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Official Race Report from Paul Lawrence

Double Festival win for Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain made it four wins in a row with victory in both races for the Michelin Porsche Open Series at the Porsche Festival held at Brands Hatch over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Pairing up with Josh Sadler, the duo dominated Sunday’s shortened Bill Taylor Memorial Race, and Chamberlain drove solo on Monday to take the 40-minute encounter in his 935. Class two victories went to Steve Wood/Stuart Scott on Sunday and Craig Rapp on Monday, while Mike Johnson and Wayne Jackson took a win each in class three.

Qualifying
Chamberlain and Sadler planted the 935 on pole position for the one-hour race, but not without their dramas as the car stopped the qualifying session when it ended up in the Paddock Hill Bend gravel trap. "A car in front blew up," explained Chamberlain, "and I was the first car on the scene and was already committed to the corner – and then doing 150mph on oil! The car now needs a lot of gravel cleaned out of it." Rupert Lewin’s 996 GT2R was next quickest, while fourth on the grid were class two pace setters Mark Sumpter/Pete Chambers in the latter's 911GT3 Cup. Johns Allen and Bussell headed class three on the capacity 30-car grid in Allen's 993 Supercup.

Race one
Lewin made the best start and claimed the inside line into Paddock Hill Bend, only for Chamberlain to switch wide and go past round the outside of the corner. From then on the 935 was flying, and lapping slower cars by lap eight, as Chamberlain pulled clear. Lewin came under pressure from ex-Formula One racer Slim Borgudd in the 911 GT3RS he was sharing with Gerry Harrison, before the power of Lewin’s car told in traffic.
As the pit stop window opened Chamberlain stayed out before making a late stop, while Lewin retired with a water leak. The Wood/Scott 911 GT3 had climbed though the order early in the race after a tardy start, to be second after all had made their stop, with Harrison running third. Paul Daniels spun into the Druids gravel from eighth and when his car couldn’t be removed the race was stopped with 11 minutes remaining.
"That was a hot and difficult race, it was hard work with all the traffic," said Chamberlain. "I’ve not won the Bill Taylor before, it’s a special race but a fun race too." "I was happy sitting on the wall watching Richard," joked team-mate Sadler, "I’m sure I'm his handicap!"
"That was my first standing start for three years," said Wood in defence of his poor start. "Then I let the tyres come in and was able to gain places – it was nice for us to be on the podium together for the first time."
Sumpter/Chambers claimed fourth overall and first in class two, while class three went to Mike Johnson in a solo run with his 911SC.

Race two
It was Chamberlain all the way in race two, over five seconds clear within two laps and having lapped all the way up to third before the Safety Car came out on lap 28 with two cars off at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend. That put Lewin and Chambers closer to the leader, though further back in the Safety Car queue, but once released with 11 minutes left Chamberlain again pulled clear and was safe for his fourth consecutive win.
Lewin looked on course for second until his water problems struck again, while Chambers clashed with Daniels when lapping the fifth placed driver and they both went off at Surtees. That raised Craig Rapp’s 911GT3 to second overall and class two victory.
"I'm pleased to win four in a row, but we had a misfire from about half way," said Chamberlain. "We were still fast enough to win, and there are two races left now – it would be great to win those as well."
"A fantastic race, I loved every moment of it!" declared a happy Rapp. "I got a good start, and battled with Pete Chambers for position. I was with him when I touched with a backmarker at Paddock and lost ground, which put me behind the leader in the Safety Car queue and I effectively lost a lap to Pete."
Johnson had led class three before going off at Paddock – one of the cars to bring out the Safety Car – and Wayne Jackson (944 Turbo) benefited to take class victory.

