleife for round nine of the championship during the Porsche Carrera World Cup (Saturday 25 June).
 
This record-breaking race will present Carrera Cup GB racers with the chance to tackle the track that is widely-regarded as the finest and most daunting in the world, with 88 corners packed into 14 miles of twisting track in the Eifel Mountains in Germany. To race on the Nordschleife is the dream of many drivers and the Carrera Cup racers will tackle a six-lap, 85-mile race on Saturday in the build up to the annual Nurburgring 24-hour race.
 
The Nordschleife is a track that rewards experience and from the Carrera Cup GB ranks it is Tim Harvey (Nationwide/Motorbase) who stands out as having the greatest knowledge of this remarkable race track. That level of prior track knowledge marks Harvey as a pre-race favourite, but over recent weeks the leading title contenders have all been gaining experience of the Nordschleife and a final round of familiaristion training is taking place this week.
 
Heading to Germany with a handy points’ lead is James Sutton (SAS/Redline), who has a 20-point margin over team mate Michael Meadows. However, it is far too early for Sutton to be thinking about a second Carrera Cup title and his aim for the Nurburgring is another strong points’ finish. Meadows, meanwhile, is having his best season to date and knows that he cannot afford to let Sutton add to his lead as the series heads into a seven-week mid-season break.
 
Two drivers from the Parker with Juta team are taking the fight to the SAS duo and both Stephen Jelley and Euan Hankey are determined to use the wild card of this race on the Nordschleife to peg back the points’ gap. The experience of the track acquired by Stuart Parker and his team over the last decade could prove crucial in Saturday’s race. Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) and Team Parker Racing’s Sam Tordoff and Richard Plant are new to the track as well, but are all capable of claiming a podium place.
 
In Pro-Am1, Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) is setting the pace and that is likely to continue in Germany, where he may well be right up among the pro drivers. Chasing Gelzinis are Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Butcher heads to Germany on the back of a stunning performance last time out in changing weather conditions at Oulton Park.
 
With Pro-Am2 leader Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) missing the race due to family commitments, it is George Brewster (Celtic Speed) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) who are poised to take over the Pro-Am2 lead. Other Pro-Am2 podium contenders are Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport) and Tommy Dreelan (Celtic Speed).
 
After qualifying at 15.25 on Friday, the Porsche Carrera World Cup will start at 11.20 on Saturday. Eurosport will carry a live TV broadcast of the race in a programme starting at 10.45 (local time).
 
June 20th 2011

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 5 June 2011
 
Jelley clinches victory in Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park
 
Stephen Jelley mastered tricky conditions to win round eight of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park today (Sunday 5 June) in a race that was full of action and drama on a track that was wet and slippery.
 
While Jelley dived ahead from the start to head Michael Meadows and James Sutton into the race, Rory Butcher delivered the drive of the weekend to win Pro-Am1 while Keith Webster raced hard to win Pro-Am2.
 
Jelley (Parker with Juta) did the hard work off the line as he powered ahead of Meadows (SAS/Redline) on the wet track. It was the decisive moment in the race for the lead. “The initial start was good, but then I had to scare myself on the brakes into the first corner,” said Jelley. He immediately pulled clear as Meadows had his team mate Sutton right on his tail. Meanwhile, once he had worked ahead of Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta), Michael Caine (Nationwide/Motorbase) ran a strong fourth and chased after the SAS cars.
 
That was how it stayed at the front, with Jelley gradually building his lead as Meadows ran second with Sutton and Caine right on his tail. Caine constantly looked for a way to get ahead of Sutton and they were side-by-side several times, but with such evenly-matched cars, the places did not change. Over the closing laps, the charging Butcher (Celtic Speed) flew up to Caine’s tail after a stirring drive up the order from ninth on the grid.
 
“I was trying not to hit my team mate and keep Michael Caine behind,” said Sutton of his knife-edge position. “It was a massive juggling act, but Rory Butcher helped me later by attacking Caine.” But the big winner was Jelley after a faultless drive. “I saw the gap and tried to be careful,” said Jelley who used the damp patches of the circuit to try and keep his tyres cool. “I wasn’t sure how the tyres would work because we’ve had no experience of them in the wet this season.”
 
