JENNINGS AND CATON DOUBLE UP
Shamus Jennings and Greg Caton proved to be the stars of the GT Cup weekend. In the first sprint race Richard Neary’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 was in charge, with Jay Shepherd’s Lotus Evora taking second from Jennings’ Porsche 911 GTR GT3 at Redgate just after half distance, not long after Tom Rawlings’ Lamborghini had pitted.
Neary and British GT rival Ian Loggie teamed up in the enduro race, and were looking set for another win until Caton closed in on the final laps. Neary led out of Coppice for the final time, but they were side by side at the chicane, before Caton won the drag to the line, with
Paul Bailey/David Brabham’s Lamborghini third.
Shepherd led Sunday’s enduro from the start, with Neary a constant shadow until he went off at McLeans on lap eight of 41. Shepherd retained a reduced lead after the stops, but couldn’t hold off Caton who surged ahead with six laps left, while Charlotte Gilbert/Rawlings reclaimed third after Brabham was penalised for a short stop.
Shepherd finally got a win in the final sprint race, leading lights to flag from Gilbert and Bailey.
Both Porsche Club races came down to close finishes between Simon Clark and Mark McAleer. Clark had a good early lead in race one, but by half distance it was coming down and McAleer made the decisive move into Redgate a lap from home. McAleer’s son
Jake completed the podium finishers.
Clark’s early lead in race two was wiped out by the safety car, but this time his defence held firm from McAleer, while McAleer Jr once again completed the podium.
Henry Riley got a Production GTI double win. He led the first race from start to finish, while Simon Hill battled to fend off James Colbourne for second, aided by his rival’s trip through the Redgate gravel near the end. That promoted Simon Vercoe to third but he was penalised for track limits, promoting Richard Marsh in turn to the place.
Riley had an early race-two duel with Hill, before regaining the advantage at half distance. Hill briefly dropped to third behind Colbourne then snatched it back in their close battle.
RACE WINNERS
GT Cup
Race 1: Richard Neary (Mercedes AMG GT3) Races 2 & 3: Shamus Jennings/Greg Caton (Porsche 911 GTR GT3)
Race 4: Jay Shepherd (Lotus Evora)
Porsche Club
Race 1: Mark McAleer (997 C2S)
Race 2: Simon Clark (997 Carrera S)
Production GTI
Races 1 & 2: Henry Riley
Sports/Saloons championship Races 1 & 2:
Andrew Southcott (MG Midget Lenham)
Focus Cup
Races 1 & 2: Lewis Clark
Boxster Cup
Race 1: Ryan Charters Race 2: Wayne Gregory
Trackday championship John Lyne (BMW E36)
Trackday Trophy Justin Roberts/Nicole Drought (Honda Civic Type R)