The 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup of Great Britain has perhaps thus far, been the least well acknowledged among a packed TOCA support package. Yet consistently throughout the year, the new generation Type 991 GT3 Cup has provided scintillating racing and an equally as intense championship battle. Silverstone in Northamptonshire was the latest stop for the series last weekend and here is your complete guide to every aspect of an event filled with drama…
Meadows’ Miracle
Momentum. A word used a lot in Motorsport and both literally and metaphorically critical. In the Carrera Cup of Great Britain, it has swung one of two ways throughout this year. Over the first three rounds but for a blip in race two at Donington Park, it stuck to Michael Meadows (Samsung UHD TV Racing). Then at Le Mans, the Porsche Scholarship driver and GT new boy Josh Webster (Redline Racing) beat the reigning double champion in a fair fight.
At Croft and Snetterton, momentum remained with Webster. Disaster in qualifying in Yorkshire forced Meadows to sit out the first race with a damaged car. He was then beaten by Webster again in the second encounter. Norfolk saw perhaps Meadows most difficult weekend in the series for some time. Yes, he still stalked Webster home but where had his pace gone?
Knockhill saw him back on form, a commanding double victory. One victory at Rockingham was followed by mechanical maladies, yet Webster failed to capitalise fully and victory went to Paul Rees (In2Racing).
At Silverstone, the momentum only went one way. Meadows topped every single classification throughout the weekend. All but four points now separate him from Webster’s series lead.
Race one took place on Saturday afternoon and for the tussling duo was relatively simple. From pole position Meadows was never truly under attack yet never truly free to breathe easy. Notable was the fact that both Victor Jimenez (Redline Racing) and Rees remained as part of a leading quartet throughout the race’s duration. In spite of the lack of any manoeuvring amongst the group, the sight of a leading gaggle as it were was a particularly unconventional feature of Carrera Cup GB encounters in 2014.
Worth noting also was the appearance of 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Champion Josh Files in fifth position for Team Parker Racing. Files spent a lot of time in qualifying exploring unique approaches to the few corners on the National circuit yet his race performance was notably composed.
The Sunday encounter again featured the same leading quartet. Yet this time series leader Webster found himself bundled down to fourth in the queue from the rolling start. Whilst Meadows and Rees then appeared to enjoy a Sunday drive, Jimenez and Webster involved themselves in a Sunday boxing match. The Spaniard was attacked by his teammate as the race developed and one lap the pair tried to negotiate Luffield as one. This left Jimenez for some time in the gravel trap and Webster with what may be the most crucial third position of his career. Files found himself one place higher than Saturday in fourth position.
Thus whilst Webster has the literal advantage, one must feel Meadows has the metaphorical advantage as the series heads to Brands Hatch. Four points is a gap and one that may prove significant in a contest that looks set to be winner takes all.
Sherwood’s Success
The winner has taken it all in Pro-Am1. Justin Sherwood of Team Parker Racing became the claimant of the first of the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup of Great Britain titles, ironically on a weekend where he was bested in both races by his main rival Jordan Witt (Redline Racing).
Witt was hampered in both races by penalties. On Saturday he began the race with a five place grid drop following contact with Sherwood at Rockingham yet swiftly charged to the head of the class. On Sunday whilst he enjoyed a significant on track advantage, this was reduced to mere tenths at the conclusion of events by a track limits penalty. This joyously was one of only a few dished out amongst the TOCA classes last weekend.
Fletcher Flies
Kelvin Fletcher has not appeared often in the Carrera Cup GB in 2014. When he has though, almost inevitably there has been plenty of on track entertainment. At Silverstone the Redline Racing driver wasn’t dramatic nor especially exuberant. He was though, utterly and magnificently dominant.
Steven Liquorish (Team Parker Racing) and Peter Kyle-Henney (Parr Motorsport) were far off Fletcher in both races and far too close to each other on Saturday when they collided at Brooklands. Kyle-Henney recovered to finish some distance behind Fletcher and Liquorish finished with broken suspension. The pair would be more cautious on Sunday but still wouldn’t catch Kelvin, finishing second (Liquorish) and third (Kyle-Henney).
The Redline Racing organisation also had something to celebrate as success in every class throughout 2014 was rewarded with a much deserved Team’s Title after another tremendous weekend of Carrera Cup GB battling.
