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| Butcher, Gelzinis and Stoneman on the Podium at Snetterton. |
Lithuanian racer Jonas Gelzinis highlighted the cosmopolitan nature of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB with a double victory at Snetterton, Norfolk, at the weekend, and his success – coming on the back of a triumph in the last round at Croft - also continues the tradition of the Championship as a proving ground for young, GT racing talent. The colourful grid of powerful, 450 hp, rear-engined Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars once again put on a great show in support of the British Touring Car Championship. As a consequence of his two wins, Gelzinis now ties with reigning Champion Michael Meadows at the top of the title chase.
Round 11
Gelzinis won round 11 in a race that started in dramatic style when poleman Michael Meadows was penalised for a false start. Meadows (Reading) recovered from a drive-through penalty to finish fifth as Dean Stoneman (Southampton), Rory Butcher (Kirkcaldy) and Dan Lloyd (Huddersfield) ran close in the battle for second.
In Pro-Am1, Victor Jimenez (Spain) scored a resounding win after his team mate Dan De Zille (Jersey) was sidelined at the start with driveshaft failure.
Meadows lead from the start, but knew that he’d made a false start after his clutch dragged on the line. He was awarded a drive-through and that cost him 15 secs in total as he rejoined down in eighth. He ultimately fought back to finish fifth.
Meanwhile, Gelzinis (Lithuania) was controlling the race from the front and was able to respond when Stoneman closed the gap a little after working his way ahead of Butcher. Lloyd then spent many laps tracking Butcher, but that was how they stayed to the flag as Gelzinis took his second win of the season to pull level with Meadows on points.
Despite a spin, Jimenez always headed Pro-Am1 as Keith Webster (Hook) made a fine return to the championship to take second from George Brewster (Edinburgh). As Brewster struggled home without a front splitter after an off, Will Goff (Dereham) had an excellent race among the Pro-Am1 runners to claim Pro-Am2 spoils.
Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) first overall:
“That is an important result. I saw that Meadows was moving at the start and I was expecting he would be penalised. I always had a bit in hand, and I was watching my mirrors and controlling the pace.”
Dean Stoneman (Redline Racing) second overall:
“It’s good to be back on the podium and do the best job I can after a tough last round. I’m very pleased with that, but I was struggling a bit with understeer.”
Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) third overall:
“They were just a bit quicker than me, but it was just good to finish and get some points. Dan pushed me in the middle of the race, but I was able to pull a bit of a gap later in the race.”
Victor Jimenez (Redline Racing) first in Pro-Am1:
“I’m very happy with the result. But I had a spin during the race and I had quite a lot of oversteer.”
Keith Webster (Redline Racing) second in Pro-Am1:
“That was a good race: I really enjoyed it and I wanted to keep second. I had to pace myself and even when Victor spun I wasn’t close enough to him to take advantage.”
Will Goff (Goff Racing) first in Pro-Am2:
“That was very good. I was trying to keep with Keith Webster: that was my aim. I just made a few mistakes at the end of the race.”
Round 11 results:
Pro category: 1 Jonas Gelzinis; 2 Dean Stoneman; 2 Rory Butcher.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez; 2 Keith Webster; 3 George Brewster.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez; 2 Keith Webster; 3 George Brewster.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
Round 12
Gelzinis continued his strong form to win round 12 to remain level with Meadows at the head of the Championship standings. Gelzinis burst ahead off the start line and when Meadows flat-spotted a tyre under braking on the opening lap he had to concentrate on fending off Butcher behind, rather than attacking Gelzinis in front.
Gelzinis got the perfect start to grab the lead from Meadows and controlled the race superbly from the front. The Lithuanian duly earned the ‘Driver of the Weekend award’ and Juta Racing won the Drift ‘Team of the Weekend’ prize.
With Meadows in trouble with his tyres, he came under intense pressure from Butcher with Stoneman in hot pursuit. Butcher attacked Meadows relentlessly, but not could find a gap in his defences. With Lloyd retiring following a high-speed spin on the first lap, De Zille stormed to fifth overall and a fine Pro-Am1 victory.
Jimenez ran second in Pro-Am1 and had a mighty contest with James Birch (London) while Webster was a strong third in Pro-Am1. Goff completed a strong weekend by winning Pro-Am2 for the second time.
Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) first overall:
“It’s fantastic. That is three wins in a row, which makes me feel very positive looking forward because Snetterton was not my favourite track.”
Michael Meadows (Samsung Smart Motorsport) second overall:
“That was another dodgy start: we changed the clutch after the first race and maybe I was thinking about it too much. Then I flat-spotted a tyre into the hairpin on the first lap and it was a real struggle after that. We’ve been so fast this weekend, but a couple of little mistakes have cost us.”
Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) third overall:
“I just had to keep pushing. Michael’s pace was really down at the start. The last few laps were good fun: the team has been superb and the car has been spot on all weekend.”
Dan De Zille (Redline Racing) first in Pro-Am1:
“It’s what we knew we could do before the driveshaft failed at the start of the first race. It was good to be in control of the class: then I saw Dan Lloyd coming back, but I didn’t fight against him.”
Victor Jimenez (Redline Racing) second in Pro-Am1:
“I had a very strong fight with James Birch. It was impossible to overtake, but it was a very good fight and I got more experience.”
Keith Webster (Redline Racing) third in Pro-Am1:
“I’m really pleased with that. I had consistent pace and I could see them ahead as they tripped each other up. That was proper racing.”
Will Goff (Goff Racing) first in Pro-Am2:
“I got a better start this time and had a tussle with George Brewster. I got the jump on him at the start and then he spun at Williams bend.”
Round 12 results:
Pro category: 1 Jonas Gelzinis; 2 Michael Meadows; 3 Rory Butcher.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Dan De Zille; 2 Victor Jimenez; 3 Keith Webster.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Dan De Zille; 2 Victor Jimenez; 3 Keith Webster.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
The Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship moves to the Knockhill circuit, in Fife, Scotland, for the next two rounds on 24 – 25 August.
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