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Porsche Carrera Cup GB racers set for Knockhill challenge
With the title battle very finely balanced between three drivers, the awesome challenge of Knockhill comes next in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB (3/4 September) and the Scottish track, with its unpredictable weather, is famed for shaking up championship contests.
A fabulous field of 25 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars will contest a pair of races for the Carrera Cup and with Stephen Jelley, Michael Meadows and James Sutton split by just 12 points, it really is wide open with eight races still to run.
The last two races, at Snetterton a month ago, really shook up the order as Sutton (SAS/Redline) had a torrid weekend and saw his seven-point lead evaporate as Jelley (Parker with Juta) stormed to a double win to take over the points' lead for the first time since April. Meanwhile, to compound Sutton's woes, he was bundled back to third in the standings by his team mate Meadows.
But Knockhill is famed for throwing up surprises as the Fife track is notoriously challenging. Qualifying is incredibly important at a track where overtaking in such equal cars is very difficult. Add in the often fickle and changeable weather, and it is a heady cocktail for rounds 12 and 13 of the 19-race season. The competition for a leading grid slot will be intense and at Snetterton the top 13 cars were covered by less than a second; it is likely to be even closer at Knockhill.
However, this is far from being a three-horse race and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) stands out as the driver best placed to join the title battle. Knockhill should suit his attacking style and Euan will be determined to close the gap to the current championship top three. Meanwhile, rising stars Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) have all shown podium pace and Plant will be buoyed by a fine third place at Snetterton. Michael Caine (Nationwide/Motorbase) has a strong record at Knockhill and should be close to the front pace. If the weather is changing, Caine is famed for making bold tyre choices at the Scottish track.
Another major contender will be reigning Australian Formula 3 champion Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport), who drove a superb debut weekend at Snetterton to take a third place. He has won at Knockhill before in Formula Ford, so the 20-year old is eager to get another strong result before returning to his programme in the Carrera Cup Australia.
In Pro-Am1, Lithuanian racer Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) has extended his lead over Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) to 48 points. Barring a complete disaster, Gelzinis will be Pro-Am1 champion but Scottish ace Butcher will be ever more determined to beat the Lithuanian at his home track. Also racing on home ground will be Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) and he will be targeting another Pro-Am1 podium.
The Pro-Am2 contest is shaping up to be a battle between George Brewster (Celtic Speed) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) and it is Brewster who has the home advantage at Knockhill. Other strong Pro-Am2 runners are Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) and Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport), while championship newcomer Rytis Garbaravicius (Juta Racing) joins the Pro-Am2 grid for the Knockhill weekend.
After qualifying at 13.50 on Saturday, round 12 will start at 10.45 on Sunday, with round 13 at 16.10. Round 13 will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme, which starts at 11.00 on Sunday and it is expected that round 12 will also be broadcast during the afternoon.
With the title battle very finely balanced between three drivers, the awesome challenge of Knockhill comes next in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB (3/4 September) and the Scottish track, with its unpredictable weather, is famed for shaking up championship contests.
A fabulous field of 25 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup cars will contest a pair of races for the Carrera Cup and with Stephen Jelley, Michael Meadows and James Sutton split by just 12 points, it really is wide open with eight races still to run.
The last two races, at Snetterton a month ago, really shook up the order as Sutton (SAS/Redline) had a torrid weekend and saw his seven-point lead evaporate as Jelley (Parker with Juta) stormed to a double win to take over the points' lead for the first time since April. Meanwhile, to compound Sutton's woes, he was bundled back to third in the standings by his team mate Meadows.
But Knockhill is famed for throwing up surprises as the Fife track is notoriously challenging. Qualifying is incredibly important at a track where overtaking in such equal cars is very difficult. Add in the often fickle and changeable weather, and it is a heady cocktail for rounds 12 and 13 of the 19-race season. The competition for a leading grid slot will be intense and at Snetterton the top 13 cars were covered by less than a second; it is likely to be even closer at Knockhill.
However, this is far from being a three-horse race and Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta) stands out as the driver best placed to join the title battle. Knockhill should suit his attacking style and Euan will be determined to close the gap to the current championship top three. Meanwhile, rising stars Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Ben Hetherington (Oman Air/Redline) have all shown podium pace and Plant will be buoyed by a fine third place at Snetterton. Michael Caine (Nationwide/Motorbase) has a strong record at Knockhill and should be close to the front pace. If the weather is changing, Caine is famed for making bold tyre choices at the Scottish track.
Another major contender will be reigning Australian Formula 3 champion Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport), who drove a superb debut weekend at Snetterton to take a third place. He has won at Knockhill before in Formula Ford, so the 20-year old is eager to get another strong result before returning to his programme in the Carrera Cup Australia.
In Pro-Am1, Lithuanian racer Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) has extended his lead over Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) and Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman Air/Redline) to 48 points. Barring a complete disaster, Gelzinis will be Pro-Am1 champion but Scottish ace Butcher will be ever more determined to beat the Lithuanian at his home track. Also racing on home ground will be Derek Pierce (Dextra/JD Pierce by Parker) and he will be targeting another Pro-Am1 podium.
The Pro-Am2 contest is shaping up to be a battle between George Brewster (Celtic Speed) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) and it is Brewster who has the home advantage at Knockhill. Other strong Pro-Am2 runners are Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance) and Richard Denny (Parr Motorsport), while championship newcomer Rytis Garbaravicius (Juta Racing) joins the Pro-Am2 grid for the Knockhill weekend.
After qualifying at 13.50 on Saturday, round 12 will start at 10.45 on Sunday, with round 13 at 16.10. Round 13 will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme, which starts at 11.00 on Sunday and it is expected that round 12 will also be broadcast during the afternoon.