Round 3 - Snetterton

Flat Out in the Flatlands as CALM All Porsche Trophy visits Snetterton

(14 and 15 June 2025)

Results

Sean Mulcahy Pictures

After a night of violent thunderstorms and torrential rain, 32 Porsches were met with a slippery but drying Snetterton 300 circuit as they set out on their first Qualifying laps for the CALM All Porsche Trophy (CAP) visit to the wide open spaces of Norfolk.

The two Caymans of Warren Allen and Christian Walker swapped fastest times throughout the session, with pole finally settled in Christian’s favour by just 0.1 sec. Peter Dilnot was third SP1 car, lining up on the second row with the quickest of the SP2s, Jon Walker in his Boxster. Series returnee Richard Neall in an SP1 911 shared the next row with Andrew Duce’s SP2 Boxster ahead of Baz Darcy and Colin Tester in their Boxsters.SP3 was headed by the Dom McGhee/Sean Connolly Boxster separated by just 0.3 seconds from Dan Crego’s familiar 968, both some way ahead of Nick Carey, third in another 968.

Andy Whiting was well clear at the front of the SP4 field in his 924S from Hugh Peart and a rare outing from CAP founder Phil Waters, sharing his 924 with Chris Valentine in P3.Paul Simpson – race winner at Brands Hatch in his rapid SP1 Cayman – lined up at the back of the grid, after experiencing severe handling issues.

 Race 1 – 15 Minute Sprint Saturday

There was confusion before start of the race as polesitter Christian Walker ground to a halt on the Green Flag Lap with an electrical fault. The rest of field, now led by Warren Allen, completed a further GFL,  although Warren did yet another lone GFL to finally line up at the back of the grid.

The race was shortened to just 5 laps, which made for an incident packed race with spins galore and some very close racing.

Richard Neall made the most of the starting confusion, leaping into the lead, and pulling out a comfortable 3.6 seconds after one lap, extending this to 11 seconds by the flag and a well deserved victory. In contrast, P2 was initially fought over fiercely by Peter Dilnot (996) and Tim Bates (911), finishing just 5 hundredths of a second apart, although both were passed just before the flag by the flying Warren Allen, who had climbed from dead last to P2 by lap 5 – a remarkable drive.

SP2 victor was Jon Walker, ahead of Andy Duce by just 0.2 seconds, with Baz Barcy a further 2.5 secs back.

Dan Crego took the SP3 win after Sean Connolly’s Boxster engine blew whilst leading what was his first ever motor race, later winning Driver of the Day for this achievement.

Dan’s race wasn’t without incident, surviving a coming together with Paul Simpson’s Cayman which was scything its way through the field from the back row after the qualifying problems were resolved. A delighted second in SP3 was Steve Potts, out for the first time in his newly acquired 968, and finishing just 1.8 seconds clear of Rich Gravestock in yet another 968.

Hugh Peart took the SP4 win from Andy Whiting by 1.7 seconds after overtaking on lap 2, the pair circulating very closely right up to the chequered flag, and clear of Chris Valentine in P3.

Race 2  - 15 Minute Sprint Sunday

Two non starters meant that 30 cars started the second Sprint of the weekend, with race 1 winner Richard Neall sharing the front row of the grid with Warren Allen. This pair set off at a tremendous pace, with Richard in the lead, only for Warren to pass on lap 2. He wasn’t getting away though and Richard chased him hard to the flag, setting the weekend’s fastest lap in the process, only dropping back slightly as they lapped backmarkers, leaving the win to Warren and his Cayman.

Christian Walker, starting from the back row after his Race 1 DNF was next up. An impressive 8th after lap 1, he pushed hard throughout, making third place by lap 5, and holding this to the end to take the final podium place.

Jon Walker and Andy Duce continued their SP2 battle from race one, finishing just 0.3 seconds apart, once again in Jon’s favour. The number 27 Boxster was again 3rd, but this time pedalled by Warren McKinlay having enjoyed a close battle with Colin Tester in P4.

With Dom McGhee’s Boxster non starting, it was a comfortable SP3 win for Dan Crego, ahead of Rich Gravestock and Steve Potts, who was chased all the way by Nick Carey, all in 968s. It was Hugh Peart’s turn to win SP4, this time from Andy Whiting, but both were eclipsed in the early laps by Phil Waters, who had his LHD 924 flying until forced to retire with a blown engine after 6 laps. Special mention to James Harvey who was another back row starter after race 1 problems, who battled his Boxster up to 7th in a very competitive SP2 field, winning Driver of the Day in the process.

Race 3 – 40 Minutes Sunday

Chris Bialan’s 944 Turbo was a non starter for the 40 minute pit-stop race after a coming together with Fern Getino’s Boxster in race 2, although Fern was able to make the start.The result was another comfortable overall and SP1 win for Warren Allen’s Cayman, leading all the way except during the mandatory pit stop.

His closest challenger was Richard Nealls’ 911, but 3rd was Paul Simpson’s Cayman. Paul had a quiet race 2, finishing in P7 after starting from the back, but was fully up to speed in the 40 minute race, benefitting from an early Safety Car that allowed him to close up onto the Richard Neal’s tail, but dropping away slightly into a tight battle with Peter Dilnot’s 996. The duo fought closely over the final podium position until a slow pit stop dropped Peter out of contention.

The Safety Car was caused by the unfortunate Christian Walker, who’s Cayman stopped after 1 lap with an on-board fire that was soon extinguished.Andy Duce and Jon Walker were tied together throughout the early stages of the race for the SP2 lead, but a slow pitstop and backmarkers meant that Jon couldn’t get back on terms with Andy by the end, and AD took the class win from Jon, with the pacy Baz Darcy/ Warren McKinlay Boxster a few seconds back for class third.

It was a familiar story in SP3, with another Dan Crego victory, this time with the consistent and rapid Rich Gravestock’s yellow 968 second a few seconds ahead of the similar car driven by Nick Carey.

Just 2 starters and finishers in SP4 saw Andy Whiting victorious from Hugh Peart, both hampered by slow pitstops, with Hugh gaining fastest lap.

The weekend concluded with the award for Best Turned Out car (and in this case driver!) deservedly going to Richard Neall’s beautiful 911 (which is for sale if anyone’s interested).