Porsche 911UK Forum

Welcome to the @Porsche911UK website. Register a free account today to become a member! Sign up is quick and easy, then you can view, participate in topics and posts across the site that covers all things Porsche.

Already registered and looking to recovery your account, select 'login in' and then the 'forget your password' option.

Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2012 Race 7 & 8 Oulton Park

Porsche News

Moderator
Joined
8 Feb 2008
Messages
7,349
Oulton Park challenge for Porsche Carrera Cup GB

# Meadows leads title race into rounds seven and eight
# Al Harthy and Mann head Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2 battles
# Cheshire track is a drivers' favourite

After a six-week spring break, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is back in action at the scenic and challenging Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire next weekend (9/10 June) with Michael Meadows heading the title race after a magnificent start to the season.

Rated by many drivers as one of their favourite tracks, Oulton Park is also incredibly popular with the fans and attracted record crowds to the BTCC weekend last season. This year should be just as popular as the 2012 action resumes and with both Carrera Cup races on Sunday afternoon, it will be an important day in the title contest for the overall, Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2 categories.

After the first six races, Meadows has taken a significant championship lead at the head of the points after scoring four wins in the 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars and his rivals know that they need to start pegging him back very soon.

Fresh from racing at Monaco in the Porsche Supercup race supporting the Grand Prix, Meadows (Redline Racing) will arrive at Oulton Park with a 29-point lead and his consistent pace over the opening races shows that he will be very tough to beat. However, with 20 points for a win, he knows it could all change in just one race.

Chasing Meadows, in a Pro category packed with fresh young talent, is Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and he has previously shown great pace at the three-dimensional Cheshire track. A debut win for the hard-charging Lithuanian racer cannot be far away.

A truly memorable victory for Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) at Thruxton catapulted the Carrera Cup Scholarship racer into third in the points and he will be expected to be right in the forefront of the action on a track he knows well, while Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) is another driver poised for a debut win. Like Meadows, Barker heads to Oulton Park fresh from racing at Monaco, but in Ben's case it was in a Classic Formula 3 car in which he took a resounding victory during the Grand Prix Historique.

Sam Tordoff and Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing), Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Glynn Geddie (Redline Racing) pack out the Pro category and all have the potential to win, so it really will be wide open and qualifying will be as vital as ever at a track where overtaking is not an easy task.

It has been a superb start to the season for Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) who has taken firm control of the Pro-Am1 category to establish a very strong 31-point lead over Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker), Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) and Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air).

Though Pierce and Mortimer shared the wins at Brands Hatch when the season opened, Al Harthy has now won four times in a row and will be aiming to tighten his grip on Pro-Am1 by extending that winning sequence in Cheshire. Adding to the depth of quality in Pro-Am1 will be Yucel Ozbek (Redline/Marque 1) and Michael Leonard (Naas Court Hotel with Parker) and either of them could be on the podium.


After qualifying at 11.45 on Saturday, round seven will start at 13.00 on Sunday, with round eight at 16.25. Both races are due to be broadcast on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme which runs from 11.30 until 16.00 and continues from 20.00 and 22.00.
 

Attachments

  • cc2012_581.jpg
    cc2012_581.jpg
    38.1 KB · Views: 18,196
Butcher heads Carrera Cup GB testing at Oulton Park

# Rory Butcher sets the pace in the rain
# Ahmad Al Harthy tops Pro-Am1
# Tautvydas Barstys sets the mark in Pro-Am2


Rory Butcher headed the time sheets for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park today (Friday 8 June) during two very wet test sessions ahead of rounds seven and eight of the championship.

The first session started with a heavy shower before the track dried a little, but drivers reported that there was more grip in full wet conditions than when the track became greasy.

The very wet afternoon session was severely curtailed after Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) slid off at Lodge. Repairs to the barrier left only five minutes of running at the end of an inconclusive session and so arrangements were made for the Carrera Cup cars to run in a further 90-minute free test session later in the afternoon.

