Fun in the Snetterton Sun

Close racing at the front of the field and many new faces on the podium were the standout hallmarks of the CALM All Porsche Trophy’s summer visit to a sun kissed Snetterton for a programme of two 15-minute Sprint races and a 40-minute Enduro.

Qualifying

26 cars took part in Saturday’s Qualifying, not including Tom McHugh’s Boxster, with Tom nursing an injured hand after an incident in Friday testing.

It was all change at the front, with series returnee Christian Walker taking pole almost a second clear of Warren Allen’s similar Cayman. Richard Neall was next up in his 911.

First SP2 runner was the shared Boxster of James Brodie and the very experienced Alex Buncombe. 5th on the grid was the 968 shared by Kevin Childs and James Gornall which was almost 3 seconds clear of the next SP3 runner Al Crego. Chris Mills was 6th in his 911 ahead of another returnee, Steve Cheetham in his Cayman ahead of Grant Jackson’s similar car. Second SP2 car was Jason Pelosi’s Boxster closely followed by Andy Duce in his Boxster. 3rd in SP3 was the Carey family 968 with Nick and James at the wheel, while SP4 had Aiden and Andrew Crockett taking pole from newcomers Mark Palmer/Charlie Brisker with Finn Voar completing the 924 trio on an almost identical time to the green 924.

Race 1 – 15-minute Sprint Saturday

The front row Caymans of Christian Walker and Warren Allen both made good starts with Warren gaining the initiative, and by the end of lap one they were 4 seconds clear of the Alex Buncombe Boxster in a highly impressive P3. The leading pair were never more than a few tenths apart, side by side across the line at one point, but with Warren always just ahead. After 15 minutes and 7 laps of racing they crossed the line with Warren fractionally ahead, but by the time the Chequered Flag was waved after 8 laps, Christian was in front. As the leader after 15 minutes were completed, Warren was the official winner, but Christian was later awarded the winner's trophy for his moral victory.

Behind this battling duo Richard Neall was third overall after the Buncombe Boxster slowed with an oil leak, but still taking the SP2 class win and 4th overall.

There were battles throughout the field, including Steve Cheetham just pipping Chris Mills to 5th and Grant Jackson’s Cayman 0.3 seconds ahead of Andy Duce’s SP2 Boxster, which took 2nd in class ahead of Jason Pelosi.

The James Gornall 968 was running comfortably in the top 6 and leading the class until a blown head gasket caused his retirement, leaving the SP3 win to Dan Crego from Nick Carey and Ryan Mone’s 944S2.

The SP4 924 battle went to Aiden Crockett from Mark Palmer after Finn Voar was an early retirement.

Race 2 – 15-minute Sprint Sunday

24 cars took to the grid for Sunday’s Sprint in noticeably cooler conditions. There was no sign of the Finn Voar 924 and Kevin Childs’ poorly 968. However, Steve Lloyd had replaced the 968 that failed in Qualifying with a Boxster and lined up at the tail of the grid.

Richard Neall took an immediate lead but was passed by Warren Allen’s Cayman on lap 1, with Warren leading thereafter. However, Richard gave chase and kept him very much on his toes, finishing just 0.3 seconds behind after the 15 minutes concluded. Christian Walker stalled on the start line and was almost last as they got away. He immediately started making up places, completing lap 1 in sixth place, reaching 3rd by lap 3. He broke the lap record 3 times as he chased the leading pair but ran out of laps to finish in P3 after an exciting drive. Steve Cheetham was 4th, well clear of Chris Mills in his 911.

The SP2 class featured a race-long scrap between James Pelosi and Andrew Duce in P1 and P2,with James taking the honours. A few seconds back, the midfield saw a frantic and very close battle of Caymans, Boxsters and 968s, finally resolved with Dan Crego first to the flag and taking the SP3 win ahead of Alexandra Willard’s Cayman, James Brodie 3rd in SP2, Jamie McHugh next up in another Boxster and James Carey 2nd in SP3, fractionally ahead of Boxster mounted Garry Goodwin and Martin Mason. Theo Bridgeman-Williams took the final SP3 podium step, while SP4 was won by Andrew Crockett from series debutante Charlie Brisker.

Race 3 – 40-minute Endurance Sunday

24 cars took to the track, with Mark Callahan’s Boxster a non-starter after electrical problems.

Warren Allen made another great start, leading the way round lap1. Behind him chaos broke out at turn 3 as some of the very closely bunched front runners made slight contact and/or took to the grass to avoid other cars, including the unfortunate Christian Walker, Steve Cheetham’s Cayman and Richard Neall’s 911, the latter 2 retiring soon after.

After one lap Warren held a 4 second lead over Grant Jackson, who started on the 4th row and managed to avoid the turn 3 dramas.

Grant was passed on the next lap by a rapid Alex Buncombe, with Chris Mills another driver to benefit from a clean start next up.

Behind him, Christian Walker embarked on another charge through the field, moving from 15th on lap 1 to 4th by lap 4.

On lap 5 the Safety Car was deployed with a car stopped in a dangerous position, and it was still circulating as the pit window opened. The majority of the field pitted, and on race resumption the order was Warren almost a lap ahead from the Buncombe/Brodie Boxster, Chris Mills’ 911, the recovering Christian Walker, Andy Duce’s Boxster and, thanks to some excellent pit work combined with genuine pace, Garry Goodwin, Rich Gravestock in his Cayman and Fern Getino in a Boxster.

Racing resumed on lap 7, but by lap 9 it was another Safety Car period, this time lasting to the Chequered Flag as Andy Duce’s Boxster was recovered after a scary incident at Turn 1 which saw the car stranded by the tyre wall.

The results were finalised with the order at lap 9 becoming the final finishing order, and a few fresh faces on the podium. Rich Gravestock took P3 in SP1 behind Warren Allen and Christian Walker, Garry Goodwin was a well-deserved winner of SP2, and 3rd overall, winning “Driver of the Day” along the way, from Jamie McHugh, a pacy Fern Getino and Steve Lloyd in his Boxster.

SP3 went the way of Dan Crego from Theo Bridgeman-Williams with Ryan Mone receiving the 3rd place trophy.

SP4 was taken by the Palmer/Brisker 924 from the Crockett car that had the consolation of fastest lap.

The final award was “Best Turned Out” car, with a popular winner being Alex Willard’s stunning Cayman Cup.

Words: John Broadley; photos: Sean Mulcahy