Warhurst impresses on Sprint Challenge debut
THREE overall podium finishes were claimed by Team Parker Racing to open the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB season at its home circuit of Donington Park.
Debutant Joe Warhurst impressed, securing a pair of second places and adding a third, while Matt Armstrong, Robert Cronin and John White battled tricky conditions on the second day, where wet weather settled in over the Leicestershire venue.
Qualifying on Saturday morning was a closely fought session, with both Armstrong and Warhurst battling for the top spot, eventually finishing second and third respectively.
Cronin did well on his debut, eighth fastest in the Pro class, while White crossed the line 10th in Am.
On second fastest times, which set the grid for race two, Warhurst finished on pole on his debut, with Armstrong fifth, while Cronin and White were once again eighth and 10th in class.
All four drivers got off the line well for race one that afternoon, with White and Cronin doing well to avoid the stalled machine of Max Coates.
Armstrong fell back two positions as Steve Roberts got past into McLeans, which helped Will Jenkins get ahead as well, while Warhurst continued to put pressure on Toby Trice for the lead.
An error by Jenkins gave Armstrong a chance for fourth in the closing stages, but as he made the move, he had a slide coming out of Redgate and fell back to fifth again.
Race two on Sunday morning was in cold and wet conditions on track, which caught out Armstrong on the opening lap as he touched the kerb going into the Old Hairpin and spun at speed into the barriers.
Warhurst was quickly into the battle for the lead, fending off Trice before the safety car was called.
After a second SC period, Warhurst came under pressure from Steve Roberts, relinquishing the lead, but he held on for another second place finish, while Cronin and White both brought it home in seventh place in Pro and Am.
Sadly, the safety car was called on the opening lap of race three as White and Neil Tofts came together at Coppice, with both ending up in the gravel.
The race restarted with 11 minutes on the clock, with Warhurst settling into second place, while Armstrong began to make his way through the field and Cronin enjoyed a four-car battle for seventh overall.
In the closing minutes, Warhurst came under increasing pressure from Max Coates, who managed to get past into the final chicane.
The youngster fought back on the final lap, but also had to watch his mirrors as Trice joined the battle.
However, he held on, making it a hat-trick of podiums on his debut, while Armstrong managed to get past Cronin for seventh in Pro.
The Porsche Sprint Challenge GB side of the team will next be in action at Snetterton over the weekend of May 20/21 for rounds four, five and six of the season