From the two official sessions, Butcher (Celtic Speed) set the standard with a best morning lap of 1m32.782s. Like many, Butcher did his best lap when the track was fully wet and underlined his wet weather prowess in tricky conditions. 'There seemed to be less grip later in the session," confirmed the young Scot. His best lap was a fifth of a second up on Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) with Lloyd third fastest before his session-halting off in the afternoon. 'I didn't brake really late, but it hit a puddle and there was nothing I could do," said Lloyd. Damage to his car was cosmetic and the Parker squad had it repaired in time to run again in the additional session at the end of the afternoon.

Fourth fastest was championship leader Michael Meadows (Redline Racing), but he ran just nine laps in the two official sessions. In the morning, Meadows did four laps and then parked his car in the pit lane, recognising that there was little to gain and a great deal to lose in the conditions. 'That's enough: the track's getting slower now," said Meadows mid-way through the first session.

Glynn Geddie (Redline Racing) and Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) completed the top six, while Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) was eighth best overall to head the Pro-Am1 category. The Omani racer was four-tenths of a second up on his nearest Pro-Am1 rival as Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air), Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) and Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) packed in closely to suggest some more great racing in the category.

With Tania Mann (sibsport performance) absent from this event, Tautvydas Barstys (Juta Racing) and Will Goff (Goff Racing) will contest the Pro-Am2 category and with Barstys ahead by only four-tenths of a second in testing, it should be a tight battle.
 

Attachments

  • oult1_384.jpg
    oult1_384.jpg
    98 KB · Views: 18,194
Ozbek wins Michelin award in Carrera Cup GB at Thruxton

Yucel Ozbek is the fourth Porsche Carrera Cup GB racer of the season to benefit from Michelin's on-going support of the championship by winning a set of tyres this weekend at Oulton Park (9 June).

In his first full season in the Carrera Cup GB, Ozbek is a contender for the Pro-Am1 category after taking Pro-Am2 wins in a part season last year. The popular Turkish driver commutes from his home in Istanbul for each race weekend. He races for Redline Racing.

Having been the control tyre supplier for the Carrera Cup GB for ten seasons since the championship was created in 2003, Michelin is once more supporting the teams and drivers with the award of a complete set of slick racing tyres at each event. Before the start of testing, a name is drawn from a hat to receive the tyres, with a value of more than £1200.
 

Attachments

  • oult2_213.jpg
    oult2_213.jpg
    118.1 KB · Views: 18,175
Tordoff and Meadows share Carrera Cup GB poles

Sam Tordoff and Michael Meadows each take a pole position
Victor Jimenez takes double pole in Pro-Am1
Tautvydas Barstys sets the mark in Pro-Am2


Sam Tordoff and Michael Meadows took a pole position each during a dramatic qualifying session for rounds seven and eight of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park today (Saturday 9 June).

As track conditions improved throughout the 30-minute session the times tumbled and Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) finally claimed pole for round seven with a best lap eight-tenths of a second inside the existing lap record. However, Meadows (Redline Racing) made it seven poles for eight races by posting pole for round eight, while Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) in Pro-Am1 and Tautvydas Barstys (Juta Racing) in Pro-Am2 headed their respective categories.

With the rain clearing and the track starting to dry, most drivers opted to start the session on slick tyres even though the dry line was still emerging. By mid-session the times were improving every lap and the time charts changed constantly as drivers pushed ever harder. Finally, a mighty lap from Tordoff secured pole for round seven as he became the only driver to break the 1m23s barrier. 'I'm ecstatic," said Tordoff. 'We needed this after Thruxton and I knew I had it in me. The circuit was dry apart from water running across at Cascades, but you couldn't afford to go off line."

Meadows was second fastest, but did the best second fastest lap to secure pole for round eight, with Tordoff next up. 'Every lap was changing," said Meadows. 'The pace is unbelievable compared to last year when it was fully dry and warm. You've got to be on the front row here," he added of a track where overtaking can be very difficult.

Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) were third and fourth fastest and then reversed their positions for round eight. Gelzinis was always in contention but Lloyd had to push very hard after missing some of the early session when a water pipe detached. 'It's not what we wanted, but it could have been worse," said Lloyd.

Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Glynn Geddie (Redline Racing) each took a fifth and a sixth place in the very competitive Pro category, with Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) sharing seventh and eighth.

