Off to a flyer with hat-trick of wins
TEAM PARKER RACING ENJOYS A SUCCESSFUL OPENING WEEKEND IN PORSCHE CARRERA CUP GB
TEAM Parker Racing claimed a hattrick of victories and two further podium appearances on a successful start to its Porsche Carrera Cup GB season at Donington Park.
The Desford-based team has a sixcar line-up this season, with Porsche GB Junior Driver Adam Smalley and Porsche Sprint Challenge GB champion Harry Foster teaming up as Duckhams Yuasa Racing with Team Parker.
Competing under the Team Parker Racing banner were Pro-Am rivals Ryan Ratcliffe – the 2021 champion – and teenager Will Aspin, while Jake Giddings and Justin Sherwood linked up as Parker Classic Works.
Margins were fine for qualifying on Saturday, with Smalley going quickest in the early running and then setting an even faster time in the closing stages to claim pole position, with Foster ninth in Pro.
In Pro-Am, Aspin finished third fastest, with Giddings fourth, and Ratcliffe fifth, while in Am Sherwood took pole on his series return.
Smalley started the opening race well in damp and difficult conditions.
He fought off the attentions of Robert De Haan to hold the lead, but slipped behind after mid-race as his rival found pace in the mixed conditions.
Foster fell back in the early laps, but then put in a strong recovery drive to make his way back up the order overall.
After a brief late safety car, Smalley renewed the pressure on De Haan for the race lead but was unable to get past.
Giddings was also battling for top spot in Pro-Am, briefly taking the lead but then sliding wide to finish fifth, just behind Ratcliffe.
Aspin stopped early in the race to try slick tyres, which took plenty of time to come up to temperature, though once they did he was the fastest car on track by more than a second.
In Am, meanwhile, Sherwood had a comfortable lead, clinching the win on his series return.
Track conditions were even tougher for race two as heavy rain made it difficult for all but the first few cars to
have a clear view in the opening laps.
Smalley started superbly, passing all three cars ahead of him to take the lead, which he would not relinquish to the flag.
Foster moved up two overall positions to claim a solid fifth, while Ratcliffe battled well in Pro-Am, keeping pace with the class leader.
He was unable to get within striking distance for the win but collected a good podium.
It was a tougher contest for Aspin and Giddings in Pro-Am, with the former being given a five-second time penalty and the latter suffering trips through the gravel.
However, in Am, Sherwood assumed the lead for most wins in the category with his second victory of the weekend in dominant style, crossing the line a full lap ahead of the next car in class.
Smalley said: “I started fourth for race two, overtook three cars on the first lap, and then pulled out a four second lead to win the race. It was a near perfect weekend.” Leicestershire-based racer and businessman Sherwood said: “The car was great throughout the weekend.
“The first race we were just hanging on with the tyres going off and the track drying out, but it was great to get the win.”
The team will return to Porsche Carrera Cup GB action on May 6/7, with rounds three and four of the season at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent.