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Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2012 Race 15 & 16 Rockingham

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Porsche Carrera Cup GB heads for Rockingham

Michael Meadows leads title race heading for rounds 15 and 16
Sam Tordoff heads five-way battle for second place
Ahmad Al Harthy and Will Goff head Pro-Am1 and Pro-Am2

Rockingham Motor Speedway near Corby in Northamptonshire is the next destination for the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup GB as Michael Meadows tops the title race heading for rounds 15 and 16 (22/23 September).

With six of the season's 20 races left to run, Meadows has a firm grip on the overall title in a season where six drivers have already won races, while Ahmad Al Harthy is setting the standard in Pro-Am1 and Will Goff heads Pro-Am2.

In truth, it is going to take a disaster for Meadows (Redline Racing) to lose his championship lead, for consistent pace has given the Banbury racer a 48-point lead over his rivals. However, with 44 points available each weekend, one bad race meeting could turn the situation on its head.

It could have all gone wrong for Meadows last time out at Knockhill when first corner contact sent him spinning to the back of the pack. Despite an incident-packed race, his recovery drive to salvage good points was a very important result in championship terms.

Leading the chase of Meadows are five drivers, all covered by 25 points. A double win at Snetterton last month helped Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) move into second place over Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing), double Knockhill winner Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport), Thruxton winner Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and double Croft winner Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed). Adding further depth of quality to the Pro category are Brands Hatch winner Richard Plant and series newcomer Andy Meyrick, both from Team Parker Racing.

Just like Meadows, Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) also has a 48-point lead in the Pro-Am1 category and with nine wins from 14 races so far, the popular Omani racer is looking very strong. But that won't stop his key rivals pushing as hard as ever although Oli Mortimer (GT Marques) is battling to raise the backing to complete his highly promising season.

Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Spanish racer Victor Jimenez (Redline Racing) are the other key contenders in Pro-Am1 and they both have the pace to win at Rockingham.

The Pro-Am2 category is developing into a straight fight between Will Goff (Goff Racing) and Tania Mann (sibsport performance) and Goff returns to the grid at Rockingham after missing the trip north to Knockhill.
 

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Sutton returns to Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Former double champion James Sutton will return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB this weekend (22/23 September) and complete the 2012 season with Redline Racing. Sutton will take over the car raced to date by Glynn Geddie after the Scot had to step down due to business commitments.

Sutton, Carrera Cup champion in 2007 and again in 2012, has not raced this season and has not been in a racing car since last November. But he retains strong links with the team that took him to both titles and is excited about the prospect of returning to racing.

'It's difficult to say how I'm going to do as there as so many drivers in the Carrera Cup who can win races," said Sutton. 'But it is great when an opportunity like this comes along. I'm really looking forward to getting back into racing." Sutton will test at Rockingham tomorrow (18 September) and then again on Friday ahead of the race weekend.

'We are delighted to have James back with us," said Redline Racing boss Simon Leonard. 'He is there to help us win the team championship and support Michael Meadows in the drivers' championship. I'm sure he'll do a fantastic job," said Leonard. Sutton's car will carry number 1 and run in the livery of a new sponsor.

Leonard also paid tribute to Geddie, who joined the team at the start of the season. 'It's been a pleasure to work with Glynn. He's been very popular in the team and we'd love to work with him again," said Leonard. 'I wish him luck for the future."
 

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Barker tops Carrera Cup GB testing at Rockingham

Double Knockhill winner Ben Barker maintains top form
Ahmad Al Harthy heads Pro-Am1
James Sutton third fastest on return to Carrera Cup GB


Ben Barker was the fastest man in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham today (Friday 21 September) during testing ahead of rounds 15 and 16 of the season. Barker's best lap in the early morning session set the mark for the day when rain arrived before the second session.

After winning both races last time out at Knockhill, Barker (Parr Motorsport) was right on the pace at Rockingham in the opening test session, posting a best of 1m20.195s to head Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and James Sutton (Redline Racing). In Pro-Am1, Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) narrowly headed the times while Will Goff (Goff Racing) set the Pro-Am2 mark.

The opening session set the times for the day as light rain before and during the second session prevented any improvements. Although it was dry enough at times for drivers to run slicks, the leading times were nearly 10 seconds slower than in the morning.

'That keeps the momentum going from Knockhill," said Barker, who got his weekend off to a perfect start before also setting a representative time in the later session. Gelzinis was also quick in the damp and ended the day second fastest overall thanks to his best morning time, less than a fifth of a second down on Barker.

Sutton made a strong return to the series ahead of his first races of 2012 and went fastest of all in the later session. 'The team thought it would be a good idea to go out in the rain," said Sutton. 'It was a chance to see what it was like and we learnt a bit: it was a fun session."