Bill Taylor Memorial Race  - QUALIFYING
 POS   NO   CL   NAME    NAT   CAR    TIME   LAPS   GAP   MPH 
 1   5   1   Chamberlain/Sadler      Porsche 935   47.876   16       92.20  
 2   16   1   Lewin      Porsche 996 GT2-R   50.220   10   2.344    87.90  
 3   61   1   Scott/Wood      Porsche 996 GT3 Cup   50.416   24   2.540    87.55  
 4   28   2   Sumpter/Chambers      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   50.651   23   2.775    87.15  
 5   51   2   Firman/Morris      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   51.543   20   3.667    85.64  
 6   14   2   Rapp/Richardson      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   51.600   24   3.724    85.54  
 7   41   2   Rotsaert/Gaw      Porsche 964 RSR   51.722   14   3.846    85.34  
 8   9   1   Harrison/Borgudd      Porsche 911 GT3 RS   51.951   23   4.075    84.97  
 9   3   1   Howells      Porsche 993 GT2   52.421   19   4.545    84.20  
 10   57   2   Breslin/Breslin      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   52.614   19   4.738    83.90  
 11   33   1   Daniels      Porsche 993 GT2   52.716   18   4.840    83.73  
 12   37   2   Stephenson      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   53.773   20   5.897    82.09  
 13   42   3   Allen/Bussell      Porsche 993 Super Cup   53.902   20   6.026    81.89  
 14   38   2   Albutt      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   54.090   22   6.214    81.61  
 15   78   1   Griffiths/Shepherd      Porsche 935   54.098   6   6.222    81.59  
 16   10   2   Brown      Porsche 964 RSR   54.181   21   6.305    81.47  
 17   48   2   Waples      Porsche 965 Turbo   54.629   19   6.753    80.80  
 18   50   3   Johnson      Porsche 911 SC   55.177   22   7.301    80.00  
 19   63   3   Hellier/Allam      Porsche 933   55.692   20   7.816    79.26  
 20   6   3   Lillington/Moss      Porsche 968 CS   55.798   21   7.922    79.11  
 21   34   1   Price      Porsche 911 RS Turbo   56.596   21   8.720    77.99  
 22   64   3   McHugh      Porsche 944 S2   56.866   11   8.990    77.62  
 23   60   3   Bryan      Porsche 928 GT5   57.288   21   9.412    77.05  
 24   88   3   Chalmers      Porsche 911 SC   57.415   18   9.539    76.88  
 25   40   2   Harvey      Porsche Turbo   57.690   9   9.814    76.51  
 26   43   2   Mifsud      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   58.292   11   10.416    75.72  
 27   29   3   Bridgwood      Porsche 911 SC   58.379   12   10.503    75.61  
 28   20   3   Tootell/Tootell      Porsche 968 CS   58.409   12   10.533    75.57  
 29   53   2   Masarati      Porsche 911 Turbo   58.573   12   10.697    75.36  
 30   17   3   Dodge/Bennett-Baggs      Porsche 996 C2 Coupe   58.896   16   11.020    74.95  
 31   44   3   Reay-Young/Mifsud      Porsche 944 Turbo   59.156   12   11.280    74.62  
 32   46   3   Herbert/Winter      Porsche 914-6 GT   59.206   16   11.330    74.55  
 33   47   3   Jackson      Porsche 944 Turbo   59.406   6   11.530    74.30  
 34   1   3   Taylor/Taylor      Porsche Carrera RS   59.689   19   11.813    73.95  
 35   79   2   Gregory/Burnett      Porsche   1:02.355   19   14.479    70.79  
 36   68   3   Whelan/Gaffney      Porsche 911   1:02.575   18   14.699    70.54  
 37   26   3   Hilliard/Crego      Porsche 944 S2   1:02.811   8   14.935    70.27  
   
  Start Time : 12:11
Weather / Track : Sunny / Dry  End Time : 12:49
Copyright © 2005 MST Sports Timing Ltd. All Rights Reserved Printed : 12:54 Sunday 28 August 2005