Jimenez drove superbly in Pro-Am1 to end Ahmad Al Harthy's run of six pole positions from the previous six races, as the Spanish racer clinched category pole for both races. 'The track conditions made it very difficult," said Jimenez, who continues to increase his pace as his experience builds. Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) shared second and third in Pro-Am1 and kept points' leader Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) back in fourth for both races.

'The first set of tyres was amazing, but I couldn't hook up the second set," said Pierce, who was among the top three overall in the first half of the session. Mortimer, meanwhile, played a waiting game and only used one set of new tyres when he pushed later in the session.

In Pro-Am2, Barstys headed Will Goff (Goff Racing) for both races as the Lithuanian racer tagged onto the tail of the Pro-Am1 times. Goff, however, was frustrated and knew that he could have been quicker after leaving his car on full wet settings as the circuit dried out.

Round seven grid:
Pro category: 1 Sam Tordoff (1m22.962s); 2 Michael Meadows (1m23.008s); 3 Jonas Gelzinis (1m23.171s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez (1m23.913s); 2 Derek Pierce (1m24.280s); 3 Oly Mortimer (1m24.296s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Tautvydas Barstys (1m25.833s); 2 Will Goff (1m28.196s).

Round eight grid:
Pro category: 1 Michael Meadows (1m23.147s); 2 Sam Tordoff (1m23.228s); 3 Daniel Lloyd (1m23.471s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez (1m24.254s); 2 Oly Mortimer (1m24.433s); 3 Derek Pierce (1m24.575s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Tautvydas Barstys (1m25.987s); 2 Will Goff (1m28.380s).
 

Attachments

  • oult3_182.jpg
    oult3_182.jpg
    92.5 KB · Views: 18,173
Tordoff wins Carrera Cup GB round seven

#Sam Tordoff scores first overall victory
#Victor Jimenez takes Pro-Am1 win
#Will Goff wins in Pro-Am2


Sam Tordoff was the star of the race in round seven of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park today (Sunday 10 June) as the young Yorkshireman drove a faultless race under constant pressure to take his first win in the championship.

Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) won from pole while Michael Meadows (Redline Racing) and Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) battled hard for second as they raced nose-to-tail around the challenging Cheshire track. Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) raced to the head of Pro-Am1, while Will Goff (Goff Racing) took a commanding win in Pro-Am2.

Tordoff set the seal on his victory with a great start, but it was only in the final five laps that he could even start to relax as Meadows and Gelzinis were a constant threat. But Tordoff never put a wheel wrong and controlled the race superbly as Meadows had to balance attacking for the lead with defending against a persistent attack from Gelzinis.

'That was fantastic," said Tordoff after a breakthrough victory. 'I got a great start and Michael never really got close enough to mount a serious challenge," said Tordoff. 'I had that bit of a cushion but it was pressure all the way." In turn, Meadows had to contend with the challenge of Gelzinis and, in the closing stages, they were side-by-side several times as the Lithuanian driver attacked.

Eventually, Meadows was able to secure second place but Gelzinis was less than half a second behind at the flag. 'We were all quick in different places," said Meadows. 'Unless I got past Sam in the first two laps I was never going to overtake him. Off the racing line the track was very dirty." Gelzinis never stopped trying, but didn't get the chance he needed to take second. 'I pushed really hard and we went side-by-side," said Gelzinis.

Behind the leading trio, Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Parker) ran a close fourth initially, but dropped back a little and was being caught over the closing laps by Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) after Butcher tigered ahead of Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport).

Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Parker) made the early running in Pro-Am1, but a sideways moment at the Island Hairpin dropped him behind Jimenez. 'My own fault," said Pierce. 'I missed the blip on the down change into second and Victor was beside me." Once through, Jimenez eased away as Pierce had to defend second place from Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air). With a storming opening salvo, Al Harthy got onto Pierce's bumper, but that was how they stayed as Pierce never allowed his rival any opportunity.

In Pro-Am2, Tautvydas Barstys (Juta Racing) led away from pole but an early spin at Cascades cost him time and put Goff clear at the head of the category. 'Everything was fine," said Goff. 'But the gym programme starts on Monday," he added after 18 tough laps of Oulton Park.

