News: Motorbase Performance Carrera Cup report, Knockhill: 1/2 September

It was a bittersweet weekend for the Motorbase Performance team during rounds 17 and 18 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill over the weekend (1/2 September).

While Sam Hancock took pole position and scored his debut Carrera Cup win and Andy Britnell took a mighty pro-am victory, it was a disastrous weekend for Steven Kane, who saw his championship hopes take a severe hit when he failed to finish either race.

While Hancock showed his mastery of Knockhill by taking pole with the fastest ever Carrera Cup lap of the track, qualifying ended with Kane's car hitting the tyre barrier at Carlube Corner at considerable speed. But a fabulous team effort from the Motorbase squad had the car back to immaculate in less than four hours and ready for the first race, when he started second on the grid.

The action started at the first corner as Motorbase Performance team mates Hancock and Kane ran side by side. Hancock had the inside line and Kane slid wide across the gravel. Kane's car bounced high into the air, which damaged its radiator, and he was forced to tour into the pits and retire.

The result of this was a healthy first lap lead for Hancock as Michael Caine dived through to second from Tim Harvey. Hancock was flying along and took his lead out to around six seconds and once through to second Harvey chased Hancock and brought the gap down a little. But Hancock was not to be denied his first Carrera Cup win. "I've been working towards this all year, and the team gave me a great car," said Hancock.

Britnell led pro-am from the start after making a great getaway, and lost his major rival when Nigel Rice went out with a broken driveshaft. However, up to Britnell then came Charles Bateman after battling ahead of Jeremy Metcalfe in the Porsche Motorsport entry.

Britnell was struggling at the hairpin after an inadvertent bump from Rice in the first corner confusion. That bent the exhaust tail pipe on Britnell's car. "It wouldn't pull out of the hairpin in second, I was having to go down to first gear." Bateman saw his chance and pulled off a superb move to cut inside Britnell on the exit of the hairpin and out-drag him up the hill. "Charles drove a nice clean race," said Britnell. "I knew Andy wouldn't let me go down the inside of him under braking, he's too wily for that," said Bateman.

Kane's second race was over before it started when a driveshaft broke on the green flag lap. He toured into the pits, having failed to complete a racing lap in two races. "It's terrible," said Kane of his weekend. "The championship is over for me."

Hancock again started from pole, but too much wheelspin allowed Harvey to grab the lead and this pair quickly edged clear of the pack. After 10 laps, Hancock was starting to build the pressure on Harvey when he picked up a front puncture and was forced into the pits for a wheel change. "I was really relaxed and I was biding my time. I think I had the pace to get by," said Hancock, who rejoined to finish ninth and earn the 'RAC driver of the weekend' award after his debut Carrera Cup win the previous day.

A mighty fifth place, and pro-am victory, went to Britnell after fending off a persistent challenge from Bateman. "I got a brilliant start to get ahead of Charles and the car's grip through the race was spot on," said Britnell.

For their work in rebuilding Kane's car after accident in qualifying and wins for Hancock and Britnell over the weekend, Motorbase Performance earned the 'RAC team of the weekend' award.

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