Michelin Porsche Club Championship Snetterton 10/04/2005

Purdie Suffers gearbox problems

Ian White got his bid for the overall Michelin Porsche Club Championship title off to a perfect start with a brace of victories in the opening races of the season at Snetterton on Sunday (10 April). 

"I’m in it to win it," said a determined White, having finished second in 2004, and he proved unbeatable at the Norfolk venue. By twice winning their respective classes, Richard Lambert and Goldman matched White's achievement as some excellent racing provided a fine start to the season. 

Qualifying 

A greasy surface prompted several spins in qualifying on Sunday morning and White (3.2 Carrera) had a quick spin on his first flying lap at Riches before securing pole position. Reigning overall champion Lambert (Carrera 3) admitted to three spins on his way to joining White on the front row while 16-year old Marcus Clutton created an excellent impression with the third best time in his class two 911SC. Paul Goldman (911SC) headed class three with an impressive 15th best time. 

Race One

White powered away from the grid into an immediate lead while the fast starting Clutton was squeezed back to third place on the exit of Riches by Lambert. Marcus Holden (3.2 Carrera) further demoted the young Clutton at the Esses to chase after Lambert who locked up his tyres into Russell in an attempt to keep up with White.  

Fast starting Andrew Purdie (911SC) then stole by Clutton into Russell on lap three to take fourth, but gearbox problems later dropped him down the order and eventually into retirement.  By mid race Holden had nipped ahead of Lambert at Riches for second but he could never rest as their battle raged all the way to the chequered flag. White, meanwhile, was around seven seconds clear and reeled off the laps for a fine victory.  

“New tyres and a different set-up,” restricted Kevin Harrison (968CS) to starting seventh on the grid, but he was delighted with his fourth place at the finish after a steady climb up the order. 

A broken exhaust left Clutton slipping down the order and he was disappointed when class rival Fraser Robertson (944) worked past in the closing laps to take second in class two.  Goldman was a convincing class three winner as second placed Ben Demetriou (911E) had a race long tussle for track position with class two racer Alvaro Crego (944).

Results Race One

Fastest Lap - White (1m21.182s 86.56mph)

Race Two

White again made the best start to storm away into a lead, which he took all the way to the chequered flag to complete the perfect double. "Once I had opened a gap I just paced myself to the finish," said the winner collecting his second garland of the day.  Quick starting Lambert beat Holden to the first corner and Holden soon had his hands full with a big challenge from Harrison.  

For lap after lap Harrison probed his rival's defences until he finally battled ahead on lap eight to take third place. However, class two winner Lambert was now too far into the distance for Harrison to improve further.  Robertson again took second in class two and fifth on the road, while Clutton had to work hard to follow him home after becoming embroiled in a hectic scrap over sixth place.  

Having held sixth on the opening lap Marcus Carniel (911SC) dropped down the order before working back to tenth. But he then spun twice at Russell in the closing laps and finished a chastened 12th. Class three went the way of Goldman once more as he completed an excellent day. 

Results Race Two

1 White 14 laps in 19m10.088s (85.54mph); 

2 Lambert +9.897s; 

3 Harrison; 

4 Holden; 

5 Robertson; 

6 Clutton; 

7 Ingram; 

8 Botterill; 

9 Graham Howells (911SC); 

10 Ian Oliver (2.7 Carrera). 

Class winners: White; Lambert; Goldman. Fastest lap: White 1m20.954s (86.80mph).