Caine was pleased to be in the battle for the podium with his best race of the season to date. “Motorbase gave me a car that could win today,” he said of his first run in the new 911GT3 Cup on a wet track. However, the big star of the race was Butcher who scythed up the order to take fifth overall, first in Pro-Am1 and the ‘driver of the weekend’ award. “I took five laps to get into it and then built up the speed; that’s my best performance of the year,” said an elated Butcher.
 
Hankey clinched sixth as Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) worked ahead of Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) who took second in Pro-Am1. However, by the finish, Al Harthy was under pressure from George Richardson (Motorbase Performance), who drove a fine race in tough conditions to take ninth overall and the final Pro-Am1 podium. Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) completed the top 10, but was under pressure from Kieran Vernon (Nationwide/Motorbase) at the flag.
 
In a topsy-turvy Pro-Am2 contest, Webster (Redline Racing) recovered from a grassy moment and clash with George Brewster (Celtic Speed) at Cascades on lap one to win. “That was the hardest race I’ve ever had,” said Webster, as Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance), Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) and Brewster all had moments.  By the final lap, Parish was right back on Webster’s tail, with Brewster recovering to third.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
June 5th 2011
 
For more information, contact Paul Lawrence, Porsche Carrera Cup GB media co-ordinator, tel 01952 510382 (e-mail: paul@tfmpr.com).

Media release: 1st May 2011
 
Sutton takes Carrera Cup GB double at Thruxton

 

James Sutton completed a perfect weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Thruxton today (Sunday 1 May) when he won round six to take a 19-point lead into the five-week spring break in the calendar.

In another action-packed race, Jonas Gelzinis completed a double win in Pro-Am1, while George Brewster won Pro-Am2 with a commanding drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sutton (SAS/Redline) again converted pole position into a first lap lead despite pressure from Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta). In the early laps, this pair eased away from the chasing pack as Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) slotted into third from Gelzinis (Juta Racing), Tim Harvey (Nationwide/Motorbase) and Michael Meadows (SAS/Redline).

 

Over the first half of the race Hankey tracked Sutton, but as the race moved into the later stages, Hankey knew he was in tyre trouble. “The rear tyres just went away,” he said of the punishing Thruxton track surface. “Then I had a big moment with a backmarker at Goodwood and lost two seconds in one lap.” Instead of chasing Sutton, Hankey now had to focus his attention on Jelley, who was closing in.

 

Meanwhile, Sutton reeled off the remaining laps to complete a double win and extend his early points’ lead. “Over the course of the weekend I was really starting to find the limit of the car,” he said of the latest 450bhp 911GT3 Cup. “I’m very, very pleased with the weekend.”

 

The battle for second was a real highlight as Hankey and Jelley went wheel-to-wheel in a sporting contest. It was finally resolved in Jelley’s favour at the chicane with a lap to run. “Euan covered the inside so there was only one place to go,” said Jelley after diving to the outside under braking. Hankey left his braking very late, but had to leap his car over the chicane kerbs as Jelley grabbed the place.  “The car was really consistent all the way through,” said Jelley, which contrasted with his team mate’s experience. “It was really strong at the start but later I had massive oversteer. I salvaged something!”

 

Meadows battled ahead of Harvey and Gelzinis to take a strong fourth, while Gelzinis was pleased to secure another Pro-Am1 victory in fifth place ahead of Harvey and Michael Caine (Nationwide/Motorbase).

In the early laps, Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) chased Harvey with good pace, but a spin into the chicane dropped him behind the battling pack of Team Parker Racing’s Richard Plant and Sam Tordoff and Ben Hetherington (Redline/Oman Air). Butcher still recovered to take second in Pro-Am1 and complete an excellent weekend at the challenging Hampshire track. “I’ve made a big step forward with the car this weekend,” said Butcher. Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) wrapped up the Pro-Am2 podium.

 

Brewster (Celtic Speed) always controlled Pro-Am2, with Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) and Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) delayed in a first corner tangle. While Brewster led from the front, Keith Webster (Redline Racing) ran second from Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport). That was how it finished, but Denny had to contend with a strong challenge from the recovering Shelley over the closing stages.

