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Official Race Report from Paul Lawrence
Chamberlain on top at Thruxton
Richard Chamberlain was in dominant form in the Michelin Porsche Open
Series double-header at Thruxton over the weekend (20/21 August). In the
classes Mark Albutt, John Allen and Charles Winterhalder each took a brace
of victories at the challenging Hampshire track.
Qualifying
Although he set pole, Chamberlain had a big scare in qualifying when the
935 shed a rear wheel at the high-speed Church Corner. "I was just
starting to wind it up! It was my job to tighten the wheel nuts and I
forgot," admitted Chamberlain. Fortunately, there was no damage and
the car was ready for the race.
Racing at Thruxton for the first time, and using a standard H-pattern
gearbox, kept Rupert Lewin some way adrift in second in his 996GT2R, as
Paul Howells (993GT2) and Tony Brown (964RSR) completed the top four.
John Allen (993 Supercup) headed class three on his first visit to Thruxton,
while Charles Winterhalder (994) topped class four.
Race one
Chamberlain romped clear on the opening lap to lay the foundations of
victory. His prodigious pace quickly took him clear of Lewin who, in turn,
edged clear of Howells. However, Lewin was not destined to finish as a
water leak developed in the closing stages and he parked up rather than
risk major damage. "It was running hot from an early stage and then
the temperature went through the roof, so I switched it off," explained
Rupert.
Meanwhile, only Howells stayed on the same lap as Chamberlain. "It
was a bit slippy out there after the trucks, but the car is going well,"
reported Chamberlain. Howells moved up to second as the dice of the race
developed between Tony Brown and Allbutt (911GT3 Cup) over class two honours.
It was nip and tuck throughout, with the place changing many times. Eventually,
Allbutt was just ahead when it mattered. "That was a very tough race,"
he said after his Thruxton debut. "Tony made it very difficult to
pass!"
Allen took class three, but had to watch his mirrors for Mark Lillington
(968CS) who gave a spirited chase. "All I had to do was keep in front
of him," admitted Allen. The final class win went to Winterhalder
over the similar car of Andy Brown. "I had a great tussle with Andy
in the first few laps and he was keeping me very honest," said Winterhalder.
Race two
It was Chamberlain in dominant form at the front again in race two, this
time lapping the entire field as the high-speed sweeps of Thruxton allowed
him to stretch the legs of his 935. Howells actually led through the first
corner before Chamberlain blasted by and was second until Lewin, starting
from the back of the grid, went past on lap five.
Lewin was struggling for grip in the latter laps and could mount no further
chase of the flying leader, and was himself lapped on the final tour.
"It was a lot of fun to put on a show like that for such a good crowd,"
said Chamberlain afterwards.
Howells took third, while Tony Brown held off class two leader Albutt
all race only to lose momentum exiting the chicane for the final time
and lose the drag race to the line – and with it fourth place.
"I got a good run through from the back," said Lewin. "But
by the time I was into second my rear tyres had gone. With that and the
fact the track was slippery from the trucks that had races before us,
there was nothing more I could do."
Both Allen and Winterhalder again won their classes to complete perfect
weekends.
| QUALIFYING |
| POS |
NO |
CL |
NAME |
NAT |
ENTRY |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
MPH |
| 1 |
5 |
1 |
Richard
CHAMBERLAIN |
|
Porsche
935 |
1:16.682 |
6 |
|
110.60 |
| 2 |
16 |
1 |
Rupert
LEWIN |
|
Porsche
GT ZR |
1:23.008 |
10 |
6.326 |
102.17 |
| 3 |
3 |
1 |
Paul
HOWELLS |
|
Porsche
