Official Race Report from Paul Lawrence

Lambert's title as Morris does the double

Richard Lambert clinched the overall crown in the Michelin Porsche Club after the final two races of the season at Donington Park over the weekend (23/24 October).

Meanwhile, Peter Morris scored a double race win, securing his second victory of the weekend by crossing the line in reverse at the end of a truly amazing race!

A wet track and worsening conditions greeted the field for Saturday's race and it was Morris in the well-balanced 968 who mastered the conditions best to win as John Williams (3.2 Carrera) gave valiant chase. Ian White (3.2 Carrera) led the early pursuit of Morris but soon realised that he just did not have the grip and slipped down to fourth in the final results. "I just had to finish," admitted White, harbouring hopes of pipping Morris to the class one crown.

Williams now chased Morris and raced hard, but the gap was just over four seconds at the flag. "That was hard work," said Williams as he fended off Lambert. "It was horrible, but I do enjoy those conditions," said Lambert who moved ever closer to the overall title in the process. Adam Egar (911SC) lost a chance of class two victory with a couple of spins and finally finished third just behind the similar car of Rob Williams. Fraser Robertson (944) scored another class three victory, but could never relax too much as Paul Goldman (911SC) chased hard.

Race two

This was quite possibly the most dramatic race in the history of the championship!

The race had been a classic as Brown took the lead after a brief safety car period with Morris and early leader John Williams in hot pursuit. Morris had the edge on braking into the chicane, but Brown defended impeccably and consistently repelled his rival's bids on the outside line into the chicane.

Meanwhile, Williams came back strongly into contention over the closing laps and it was closer than ever on the final charge to the chicane. Once again, Morris took the outside line and forced Brown to go later than ever onto the brakes. They both went in very deep and slithered across the grass as Williams ducked through on the correct line.

The grass was so wet that both Brown and Morris spun wildly on the exit and Williams had to take to the grass, narrowly missing Brown. While the unfortunate Williams hit the tyre wall backwards and Brown spun on the grass, Morris found himself back on the track, a few yards from the flag, but facing towards the chicane, rather than the finish line! With remarkably quick thinking, Morris stuck it in reverse and crossed the line backwards, just two-tenths of a second before Brown found enough grip to finally get off the grass.

"Is he allowed to go backwards?" joked a wide-eyed Brown after a mighty drive. "I could see Tony coming towards me and I managed to find reverse straightaway," countered Morris. Poor Williams finally got his battered car off the grass to take third, two seconds later.

It was an incredible climax to a great race and all three of the leading contenders deserved praise for a fantastic race.

While all this was going on, White was mounting a fantastic recovery drive after an early clash with Craig Rapp dropped him to the back of the field. He fought back to fourth at the flag, while Rob Williams drove a fine race to take class two spoils, with Lambert finishing on his tail to make sure of the championship title.

Ian Oliver (911E) and Robertson tussled for class three, but a very muddy spin on the exit of the chicane cost Robertson his chances.

Richard Lambert's race report

I knew that I had to finish well in both races if I was to win the championship so the pressure was on. After losing the championship in the final race last year at Donington I didn't want the same thing to happen again. I was paranoid about something silly going wrong with the car so it went off to Jaz for a check over. I also decided not to go testing just in case I went off or blew it up or something.

The forecast wasn't great for the weekend but I don't mind racing in the wet and I was very lucky to be able to borrow a set of wet weather tyres from Mark Rogers.

Qualifying was on a damp and slippery track, it went quite well although I wasn't able to make the most of the drying conditions towards the end of the session due to slower cars. I managed to qualify in pole for class 2 and 6th overall.

My rival for the championship Pete Morris in Class 1 had also managed pole so he wasn't making things easy for me!

Race one was very wet, for the first time ever I was able to fit a set of wet weather tyres, I didn't know what to expect from them but figured they would be better than semi slick dry tyres. The red lights went out and we were off, everyone got away cleanly which was a relief. Every lap the conditions were changing and I was sliding all over the place. Other drivers were struggling too and I soon found myself up to 3rd challenging John Williams' class 1 SC for 2nd overall. I had a clear lead over 2nd in class 2 so I didn't take any chances and held my position to the flag.

Working out the points with a beer afterwards was tricky, Pete had won the race too so I worked out I needed to finish 3rd or higher in race 2 to claim my prize.

A quite night down the pub with the Jaz team turned out to be not quite so quiet but fortunately a lie in next morning cured my hangover.

Race two was held on a dry track. I was relieved as a wet race will often throw up unpleasant surprises. I was 3rd on the grid so had to just drive steadily to get the result I needed. I made a good start and was up alongside Pete into the first bend, unfortunately I ended up going wide at the exit of Redgate and got onto the mud, it was very hairy but suffice to say I exited the corner in 11th place and 4th in class!! Blumin heck I said to myself and set about claiming back the places.

Graham and Sarah on the pit board kept me informed of my progress and also how Pete was doing, so I knew exactly what I needed to do. I managed to find a way past several cars and found myself behind Rob Williams and 2nd in class, I didn't have to risk overtaking so followed him to the flag.

I had done enough to win the championship, I was so pleased, it has been long season with some very tough racing.

Well done to Pete for doing everything he needed to and winning the race in dramatic style.

Thanks to all the chaps at Jaz, Steve, Dave, Warren and Hamish for all their hard work during the year.

Thanks as well to all my helpers, especially Graham who has been a superb team manager and also to Sarah for all her support and encouragement.

See you next year for more racing, perhaps I should move up to Class 1?

Richard