 

Media release: 18 April 2011
 
Carrera Cup GB Scholars shine at Donington Park
 
Current and former Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship drivers had a fabulous weekend at Donington Park (16/17 April) in rounds three and four of the championship. Race wins for Euan Hankey and Michael Meadows and a fifth place for Ben Hetherington underlined the value of the Scholarship in bringing new young talent into the championship.
 
For 2010 Scholarship racer Hankey, victory in round three backed up his win in the opening race of the season at Brands Hatch to mark him as a major title contender. The Taunton racer now lies third overall in the championship points heading for rounds five and six at his home track of Thruxton.
 
Meanwhile Meadows, who was also a 2010 Scholarship winner, had the best weekend to date of his Carrera Cup career to score his first win in the championship during round four. The Banbury driver now lies second in the overall points’ standings, just four points behind his team mate James Sutton.

 

 



















Then, 2011 Scholarship winner Hetherington (Hulme Walfield, Cheshire) took his best result so far with fifth overall in only his third Carrera Cup race. Hetherington bounced back from the illness that hindered his opening weekend at Brands Hatch to show that he will soon as challenging for the podium as his Carrera Cup experience grows. “I had a really good race and I’m very happy with that result,” said 19 year-old Hetherington after a strong performance.
 
“This has been an excellent weekend for Scholarship drivers,” said championship manager Marion Barnaby. “Race wins for Euan and Michael and a very good result for Ben underline the value of the Carrera Cup Scholarship programme.”

Media release: 11 April 2011
 
Porsche Carrera Cup GB heads for Donington Park
 
The 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB resumes at Donington Park this weekend (16/17 April) for rounds three and four of the 19-race season. With a superb field of 24 of the new 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars on the grid, there will be plenty of superb race action at the popular East Midlands track, with a host of strong contenders across all three categories.
 
The driver heading to Donington with the early lead in the points’ table is Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) and this is very much home ground for the Anstey-based racer who took a win and a second at Brands Hatch to take a four-point championship lead.
 
“That’s a great start to the season,” said Jelley. “Coming into my home races of the season at Donington leading the points is mega. I’ve probably done more races at Donington than any other circuit and I know it very well. It’s always been a good track for me in terms of pace, but with a home track there is always added pressure.”
 
The biggest rival to Jelley at Brands Hatch was his team mate Euan Hankey, who also pulled together a very late deal to contest a second season in the Carrera Cup GB. Hankey became the first Carrera Cup Scholarship driver to win a race with victory in the season opener at Brands and should be a major contender at Donington Park.
 
Ranged against Jelley and Hankey are more than half a dozen drivers in the pro category and all of them have very serious race winning intent. James Sutton and Michael Meadows (SAS/Redline) were consistently strong at Brands Hatch to offer the biggest challenge to Jelley and Hankey and it is Sutton who currently lies just four points behind Jelley at the head of the table. Meanwhile, youngsters Sam Tordoff (Leeds) and Richard Plant (Sheffield) made impressive debuts for Team Parker Racing and will be on their home track at Donington.
 
For Nationwide/Motorbase duo Michael Caine and Tim Harvey, Brands was a difficult weekend and they will be battling to come back strong at Donington, while 2011 Carrera Cup Scholarship racer Ben Hetherington (Redline/Oman Air) will be aiming to move up the order having raced at Brands when less than 100% fit after being hit by tonsillitis.
 
In the Pro-Am1 category, Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) emerged from Brands Hatch with an early points’ lead but he faces some tough challenges. Notably, round one winner Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed), Derek Pierce (Dextra/J&D Pierce by Parker) and Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) are all strong contenders.
 
For Pro-Am2 pacesetter George Brewster (Celtic Speed) it was a great start to the season with a double win at Brands. But Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing), Tautvydas Barstys (Juta Racing) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) all had strong starts to their campaigns.
 
After qualifying at 14.15 on Saturday, round three will start at 09.20 on Sunday with round four at 15.05. Round four will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme, with highlights from round three possibly being broadcast during the lunch break, which starts at 12.45 on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 11th 2011
 
For more information, contact Paul Lawrence, Porsche Carrera Cup GB media co-ordinator, tel 01952 510382 (e-mail: paul@tfmmedia.com). 

