News 2007: Motorbase Performance Carrera Cup Report, Donington Park: 14/15 July
Four podium visits and an extended overall championship lead for Steven Kane was the tally for Motorbase Performance after rounds 11 and 12 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB title at Donington Park over the weekend (14/15 July).
While Kane finished both races right on the tail of James Sutton to push his championship lead out to 19 points, Sam Hancock and Andy Britnell both paid visits to the podium during some action-packed races.
Saturday's race ran on a dry track and Kane slotted into third off the grid, chasing Sutton and Tim Harvey. Tucked in behind Kane in the early laps was Hancock, while Britnell led the chase of Charles Bateman and Nigel Rice in the highly competitive pro-am category.
Hancock car's was carrying the colours of the Starlight Foundation, the charity that grants wishes for seriously ill children. His Porsche sported a design created by seven-year old Billy Frampton from Wolverhampton, the winner in a competition to create a livery for the car.
Up front, Kane finally dived ahead of Harvey under braking for Redgate on lap 20 and immediately started to pull away. However, with only three laps to run there was not enough time to mount an attack on race leader Sutton. "To pass Tim and get fastest lap was perfect; it's just a pity I didn't get past him a bit earlier," said Steven. Significantly, the result put Sutton into second in the points' standings ahead of Harvey.
To compound Harvey's problems, which were tyre-related, Hancock was able to catch and pass him over the closing stages to claim his second podium finish of the season. "I had to be a little bit patient, but I got past Tim into the Old Hairpin," said Sam, before dedicating his podium finish to leukaemia patient Billy Frampton.
In pro-am, the pace was fierce as Britnell chased Bateman and Rice to the flag. "That was really hard work," admitted Andy after his tenth podium finish in 12 races.
Sunday's race started on a fast-drying track after earlier heavy rain and everyone opted for slicks. For Kane, it was very much a repeat of Saturday's race as he tracked Sutton's every move. However, with the track still damp off line, it was very difficult to mount a serious challenge and Kane crossed the line under half a second behind his rival, having again set the fastest lap of the race. The result puts Kane 19 points ahead of Sutton in the championship standings, with Harvey now 42 points adrift in third.
Meanwhile, Hancock was heading for another podium finish after a fierce race-long battle with Harvey. Unfortunately, heading down to the Old Hairpin for the final time, Harvey dived for the inside and the cars touched. Both spun, and while Harvey finished his race in the gravel, Hancock limped round to the flag with a puncture to finish seventh.
Sadly, Britnell failed to finish after a brush of wheels with Colin Willmott on the exit of the chicane sent his car sliding into the barriers and out of second place in pro-am.
The team will now turn its focus to the next two races at Snetterton (Norfolk) over the weekend of 28/29 July.
Provisional 2007 driver championship points positions
After round 12, Donington Park, 15 July
Pos |
Driver | Total points |
1 |
Steven Kane | 228 |
2 |
James Sutton | 209 |
3 |
Tim Harvey | 186 |
4 |
Michael Caine | 158 |
5 |
Sam Hancock | 155 |
6 |
Nigel Rice | 118 |
7 |
Andy Britnell | 92 |
8 |
Charles Bateman | 84 |
9 |
Pete Osborne | 77 |
10 |
Rob Collard | 56 |
11 |
Colin Willmott | 50 |
12 |
Jon Barnes | 20 |
13 |
James Pickford | 16 |
14 |
Maxi Jazz | 13 |
= |
Kelvin Burt | 12 |
= |
Peter Bamford | 9 |
17 |
Gary Britnell | 9 |
18 |
Peter Morris | 9 |
19 |
David Ashburn | 5 |
20 |
Mark Stephenson | 0 |
21 |
David Epton | -2 |
| Pro-am category | ||
1 |
Nigel Rice | 118 |
2 |
Andy Britnell | 92 |
3 |
Charles Bateman | 84 |
4 |
Pete Osborne | 77 |
5 |
Colin Willmott | 50 |
6 |
Maxi Jazz | 13 |
7 |
Peter Bamford | 9 |
= |
Gary Britnell | 9 |
= |
Peter Morris | 9 |
10 |
David Ashburn | 5 |
11 |
Mark Stephenson | 0 |
Provisional 2007 team championship points positions
After round 12, Donington Park, 15 July
Pos |
Team | Total points | Scoring drivers |
1 |
Red Line Racing | 397 |
Harvey and Sutton |
2 |
Motorbase Performance | 380 |
Hancock and Kane |
3 |
Team Parker Racing | 219 |
Caine and Collard/Barnes |
4 |
Team O | 77 |
Osborne |
5 |
Willmott Racing/TWC | 59 |
Willmott and Morris |
6 |
QME Sport | 28 |
Burt |
7 |
Team RPM | 9 |
Bamford |
8 |
Trackspeed | 5 |
Ashburn |
9 |
ABG Motorsport | 0 |
Stephenson |
Note:
Only two cars per team can score points towards the team championship.
The scoring cars had to be nominated prior to the opening race of the season.