993 GT2 |
1:24.897 |
10 |
8.215 |
99.90 |
| 4 |
10 |
2 |
Tony
BROWN |
|
Porsche
964 RSR |
1:26.847 |
10 |
10.165 |
97.66 |
| 5 |
42 |
3 |
John
ALLEN |
|
Porsche
993 Supercup |
1:30.216 |
10 |
13.534 |
94.01 |
| 6 |
6 |
1 |
Mark
LILLINGTON |
|
Porsche
968 |
1:31.929 |
9 |
15.247 |
92.26 |
| 7 |
38 |
2 |
Mark
ALBUTT |
|
Porsche
GT3 Cup |
1:32.590 |
10 |
15.908 |
91.60 |
| 8 |
40 |
2 |
Martin
HARVEY |
|
Porsche
930 Turbo |
1:37.312 |
6 |
20.630 |
87.15 |
| 9 |
27 |
4 |
Charles
WINTERHALDER |
|
Porsche
944 |
1:39.615 |
9 |
22.933 |
85.14 |
| 10 |
94 |
4 |
Andy
BROWN |
|
Porsche
944 |
1:40.839 |
9 |
24.157 |
84.11 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| RACE
1 |
| POS |
NO |
CL |
NAME |
NAT |
ENTRY |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
MPH |
BEST |
| 1 |
5 |
1 |
Richard
CHAMBERLAIN |
|
Porsche
935 |
15:55.382 |
12 |
|
106.53 |
1:17.585 |
| 2 |
3 |
1 |
Paul
HOWELLS |
|
Porsche
993 GT2 |
17:10.022 |
12 |
1:14.640 |
98.81 |
1:24.543 |
| 3 |
38 |
2 |
Mark
ALBUTT |
|
Porsche
GT3 Cup |
16:20.766 |
11 |
1
LAP |
95.12 |
1:27.118 |
| 4 |
10 |
2 |
Tony
BROWN |
|
Porsche
964 RSR |
16:22.343 |
11 |
1
LAP |
94.97 |
1:28.144 |
| 5 |
42 |
3 |
John
ALLEN |
|
Porsche
993 Supercup |
16:46.541 |
11 |
1
LAP |
92.69 |
1:30.198 |
| 6 |
6 |
3 |
Mark
LILLINGTON |
|
Porsche
968 |
16:47.203 |
11 |
1
LAP |
92.63 |
1:29.568 |
| 7 |
27 |
4 |
Charles
WINTERHALDER |
|
Porsche
944 |
16:27.223 |
10 |
2
LAPS |
85.91 |
1:36.800 |
| 8 |
94 |
4 |
Andy
BROWN |
|
Porsche
944 |
16:46.814 |
10 |
2
LAPS |
84.24 |
1:37.793 |
| Not
Classified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
16 |
1 |
Rupert
LEWIN |
|
Porsche
GT ZR |
12:36.154 |
9 |
D.N.F. |
100.95 |
1:22.353 |
| |
40 |
2 |
Martin
HARVEY |
|
Porsche
930 Turbo |
8:19.624 |
5 |
D.N.F. |
84.88 |
1:35.842 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fastest
Lap |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
5 |
1 |
Richard
CHAMBERLAIN |
|
Porsche
935 |
1:17.585 |
3 |
175.93kph |
109.32 |
|
| |
38 |
2 |
Mark
ALBUTT |
|
Porsche
GT3 Cup |
1:27.118 |
7 |
156.68kph |
97.35 |
|
| |
6 |
3 |
Mark
LILLINGTON |
|
Porsche
968 |
1:29.568 |
11 |
152.39kph |
94.69 |
|
| |
27 |
4 |
Charles
WINTERHALDER |
|
Porsche
944 |
1:36.800 |
7 |
141.01kph |
87.62 |
|
| RACE 2 |
| POS |
NO |
CL |
NAME |
NAT |
ENTRY |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
MPH |
BEST |
| 1 |
5 |
1 |
Richard
CHAMBERLAIN |
|
Porsche
935 |
15:40.319 |
12 |
|
108.23 |
1:16.560 |
| 2 |
16 |
1 |
Rupert
LEWIN |
|
Porsche
GT ZR |
15:41.427 |
11 |
1
LAP |
99.10 |
1:23.247 |
| 3 |
3 |
1 |
Paul
HOWELLS |
|
Porsche
993 GT2 |
15:42.693 |
11 |
1
LAP |
98.96 |
1:24.245 |
| 4 |
38 |
2 |
Mark
ALBUTT |
|
Porsche
GT3 Cup |
16:15.231 |
11 |
1
LAP |
95.66 |
1:26.547 |
| 5 |
10 |
2 |
Tony
BROWN |
|
Porsche
964 RSR |
16:15.329 |
11 |
1
LAP |
95.65 |
1:26.732 |
| 6 |
42 |
3 |
John
ALLEN |
|
Porsche
993 Supercup |
16:43.267 |
11 |
1
LAP |
92.99 |
1:29.393 |
| 7 |
1 |
3 |
Lewis
TOOTELL |
|
968
CS |
16:52.866 |
11 |
1
LAP |
92.11 |
1:30.294 |
| 8 |
6 |
3 |
Mark
LILLINGTON |
|
Porsche
968 |
16:53.292 |
11 |
1
LAP |
92.07 |
1:30.184 |
| 9 |
27 |
4 |
Charles
WINTERHALDER |
|
Porsche
944 |
16:28.827 |
10 |
2
LAPS |
85.77 |
1:37.101 |
| 10 |
94 |
4 |
Andy
BROWN |
|
Porsche
944 |
16:52.408 |
10 |
2
LAPS |
83.77 |
1:39.128 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fastest
Lap |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
5 |
1 |
Richard
CHAMBERLAIN |
|
Porsche
935 |
1:16.560 |
4 |
178.28kph |
110.78 |
|
| |
38 |
2 |
Mark
ALBUTT |
|
Porsche
GT3 Cup |
1:26.547 |
8 |
157.71kph |
98.00 |
|
| |
42 |
3 |
John
ALLEN |
|
Porsche
993 Supercup |
1:29.393 |
4 |
152.69kph |
94.88 |
|
| |
27 |
4 |
Charles
WINTERHALDER |
|
Porsche
944 |
1:37.101 |
2 |
140.57kph |
87.34 |
|
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