Dan Cammish (Redline Racing) completed a Brands Hatch double on Sunday afternoon, the double-champion completing an almost perfect first round of Porsche Carrera Cup GB for 2017.
Cammish was able to pull a slightly greater margin in the opening laps of race two, and was aided as a revitalised Dino Zamparelli (JTR) was able to mount a challenge on the second Redline entry of Charlie Eastwood.
As Zamparelli contemplated a few cautious looks at the inside line into Paddock, Eastwood’s subtle defensive technique ensured Cammish could pull clear. However, as the race progressed Eastwood was able to re-attach himself to the bumper of Cammish’s Nationwide backed machine. Ultimately the top three were covered by a second after thirty-four intensely pressurised laps, with Zamparelli denying Cammish a totally perfect weekend by stealing the fastest-lap. However, with points no longer awarded for the fastest in-race lap-time, Cammish still ends the weekend with a perfect tally.
Tom Oliphant added another fourth position to his weekend tally for Redline. Euan McKay once more got the better of brother Dan (Redline), both climbing closer to the top five with a sixth and a seventh respectively. Early drama was caused by an unfortunate Lewis Plato (JTR), who still appears unable to shake-off the bad luck that dogged him for most of 2016. This time a spectacular tyre failure at the exit of Paddock Hill Bend pitched Plato into a spin. Tom Wrigley (In2Racing), who believed he could have contended for a top four result, took drastic avoiding action and the trip to the gravel trap this necessitated ended his hopes of a strong result. A recovery to eleventh should be applauded.
Greg Caton completed his Pro-Am1 cameo for G-Cat Racing with another top ten, but this time was unable to claim the class victory. That honour went to the returning Alex Martin (Team Parker Racing), who finished a creditable eighth. Justin Sherwood once again rounded-out the rostrum for Team Parker.
Race one Pro-Am2 victor Ian Dockerill (Asset Advantage Racing) exited the second encounter via a spin into the Paddock Hill gravel. Having been tied together race-long, Thomas Jennings emerged the victor for G-Cat Racing, ahead of Peter Parsons (The Car Loan Centre) and Rupert Martin who rounded off a strong weekend with a podium in his Dextra backed Team Parker Racing machine.
On the surface then, little has changed after the first two races of the new Porsche Carrera Cup GB season. Dan Cammish is still in control, but the margin between him and the chasing pack is much reduced. You don’t need to do anything other than be ahead come flag-fall to be declared the victor, but doubtless a slightly larger safety margin would be much desired. The Pro-Am1 fight appears to be wide-open, and it is a shame Greg Caton will not be around for the duration of this season, handing the keys back to Peter Jennings. Peter Kyle-Henney needs to bounce back after a write-off weekend and Pro-Am2 looks set to be equally as close as the other two classes. To Donington Park in two weeks time, one thing is for certain. This really is as close as we have seen in Carrera Cup GB for a long, long time.
Full event results for the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and TOCA Support Series weekend of the year can be found via this link: http://www.tsl-timing.com/event/171303