Michelin Porsche Open / Bill Taylor Memorial Race  - RACE RESULT
 POS   NO   CL   NAME    NAT   CAR    TIME   LAPS   GAP   MPH   BEST 
 1   5   1   Chamberlain/Sadler      Porsche 935   47:14.523   53       82.56    48.153  
 2   61   1   Scott/Wood      Porsche 996 GT3 Cup   47:16.027   52   1 LAP    80.96    50.502  
 3   9   1   Harrison/Borgudd      Porsche 911 GT3 RS   47:18.174   52   1 LAP    80.90    50.251  
 4   28   2   Sumpter/Chambers      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   47:23.655   52   1 LAP    80.74    50.488  
 5   14   2   Rapp/Richardson      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   47:17.733   51   2 LAPS    79.35    51.010  
 6   3   1   Howells      Porsche 993 GT2   47:27.851   51   2 LAPS    79.07    50.972  
 7   51   2   Firman/Morris      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   47:30.932   51   2 LAPS    78.99    51.199  
 8   57   2   Breslin/Breslin      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   47:31.888   51   2 LAPS    78.96    51.598  
 9   38   2   Albutt      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   47:23.119   49   4 LAPS    76.10    53.666  
 10   48   2   Waples      Porsche 965 Turbo   47:24.536   49   4 LAPS    76.06    54.126  
 11   41   2   Rotsaert/Gaw      Porsche 964 RSR   47:25.459   49   4 LAPS    76.04    52.167  
 12   10   2   Brown      Porsche 964 RSR   47:19.276   48   5 LAPS    74.65    52.999  
 13   50   3   Johnson      Porsche 911 SC   47:25.861   48   5 LAPS    74.47    55.327  
 14   64   3   McHugh      Porsche 944 S2   47:17.032   47   6 LAPS    73.15    56.244  
 15   63   3   Hellier/Allam      Porsche 933   47:18.603   47   6 LAPS    73.11    55.133  
 16   53   2   Masarati      Porsche 911 Turbo   47:34.389   47   6 LAPS    72.70    56.267  
 17   60   3   Bryan      Porsche 928 GT5   47:21.614   46   7 LAPS    71.48    57.103  
 18   1   3   Taylor/Taylor      Porsche Carrera RS   47:15.259   45   8 LAPS    70.08    57.678  
 19   42   3   Allen/Bussell      Porsche 993 Super Cup   47:29.571   45   8 LAPS    69.73    53.972  
 20   46   3   Herbert/Winter      Porsche 914-6 GT   47:30.157   43   10 LAPS    66.62    59.707  
 21   79   2   Gregory/Burnett      Porsche   47:28.872   41   12 LAPS    63.55    1:02.225  
 Not Classified              
   33   1   Daniels      Porsche 993 GT2   41:01.421   45   N.C.F.    80.73    51.503  
   68   3   Whelan/Gaffney      Porsche 911   47:44.115   33   N.C.F.    50.88    1:01.576  
   88   3   Chalmers      Porsche 911 SC   47:42.228   29   N.C.F.    44.74    57.604  
   16   1   Lewin      Porsche 996 GT2-R   24:59.210   28   D.N.F.    82.48    50.029  
   6   3   Lillington/Moss      Porsche 968 CS   25:56.893   27   D.N.F.    76.59    56.115  
   17   3   Dodge/Bennett-Baggs      Porsche 996 C2 Coupe   26:37.995   27   D.N.F.    74.62    57.021  
   78   1   Griffiths/Shepherd      Porsche 935   13:04.707   13   D.N.F.    73.21    53.470  
   34   1   Price      Porsche 911 RS Turbo   16:36.400   9   D.N.F.    39.94    57.780  
   37   2   Stephenson      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup      0   D.N.F.    N/A       
 Fastest Lap                
   5   1   Chamberlain/Sadler      Porsche 935   48.153    36   147.53kph    91.67    
   28   2   Sumpter/Chambers      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   50.488    5   140.71kph    87.43    
   42   3   Allen/Bussell      Porsche 993 Super Cup   53.972    40   131.62kph    81.78    
   
