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Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2012 Race 13 & 14 Knockhill

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Scottish foray for Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Michael Meadows leads title race heading for Knockhill
Sam Tordoff heads the chase after Snetterton double win
Five Scottish drivers aiming for home glory

Rounds 13 and 14 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB are sure to deliver some of the most exciting and unpredictable racing of the season as the teams and drivers take on the unique challenge of the Knockhill circuit in Fife (25/26 August).

Michael Meadows (Redline Racing) heads north with a 36-point lead in the overall standings and is clearly the title favourite. But Michael knows well enough that Knockhill is one of those tracks where fortunes can change very quickly and he will be working very hard to make sure he qualifies at the front of the pack.

Last time out at Snetterton was a fabulous weekend for Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing), who dominated the weekend to take two wins and move into second place overall at the expense of Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing). Aside from Gelzinis, three drivers are vying to topple Tordoff as the big threat to Meadows and Daniel Lloyd (Team Parker Racing) and Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) could both be race winners. Series newcomer Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) will surely be quick on his first race weekend at Knockhill but it is local ace Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) who will really want to stamp his mark on the weekend.

As the Carrera Cup GB makes its annual foray north of the border, five Scottish drivers will be on the grid. Top of the pack in terms of overall championship position is Butcher and he has a pretty good knowledge of Knockhill. The son of circuit owner Derek and brother-in-law of BTCC ace Gordon Shedden, Kirkcaldy-based Rory is a Knockhill instructor. Rory had the weekend of his life in June at Croft when he was in dominant form and won both races with two perfect performances. Add that to consistent scores elsewhere and he is now fourth in the points, within striking distance of second-placed Tordoff.

Also running in the Pro category is Aberdeen's Glynn Geddie (Redline Racing). By his own high standards, 2012 has yet to deliver the results that were expected, but Knockhill is just the sort of track where Glynn's natural pace and gutsy style could shine. If the weather is unpredictable, as can be the case at Knockhill, he will be right in the mix.

Battling for glory in Pro-Am1 are West Kilbride's Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Edinburgh's Oly Mortimer (GT Marques). Pierce is badly overdue some good luck to go with his undoubted pace, while Mortimer and the team have been working wonders on a very limited budget. Currently, Pierce heads Mortimer by a single-point as they chase Pro-Am1 leader Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air).

Completing the Scottish contingent is Edinburgh's George Brewster in the second car from Montrose-based Celtic Speed. The former Pro-Am2 champion is only tackling a part season this year due to business commitments, but will be aiming for a visit to the Pro-Am1 podium on home ground.

Finally, the contest for Pro-Am2 glory is set to be between Welsh teenager Fraser O'Brien (GT Marques) and Tania Mann (sibsport performance). O'Brien made an impressive series debut last time out at Snetterton and will now tackle Knockhill for the first time.

After qualifying at 13.50 on Saturday, round 13 will start at 10.45 on Sunday, with round 14 at 15.30. Round 14 will be broadcast live on ITV4 during the extensive BTCC programme which runs from 11.00 on Sunday.

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Meadows tops Carrera Cup GB testing at Knockhill

Championship leader Michael Meadows sets the testing pace in Scotland
Ahmad Al Harthy heads Pro-Am1
Top 10 drivers covered by half a second

Michael Meadows underlined his status as the man to beat in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill today (Friday 24 August) by being fastest in both test sessions at the Scottish track.

Though rain was threatening, both sessions were largely dry and Meadows (Redline Racing) was quickest in both sessions to get his weekend off to a perfect start. The roller-coaster track at Knockhill is a place where title aspirations have faltered in the past and Meadows knows that the safest place to be is out front. Setting the pace in testing was just the build up that he wanted for rounds 13 and 14 of the 20-race season.

'It's always going to be close round here," said Meadows. 'But it is much easier from pole position. There was a bit more time to come in the second session but then there were spots of rain on the screen." Meadows starts the weekend with a 36-point championship lead and is determined to at least maintain his advantage.

However, a gaggle of drivers is queuing up to challenge Meadows in the incredibly closely matched pack. Ending the day second best, just 63-thousandths of a second behind Meadows, was Ben Barker (Parr Motorsport) with an excellent run in the generally faster morning session. Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) completed the top three and was even closer to Barker, with a deficit of only 12-thousandths of a second. 'Everything is okay," reported the Lithuanian racer. 'We didn't improve on new tyres as I made a couple of small mistakes: we can be quicker with new tyres in qualifying."

Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) upheld the honour of Scotland with fourth best time at his home track, little more than a quarter of a second adrift of Meadows. With the forecast for Saturday's being unsettled, Butcher is likely to be a very strong contender.

Fifth fastest was double Snetterton winner Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing). 'The morning session was very good and we're very consistent," said Tordoff. 'We just need to find a tenth or two," he added. Wrapping up the top six, still only a third of a second slower than Meadows, was Porsche Scholarship driver Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker), while Knockhill debutant Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) was next up.

Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) topped Pro-Am2 with a time that was good enough for tenth overall and left him right on the tail of the Pro drivers. However, things are very close in Pro-Am1 with less than half a second covering the top three drivers. Leading the chase of the Omani racer were Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air).
 

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Pierce wins Michelin award in Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill

Derek Pierce is the seventh 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 13 and 14 at Knockhill (25/26 August).

In his third full season in the Carrera Cup GB, the Scottish racer is a leading contender in the Pro-Am1 category. Racing for Team Parker Racing, he headed to his home track of Knockhill with seven Pro-Am1 podiums in the first 12 races. He currently lies second in the Pro-Am1 standings.