Less than half a second covered the next five drivers as Andy Meyrick, Sam Tordoff and Daniel Lloyd from Team Parker Racing joined Michael Meadows (Redline Racing) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) in a closely bunched group, all of them potential race winners. Like all of the drivers, Lloyd took the chance to run in the damp conditions. 'It just builds a bit of confidence if it is wet for the races on Sunday," said the Carrera Cup GB Scholarship winner.

In Pro-Am1, only 16-hundredths of a second split the top two drivers as Al Harthy and Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) set the pace. Al Harthy was just relieved to have run in the opening session after being delayed on the way to the circuit. After travelling from his home in Oman, he was held up by a road accident within 15 miles of Rockingham and missed the first 10 minutes of testing. Once in the car, he was quickly up to speed and edged Pierce with Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) and Keith Webster (Redline/Marque One) close behind.
 
Goff wins Michelin award in Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham

Will Goff is the eighth 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 ahead of this weekend's rounds 15 and 16 at Rockingham (22/23 September).

In his first season in the Carrera Cup GB, the Norfolk racer is a leading contender in the Pro-Am2 category. Racing under the Will Goff Racing banner and tended by the crew from IN2 Racing, Goff has made excellent progress in a learning year after making a big step up the racing ladder for the 2012 season.

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.
 

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Barker tops Carrera Cup GB qualifying at Rockingham

Double pole position for Ben Barker
Victor Jimenez and Ahmad Al Harthy head Pro-Am1
Eleven cars covered by nine-tenths of a second

Ben Barker was the man setting the pace in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham today (Saturday 21 September) as he took a stunning double pole position during qualifying for rounds 15 and 16 of the season.

Running the fastest laps ever seen in the Carrera Cup at Rockingham, Barker (Parr Motorsport) twice broke the 1m20s mark to claim a double pole and maintain his tremendous Knockhill form. However, for round 15 Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) was only 13-hundredths of a second slower, while championship leader Michael Meadows (Redline Racing) was second fastest for round 16. It was just as close in Pro-Am1 as team mates Victor Jimenez and Ahmad Al Harthy from Redline/Oman Air shared a pole position each. In Pro-Am2, Will Goff (Goff Racing) will run solo, having made a big improvement over his times from testing on Friday.

'The car was great," reported Barker. 'I'm driving it a bit differently now and attacking more on new tyres," he said after his fourth pole in a row. Gelzinis, meanwhile, will start second and then fourth on the two grids. 'I'm quite happy with that," said Gelzinis. 'Qualifying has not been so good recently," he added. Fourth and second places went to Meadows. 'P4 for the first race is a bit disappointing, but P2 is better," said Meadows. 'It's exciting to be in the middle of it, but I'd rather be at the front."

Third for both races was a great result for Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed). 'Absolutely delighted," said the Scot. 'We changed the car a little bit after testing. It's so close at the front," he added, as one of five drivers to break the 1m20s mark on the grid for round 15. Adding tremendous depth of quality to the front of the field were Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing), James Sutton (Redline Racing) and Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) who shared fifth, sixth and seventh places for both races.

In Pro-Am1, Jimenez headed Al Harthy by 27-thousandths of a second for the opening race and then Al Harthy turned the tables by a quarter of a second for round 16. For Spanish racer Jimenez it was a fine result as he claimed his third Pro-Am1 pole of the season, while Al Harthy maintained his championship advantage by taking his eleventh pole from 16 races. 'Overall it was very good," said Al Harthy. 'I think the track got quicker on the second set of tyres, but I made a couple of mistakes."
Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) shared third and fourth places on the Pro-Am1 grid as they continue their battle for second place in the Pro-Am1 points' table.

Round 15 grid:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker (1m19.637s); 2 Jonas Gelzinis (1m19.772s); 3 Rory Butcher (1m19.922s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez (1m20.527s); 2 Ahmad Al Harthy (1m20.554s); 3 Derek Pierce (1m21.007s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff (1m23.233s).

Round 16 grid:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker (1m19.759s); 2 Michael Meadows (1m19.979s); 3 Rory Butcher (1m20.077s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Ahmad Al Harthy (1m20.565s); 2 Victor Jimenez (1m20.811s); 3 Oly Mortimer (1m21.114s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff (1m23.259s).
 

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Barker wins in Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham

Ben Barker completes Carrera Cup hat-trick
Derek Pierce races hard to win Pro-Am1
Michael Meadows extends overall championship lead

Ben Barker made it three wins on the trot with a faultless drive to victory in round 15 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham today (Sunday 23 September). Starting from pole position, Barker controlled the race from the front as tremendous battles raged all down the field.