Porsche Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 25 March 2011
 
Porsche Carrera Cup GB set for fabulous start
 
The 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB will burst into life at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 2/3 April with the first two races of the 19-race schedule. The signs are that the 2011 season is going to be the best yet, with a fleet of new 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars and a host of strong contenders across all three categories.
 
Proudly carrying number one on his car as reigning champion is Tim Harvey (Team Nationwide/Motorbase) and the Oxford-based racer knows that he faces a massive challenge in his bid for a third Carrera Cup title. Harvey has his key rival from 2010, Michael Caine, as his team mate, and has at least five more drivers all aiming to win races.
 
As well as a gaggle of new young challengers, Harvey and Caine have a new model car to get to grips with and Harvey is already buzzing about the latest 911 GT3 Cup. “The car is a big step forward over the previous car,” said Harvey. “The pleasure in driving is up another notch this year and the new car feels quick, even on old tyres. These cars are seriously quick.”
 
Caine joins Harvey in the Nationwide/Motorbase line-up and is determined to go one better than his championship runner-up slot of 2010. Both drivers know that winning titles is all about consistency across the 19-race season and will be eager to scoop two major points’ scores when the season opens with two races on the tight Indy circuit at the Kent venue.
 
Pre-season testing has shown just how big a challenge Harvey and Caine face and in the major group test it was SAS/Red Line duo of James Sutton and Michael Meadows setting the pace. Sutton, the 2007 champion, is back for another shot at the title, while Meadows looks strong as he capitalises on the experience from his debut Carrera Cup season last year.
 
Over at Team Parker Racing, two exciting championship newcomers showed sparkling form in testing and both Sam Tordoff and Richard Plant will go to Brands aiming for at least a place on the podium. Joining them as another exciting newcomer is Carrera Cup Scholar Ben Hetherington, who races alongside Sutton and Meadows at Red Line Racing.
 
While much of the focus will be on the Pro drivers, the battles in Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2 will be every bit as competitive as the overall contest. In Pro-Am1, it was Red Line Racing’s Ahmad Al Harthy on top during the Snetterton test day and that was a significant confidence boost for the Omani racer. However, Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and young Scot Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) were close behind and it is Gelzinis who is expected to be the Pro-Am1 benchmark given his prodigious pace during 2010.
 
In Pro-Am2, George Brewster set down an early marker at Snetterton by going top of the times for Celtic Speed, but was chased hard by impressive Carrera Cup newcomer Keith Webster (Red Line Racing) and Steve Parish from the Motorbase Performance team.

 

 

Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 23 March 2011
 
SAS Red Line tops Porsche Carrera Cup GB test
 
The SAS-backed Red Line Racing cars of James Sutton and Michael Meadows topped the times during the major pre-season test day for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton yesterday (Tuesday 22 March).
 
As teams and drivers mastered the new 300 circuit at the Norfolk venue, Sutton and Meadows set the pace in what is already shaping up to be the most competitive season in the championship’s history. With seven-tenths of a second covering the top six drivers on the new 3-mile track, the pacesetters were an intriguing mix of established Carrera Cup aces and exciting newcomers.
 
As drivers did new tyre runs later in the afternoon, Red Line was the last of the three big teams to send their drivers out with fresh tyres. Sutton and Meadows worked together, with Sutton running just ahead of his team mate to set the standard at 1m50.245s. With Meadows lapping 0.164s behind, it was an impressive display.
 
“We seem to be in really good shape,” said Sutton. “It was important to get a really good sense of what the car is doing and this bodes well for the opening races at Brands Hatch.” Meadows was equally pleased with the day. “It’s been close all through. James and I like a similar set-up and we found a lot of time on the new rubber.”
 
Third fastest, right on the pace of the SAS cars, was a massively impressive performance from Carrera Cup newcomer Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing). He set the overall pace for much of the afternoon session was only edged back to third by 0.382s in the final reckoning. To make it an excellent day for the Parker squad, fellow newcomer Richard Plant was sixth fastest. “That’s a good start to the year and I’m happy to be up with Tim Harvey and Michael Caine,” said Plant.
 
