Official Race Report from Paul Lawrence

Chamberlain and Lewin share Donington wins

Richard Chamberlain and Rupert Lewin both tasted victory in the Michelin Porsche Open Series double-header at Donington Park on Sunday (19 June). In the classes Mark Albutt, Mike Burtt and Alex Eacock each took a brace of victories.

Qualifying

With his mighty 935’s engine repaired after a cam chain failed at Spa, Chamberlain was a hot favourite for pole. He obliged with a time of 1m09.682s which saw him clear of Lewin’s 996GT2-R, while third fastest was Paul Howells (993 GT2R).

If the top three was as expected, Tony Brown’s fourth place in the leading Class 2 car was a surprise, not least to the series returnee. “I spent half the session bedding in new brakes and plan to use today as a test session really,” said the former Porsche Club champion.

Just behind Brown’s 964 RSR came Albutt’s 911 GT3 Cup. “I didn’t think I’d done that well,” he confessed, looking forward to some good racing having found the dirt in his fuel tank that had limited his performance so far this season.

Burtt’s 993 Supercup car was quickest in Class 3 while Eacock (944) headed Class 4.

Race one

There was drama at the start as Lewin stalled on the line and was lucky not to be collected as the 25-car field scrambled by. “I thank them all most sincerely,” he said afterwards “I dropped the clutch badly.” Chamberlain set the fastest lap on lap two and then set the cruise control. “I drove as slowly as I could because we had gearbox oil temperature problems,” he said. Lewin got away last yet powered through the field to finish second from Howells.

Brown had to take to the grass to avoid Lewin’s stationary car at the start and his hopes of class victory soon disappeared as progress became very erratic. “The engine would be alright for four or five laps and then start cutting out,” he explained. The cause was eventually traced to a faulty cut-off switch. Brown’s woes eased Albutt’s path to the Class 2 honours and fourth overall, a comfortable distance ahead of Keith Butcher’s 911GT3R.

Burtt took control of Class 3 from the off and was dicing with Simon Mifsud’s Class 2 911 GT3 Cup car for sixth place until Mifsud ran wide in Redgate. “I was looking in my mirrors at Richard Chamberlain coming up to lap me and didn’t see the corner,” he explained.

Jeff Orford (944) was the nearest challenger to Eacock in Class 4, but it was the hot weather making Eacock sweat even more than the closeness of his rivals.

Race two

Chamberlain was set for win number two when, with two laps remaining, a front wheel came off in the Craner Curves. Luckily the 935 coasted to a halt on the infield with minimal damage. Chamberlain was able to find the wheel nut, replace the wheel and drive back to the paddock after the race. “I don’t know why it came off, I know it was tight before the race,” he said. Lewin was happy to collect his second victory of the year with Howells second.

Butcher got ahead of Albutt at the start and withstood great pressure from the Class 2 leader before finishing third and taking his best result of the season. Albutt was keen to pass Butcher as class rival Brown was closing in fast after starting down in tenth after his troubled first race. Brown caught Butcher and Albutt as their fighting slowed them, but watched Chamberlain lose his wheel. “I thought: 'where was the wheel?' I looked to my right and saw it heading towards me. I braked and it clipped the front of my car smashing a headlight,” Brown explained. In the incident he lost touch with Albutt, and settled for second in class and sixth overall.

Mike Johnson’s 911SC made the initial running in Class 3, but it was Burtt who came through to complete a double victory. Wayne Jackson joined in to make it a great three-way class battle and finished just ahead of Johnson in his 944 Turbo.

Charles Winterhalder (944) held on to Eacock for several laps before the Class 4 pacesetter was able to draw clear.