Car No 33 - Not Classified - Not Running at Red Flag  Start Time : 17:17
Weather / Track : Sunny / Dry  End Time : 18:06
Copyright © 2005 MST Sports Timing Ltd. All Rights Reserved Printed : 18:21 Sunday 28 August 2005

Porsche Open Championship  - RACE 2 RESULT
 POS   NO   CL   NAME    NAT   CAR    TIME   LAPS   GAP   MPH   BEST 
 1   5   1   Richard CHAMBERLAIN      Porsche 935   39:59.573   45       82.81    48.421  
 2   14   2   Craig RAPP      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   40:31.080   44   1 LAP    79.92    50.884  
 3   3   1   Paul HOWELLS      Porsche 993 GT2   40:10.775   43   2 LAPS    78.76    51.494  
 4   9   1   Gerry HARRISON      Porsche 911 GT3 RS   40:22.200   43   2 LAPS    78.39    52.039  
 5   41   2   John GAW      Porsche 964 RSR   40:22.839   43   2 LAPS    78.37    51.787  
 6   51   2   Henry FIRMAN      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   40:31.857   43   2 LAPS    78.08    52.167  
 7   48   2   John WAPLES      Porsche 965 Turbo   40:24.720   42   3 LAPS    76.49    54.403  
 8   43   2   Simon MIFSUD      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   40:26.797   42   3 LAPS    76.42    54.056  
 9   78   1   Andy SHEPHERD      Porsche 935   40:41.364   42   3 LAPS    75.96    52.918  
 10   28   2   Peter CHAMBERS      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   37:15.642   41   4 LAPS    80.98    51.106  
 11   47   3   Wayne JACKSON      Porsche 944 Turbo   40:11.661   41   4 LAPS    75.07    54.320  
 12   42   3   John ALLEN      Porsche 993 Super Cup   40:14.178   41   4 LAPS    74.99    54.711  
 13   63   3   Graham HELLIER      Porsche 933   40:16.260   41   4 LAPS    74.93    55.052  
 14   64   3   Tom McHUGH      Porsche 944 S2   40:49.070   41   4 LAPS    73.92    56.275  
 15   6   3   Mark LILLINGTON      Porsche 968 CS   40:49.815   41   4 LAPS    73.90    56.402  
 16   33   1   Paul DANIELS      Porsche 993 GT2   37:15.445   40   5 LAPS    79.01    52.011  
 17   60   3   Tim BRYAN      Porsche 928 GT5   40:47.806   40   5 LAPS    72.16    57.339  
 18   17   3   Martin DODGE      Porsche 996 C2 Coupe   40:48.877   40   5 LAPS    72.13    57.094  
 19   16   1   Rupert LEWIN      Porsche 996 GT2-R   35:17.848   39   6 LAPS    81.32    49.869  
 20   88   3   Andrew CHALMERS      Porsche 911 SC   40:02.983   39   6 LAPS    71.67    57.905  
 21   20   3   Gary TOOTELL      Porsche 968 CS   40:03.354   39   6 LAPS    71.66    57.576  
 22   26   3   James HILLIARD      Porsche 944 S2   40:04.400   39   6 LAPS    71.63    57.589  
 23   34   1   Phil PRICE      Porsche 911 RS Turbo   40:10.933   39   6 LAPS    71.43    57.188  
 24   46   3   Steve WINTER      Porsche 914-6 GT   40:08.177   37   8 LAPS    67.85    59.505  
 25   57   2   Robin CLARKE      Porsche GT3 Cup   40:54.171   35   10 LAPS    62.98    56.322  
 Not Classified              
   50   3   Mike JOHNSON      Porsche 911 SC   22:46.181   24   D.N.F.    77.59    55.350  
   37   2   Mark STEPHENSON      Porsche 911 GT3 Cup   18:08.630   19   D.N.F.    77.10    54.625  
   68   3   Ted GAFFNEY      Porsche 911   9:35.956   9   D.N.F.    69.09