Round seven results:
Pro category: 1 Sam Tordoff; 2 Michael Meadows; 3 Jonas Gelzinis
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez; 2 Derek Pierce; 3 Ahmad Al Harthy
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff; 2 Tautvydas Barstys
 

Attachments

  • oult4_130.jpg
    oult4_130.jpg
    105.7 KB · Views: 18,144
Meadows wins Carrera Cup GB round eight

#Michael Meadows scores win number five of 2012
#Oly Mortimer takes first Pro-Am1 victory
#Will Goff completes Pro-Am2 double


Michael Meadows made it five wins from eight races this season in round eight of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park today (Sunday 10 June). In a race full of incident, Meadows fended off the challenge of Jonas Gelzinis as round seven winner Sam Tordoff battled back to third place.

With two separate incidents of coolant being dropped on the track, the conditions were very challenging and fortunes changed lap by lap. In Pro-Am1, Oly Mortimer held off a big late attack from Ahmad Al Harthy to win, while Will Goff completed a double Pro-Am2 victory as category rival Tautvydas Barstys slid off at Druids.

Meadows (Redline Racing) converted pole position into a first lap lead from Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Parker) and Gelzinis (Juta Racing), but Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) was squeezed wide on the exit of the first corner and dropped to fifth place behind Glynn Geddie (Redline Racing). However, part way round the opening lap, Michael Leonard (Naas Court Hotel with Parker) damaged a front radiator and dropped coolant.

On the second lap, the leaders hit the coolant at Knickerbrook and Lloyd had a big moment. Geddie suffered even more and bounced across the gravel, losing many places in the process. That drama allowed Meadows and Gelzinis to go clear at the front of the race as Tordoff battled into third from the recovering Lloyd and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed).

Up front, Meadows controlled the race but more coolant was dropped six laps later when Geddie damaged a radiator. Meadows had a big moment across the grass at Knickerbrook as a result and a lap later Gelzinis did the same thing, so that the gap remained static. Steadily, Meadows then extended his lead from Gelzinis, while Tordoff closed the gap in third before Gelzinis responded to hold the place.

'That's been a tough weekend," said Meadows, who extended his championship lead to 34 points. 'The coolant caused havoc, but it worked in my favour. On one lap I ended up bouncing across the grass, but luckily Jonas did the same thing." Tordoff, meanwhile, was named 'driver of the weekend' and reckoned the race had been tougher than the earlier race. 'We were all driving on different lines to try and avoid the coolant," he said. Butcher worked ahead of Lloyd to complete a strong weekend with fourth place.

Despite feeling decidedly unwell, Mortimer (GT Marques) drove a superb race to win Pro-Am1 and fended off Pro racer Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) for many laps. Once Barker found a way ahead, Mortimer came under increasing pressure from Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air), who had started at the back of the grid as a penalty for taking new tyres for the race. Al Harthy stormed up the order and closed in on Mortimer, before mounting a persistent attack over the closing stages.

'I got a clear track on the first lap," said Mortimer after clinching victory. 'That's the hardest race I've ever had." Al Harthy, meanwhile, had raced from 17th to ninth in a race full of drama. 'I had to push hard and I had to take the coolant as an advantage," he said. 'I'm really happy with that." Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Parker) had been running with Al Harthy until losing ground on the coolant, but still took the final podium place in Pro-Am1.

In Pro-Am2, Goff raced home unopposed once Barstys slid into the tyre wall, but it was still a testing race. 'It was very slippery," said Goff. 'It had just cleared and then more went down."

Round eight results:
Pro category: 1 Michael Meadows; 2 Jonas Gelzinis; 3 Sam Tordoff
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Oly Mortimer; 2 Ahmad Al Harthy; 3 Derek Pierce
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff
 

Attachments

  • oult5_146.jpg
    oult5_146.jpg
    94.6 KB · Views: 18,113

New Threads

Forum statistics

Threads
124,354
Messages
1,439,459
Members
48,711
Latest member
Silage
Back
Top