Michelin Porsche Club Championship Brands Hatch 23/07/2006

Sumpter and Purdie win for Paragon Porsche 

Mark Sumpter and Andy Purdie scored a dominant win in the hour-long two-driver Bill Taylor Memorial Trophy race at Brands Hatch on Saturday (22 July) as they raced the Paragon Porsche entered Porsche 911GT3 Cup in the annual event.

Purdue took time out of his Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign to race with his mentor in the race that is run each year in memory of former Porsche champion Bill Taylor. The race also raises money for cancer charities in his honour.  

They duly put the car on pole position by eight-tenths of a second. "It was very busy out there," said Purdie. "There is a big difference in speeds but they are all good drivers and it was nice to be so quick."  

Purdie led off the line as the sun blazed down, and continued to extend his advantage lap by lap. By the time the pit stop window opened after 20 minutes Purdie had lapped every car up to fourth place, and he finally pitted to hand over to Sumpter on lap 37. They rejoined in the lead despite being the only car in the field to change all four tyres during their pit stop, and had moved a lap clear of the field when the safety car came out on lap 59 with a car stranded in the Paddock Hill Bend gravel trap.  

After two laps the field was set racing again, but two more cars spin into the Paddock gravel and the red flags came out to stop the race with four minutes of the hour remaining, confirming Purdie and Sumpter as winners by more than a lap.  

"That was an enjoyable race," said Purdie. "I just had to keep out of trouble and keep my lap times right up there." Sumpter was impressed with his partner's performance. "Andy was fantastic! We were worried about how he would start, but he got it just right. The car was lovely to drive, but I seemed to have traffic on every lap though."