Charlie Eastwood (Redline Racing) has claimed both pole-positions for this weekend’s third and fourth rounds of Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2017 at Donington Park, but his stablemate Dan Cammish took far less than could have been expected from Saturday’s session.
With barely five minutes of qualifying completed, red flags fluttered. The cause was a clash between the championship leader Cammish and Pro-Am2 contender Rupert Martin (Team Parker Racing) approaching the Schwantz Curve. Neither driver would partake in the remainder of the session, leaving both relying on times set pre-drama. For Cammish this meant a tenth position slot on the race one grid, and a twentieth position on the race two sheet.
This left Eastwood as the man most likely and he duly delivered, sweeping to two comprehensive pole-positions. Lewis Plato was once again the strongest of JTR’s trio, showing his improved Brands Hatch form was no one circuit wonder. Two second position worthy times, the first below the one-minute-seven-second threshold, place him above more experienced team-mate Dino Zamparelli. Zamparelli edged out Redline mounted Tom Oliphant for both third positions up for grabs.
Whilst the top four has a distinct appearance of stability, behind things were far less fixed. Tom Wrigley bested Euan McKay (In2Racing and Redline Racing respectively) to claim fifth on the grid for round three, but on second best times finds himself eleventh. McKay E retains sixth on the second grid sheet.
In Pro-Am1 Peter Jennings, returning after the impressive performance of team-owner Greg Caton at Brands Hatch, led the initial running but ultimately a Team Parker Racing strategy ploy placed Alex Martin on the right tyres at the right time to claim a class double. Jennings (G-Cat Racing) a double second and Justin Sherwood (Parker) one step away on both grids.
A newly liveried In2Racing mounted Peter Kyle-Henney swept all before him to claim a double Pro-Am2 pole-position and, luck withstanding, is a solid bet for converting said result into two top rostrum results. David Fairbrother (SlideSports) gave the Carrera Cup newsboys something to smile about with two class second positions, and Ian Dockerill (Asset Advantage Racing) plus Thomas Jennings (G-Cat) alternate third for races one and two respectively.
Dan Cammish emphatically in a new position this weekend at Donington Park, but one from which you can be sure he will bounce back. The question is whether Charlie Eastwood can emulate his imperious team-mate and walk away from the field, or whether Lewis Plato or Dino Zamparelli can take the fight to the Redline Racing juggernaut this weekend.
Full results from the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support meeting can be found here.