While Barker stormed to victory from Jonas Gelzinis, Michael Meadows extended his overall points' advantage with third place. In Pro-Am1, a mighty four-way battle ran for much of the race as Derek Pierce fended off his rivals for a hard-earned victory. In Pro-Am2, Will Goff (Goff Racing) claimed maximum points to consolidate his championship lead.

'I got a great start and got a gap I could control," said Barker (Parr Motorsport) who backed up his double win at Knockhill with another perfect performance. He went a second clear in the opening two laps and was then able to control the race from the front as Gelzinis (Juta Racing) led the chase. 'I couldn't have dreamt of this: you get a good result and then you carry the momentum forward," said Barker.

Gelzinis was always the best of the chasing pack and was able to edge further clear in second place when third-placed Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) ran wide at the chicane and lost a place to Meadows (Redline Racing). Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) edged Butcher back to fifth and then mounted a lengthy pursuit of Meadows. Mid-race, the gap was down to less than a second. But Meadows reckoned to have a little in hand and was able to respond later in the race while Meyrick then lost any chance of challenging when he suffered a flat-spotted front tyre.

'Once I was ahead of Rory I let the first two go and conserved my tyres," said Meadows of a nicely judged race that allowed him to extend his championship lead to 53 points over Gelzinis. There was a great spectacle in the contest for fifth place as a pack of five cars battled behind Butcher and it was Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) who claimed sixth in final results.

There was just as good a tussle over the Pro-Am1 category as Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) rocketed ahead with a tremendous start. 'I had a mega start and got to the front," said Pierce as Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) led the chase. With Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) and Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) joining in, it made a four-way battle at the head of Pro-Am1. Al Harthy moved through to challenge Jimenez, but a clash on the exit of the Deene Hairpin put Al Harthy out with damaged steering. Still Pierce could not relax as Mortimer dived through to second from Jimenez. 'Victor was very strong," said Pierce after a hard race. 'I wish the laps had counted down a bit quicker," added Pierce.

Round 15 results:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker; 2 Jonas Gelzinis; 3 Michael Meadows.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Derek Pierce; 2 Oly Mortimer; 3 Victor Jimenez.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
 

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Barker does Carrera Cup GB double at Rockingham

Ben Barker completes double win in the rain at Rockingham
Ahmad Al Harthy claims Pro-Am1 victory
Michael Meadows maintains overall title lead

No matter what the conditions, Ben Barker was on top in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham (Sunday 23 September) as he won for the second time in the day when the rain arrived at the Northamptonshire track.

A very wet track greeted the drivers for round 16 of the season, but Barker maintained his superb form to make it four wins in a row as Rory Butcher led the chase. Ahmad Al Harthy clinched Pro-Am1 victory while Will Goff again took maximum points in Pro-Am2. In championship terms, Michael Meadows left Rockingham with an increased overall advantage after another podium finish.

Barker (Parr Motorsport) got the jump at the start and quickly went clear as Butcher (Celtic Speed) slotted into second place on the soaking wet track. Despite an early safety car period after Dan Lloyd and Andy Meyrick spun off at the Deene Hairpin, Barker always had the race under control and held his margin at between two and three seconds.

'Four wins in a row is fantastic," said Barker. 'The conditions were really dreadful and it was a case of keeping off the white lines." Butcher, meanwhile, was an equally secure second, finding it tough to see through the spray whenever he edged closer to Barker. 'It was really tough and I'm just glad to be back on the podium," said Butcher.

Meadows (Redline Racing) was always third and eased clear of Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) in the early stages. Meanwhile, Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) was the man on the attack and battled past Al Harthy, James Sutton (Redline Racing) and Gelzinis to take fourth and close right in on Meadows. But Meadows had it covered to the flag to complete an important weekend in terms of championship points. 'This is the only weekend we've not been in contention for race wins, so to come away with two podiums is good," said Meadows. 'The car was fantastic but with the amount of spray I couldn't see a thing at times," said Tordoff after a great performance.

A trip across the grass at the chicane took the front splitter off Gelzinis' car and he slipped down the order as Sutton took fifth from Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing).

Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) had a tremendous run to win Pro-Am1 in some of the toughest conditions he had ever experienced. 'I had good pace and kept pushing," said Al Harthy. However, he was fortunate to finish after he picked up a front puncture over the final two laps. Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) and Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) completed the Pro-Am1 podium, with Mortimer earning the 'driver of the weekend' award for his efforts on a very limited budget. GT Marques was confirmed as the 'team of the weekend'.

Round 16 results:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker; 2 Rory Butcher; 3 Michael Meadows.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Ahmad Al Harthy; 2 Victor Jimenez; 3 Oly Mortimer.
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff.
 

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