Having won 19 out of 20 races between them in 2010, Harvey and Caine clearly look to have a big battle on their hands this season and the Team Nationwide/Motorbase pair took fourth and fifth slots in the final testing times. “We’re pleased with the work we’ve done today, but I don’t think we got the best out of the new tyres,” said defending champion Harvey. Caine, meanwhile, lost a better lap on new tyres when his car ran low on fuel through Coram on a lap that was set to be around half a second better than his 1m50.887s best. “It cut out coming out of Coram on my second flier,” reported Caine.
 
Making it a superb day for the Red Line team was seventh fastest and top Pro-Am1 time for Ahmad Al Harthy after a very impressive run. “I’m really excited to be back,” said the Omani racer. “We’re on the pace and that’s good for confidence.” Chasing Al Harthy in Pro-Am1 were Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed), while fourth fastest in Pro-Am1 was a strong showing from Freddy Nordstrom (Parr Motorsport). Although Nordstrom is not yet confirmed in the entry list, his pace on his Carrera Cup debut was a major boost to both team and driver as they work to conclude a deal for the season.
 
Just ahead of Nordstrom in a fine tenth overall was Pro-Am2 pacesetter George Brewster (Celtic Speed). “Until last week I’d not sat in a racing car since last October, but it came right with the new tyres,” said Brewster. Leading the chase of the Scot in Pro-Am2 was championship newcomer Keith Webster (Red Line Racing). “That’s a good starting point; I was just getting to grips with the circuit,” he said as Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) completed the top three in Pro-Am2.
 
March 23rd, 2011
 
For more information, contact Paul Lawrence, Porsche Carrera Cup GB media co-ordinator, tel 01952 510382 (e-mail: paul@tfmmedia.com). 
 


 

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 11 February 2011
 
Taylor commits to Porsche Carrera Cup GB
 
Seasoned sports car racer John Taylor has signed with Team Parker Racing to contest the pro-am2 category of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
 
Taylor, a retired dentist based in Leicester, has been competing since 1988 having started in rallying. Since then he has raced in Caterhams, Radicals, a Chevron B8 and a Crossle 9S and has most recently driven a 996-model 911GT3 Cup in GT Cup. Now, he is stepping up to the Carrera Cup GB for his highest profile campaign to date in the latest model 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup.
 
"I had so much fun with the older car, I thought why not try the new one,” said Taylor, who has connections with the Parker team back to his days racing a Caterham. "It will be a steep learning curve, but I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
 
Team boss Stuart Parker is delighted to have confirmed another member of his 2011 squad. “This will be the first time we have mounted a serious campaign in pro-am2 and I’m looking forward to working with John. He’s in this for the enjoyment of his sport, but I think he’ll be a serious contender in pro-am2.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
 
Media release: 4 February 2011
 
Team SAS International plans Porsche Carrera Cup GB title bid
 
Team SAS will team up with James Sutton, Michael Meadows and Red Line Racing to mount an all-out challenge for the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
 
The two-car team will race under the Team SAS with Red Line Racing banner and is aiming at both the drivers’ and teams’ titles in what promises to be the most competitive season in the history of the Carrera Cup GB. Team SAS is sponsored by SAS International Ltd and Eddie Mcelhinney. SAS is a world leader in the design and manufacture of construction interiors products.
 
Team boss Simon Leonard says that this is a fabulous opportunity for his team. “I am delighted that SAS will be supporting Red Line Racing in our challenge for the titles this season. We’ve got a brilliant driver line-up with James and Michael, and we’re all going out there to win.”
 
Red Line Racing, based in Cleveland, has an impeccable record in the Carrera Cup GB, having been a pace-setting team across the eight-year history of the championship. The team has been in the top three of the teams’ championship in each of the eight seasons, winning the team title in 2004, 2007 and 2009. Red Line has won the drivers’ title four times, with Richard Westbrook (2004), James Sutton (2007) and Tim Harvey (2008 and 2010).
 
Now, Sutton will return to lead the team and will be partnered by Meadows, who goes into his second season of Carrera Cup GB after winning the Carrera Cup Scholarship for 2010.
 
“We’ve got two drivers capable of winning races and challenging for the title,” said Leonard. “The support of SAS will allow us to give them the very best chance of success. SAS recognises the strength of both the Carrera Cup and the Porsche brand and has made a major commitment to the championship.”