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 Knockhill

Ben Barker takes a double pole ahead of Michael Meadows
Derek Pierce and Ahmad Al Harthy share Pro-Am1 poles
Rain arrives for the second half of the qualifying session

Ben Barker claimed his first two pole positions in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill today (Saturday 25 August) as a heavy rain shower effectively cut the session short just after the halfway point.

Barker (Parr Motorsport) set the fastest and fastest second best times to take both poles from championship leader Michael Meadows (Redline Racing) as Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) and Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air) each took a pole in Pro-Am1.

With dark clouds on the horizon, the pressure was on the drivers to get two strong laps in early on and Meadows set the initial pace. However, Barker was the first to return to the track on his second set of tyres as the Parr Motorsport team read the weather well. Just before the rain started, Barker grabbed pole from Meadows by 36-thousandths of a second and was also confirmed on pole for the second race.

'We watched the clouds and we knew it was coming," said Barker. 'I got back out there and pushed straightaway: we caught it just right." With 14 minutes of the half-hour session still to run the rain came on harder and everyone toured into the pits. Some drivers later went out on wet tyres, but the two grids were set.

Meadows didn't get chance to do a quick lap on his second set of tyres, but was still quick enough for second on both grids. That will leave him starting one place ahead of his leading title rival Sam Tordoff on the grids. 'I went back out and there was loads of grip, but in about 15 seconds the car was all over the place," said Meadows. 'We lost pole to Ben, but he did a good job."

Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) ended with P3 for both races. 'I was just trying to get some times in before the rain," he said. 'I had a couple of messy laps and had to stay out longer on my first set of tyres." The flip side of that situation is that Tordoff has a fresh set of slick tyres to use in Sunday's races, when the forecast suggests a dry day.

Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker), Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) rounded out the top six for round 13 and then qualified in the order Gelzinis, Butcher and Lloyd for round 14.

Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) was delighted to take Pro-Am1 pole for round 13 at his home track. 'It's always fantastic to be back here where it all started," said Pierce. 'But it was incredibly slippery when the rain came." Pierce shares the Pro-Am1 poles with Al Harthy, with each of them also taking a second place. Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air) and Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) each took a third place in Pro-Am1.

Round thirteen grid:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker (50.597s); 2 Michael Meadows (50.633s); 3 Sam Tordoff (50.958s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Derek Pierce (51.328s); 2 Ahmad Al Harthy (51.384s); 3 Oly Mortimer (51.548s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Tania Mann (53.588s).

Round fourteen grid:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker (50.805s); 2 Michael Meadows (50.938s); 3 Sam Tordoff (51.094s).
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Ahmad Al Harthy (51.515s); 2 Derek Pierce (51.663s); 3 Victor Jimenez (51.666s).
Pro-Am2 category: 1 Tania Mann (53.945s).
 

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Barker takes first Carrera Cup victory at Knockhill

Ben Barker leads from pole for commanding victory
Michael Meadows maintains championship lead with second place
Ahmad Al Harthy wins Pro-Am1


Ben Barker was the start of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill today (Sunday 26 August) as he scored his first series victory with an assured drive from pole position. Round 13 of the championship was shortened after an accident at the first corner, but Barker and Michael Meadows were clear of the drama while Ahmad Al Harthy took over to win Pro-Am1 after Derek Pierce spun into gravel.

Barker (Parr Motorsport) got the start he needed to fend Meadows (Redline Racing) off into the first corner. Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) slotted into third but made a mistake on lap three, which cost him a second and put Barker and Meadows clear at the head of the race. 'I knew I was quick and consistent and could maintain the gap," said Barker. Meadows, with the title race uppermost in his mind, was content to track the leader and hold station a few yards back.

Tordoff, however, had Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) and Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) on his tail. On the opening lap, Daniel Lloyd (JD Pierce with Team Parker) had run fourth, but slid wide at the chicane and instantly dropped three places. In Pro-Am1, Derek Pierce (JD Pierce with Team Parker) grabbed the early advantage from Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air).

Up front, Barker was driving a faultless race and had everything under control. However, on lap 21 Pierce spun into the gravel at the chicane and the safety car was deployed while his car was retrieved. Barker judged the restart perfectly to retain the lead as Meadows concentrated on staying clear of any attack from behind. 'My only worry was when the safety car came out," said Meadows. But the race was destined to be red-flagged a lap later and Barker's victory was confirmed. 'We've had the pace all year and we've now translated it into a win," said Barker. Meadows, meanwhile, had driven a measured race to out-score his title rivals.

Tordoff held off Gelzinis to complete the podium. 'I don't think we had the pace to go with them and Gelzinis kept me honest," said Tordoff. Behind Gelzinis, Lloyd and Andy Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) rounded out the top six finishers but were both involved in the incident that brought out the red flags. As they rounded the hairpin ahead of the restart, Butcher had a slide and lost a little momentum as Lloyd and Meyrick ran on his tail. Into the first corner, Meyrick dived down the inside and tipped Butcher into a spin. Lloyd also spun and as Butcher spun down the hill he tagged Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing). Meyrick was later excluded from the results over the incident.

Al Harthy was next on the scene and just managed to steer a course through the drama to claim Pro-Am1 victory. "Derek Pierce had the pace on me and opened a gap," said Al Harthy of the early laps. 'I'm very lucky to have stayed out of the carnage," he added. Despite running tyres that had done a race at Donington as well as qualifying, Oly Mortimer (GT Marques) claimed second in Pro-Am1 from Victor Jimenez (Redline/Oman Air).

Round thirteen results:
Pro category: 1 Ben Barker; 2 Michael Meadows; 3 Sam Tordoff.
Pro-Am1 category: 1 Ahmad Al Harthy; 2 Oly Mortimer; 3 Victor Jimenez.
 

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Good race with some exciting battles.

Back luck to old time 911uk member Tania Mann who was forced out after gearbox problems I believe.
 

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