Race Report: Toyo BRSCC Porsches, Brands Hatch, 22-23 Aug 2015

6th September 2015


Race-Report--Toyo-BRSCC-Porsches,-Brands-Hatch,-22-23-Aug-2015-track-days-motorsport-days

Scorching weather greeted the Toyo BRSCC Porsche drivers on Saturday as

they prepared for two races on the short but challenging Kent circuit. A

few of the drivers had arrived on the Friday to test and four of the

lead drivers, including past champion Rick Styrin, had posted best laps

within 0.3 seconds – so we were all expecting some extremely close

racing. New to the grid was Alex Stocker who has bought Syd Combes red

986 that last saw the light of day at Autosport Live a few years back.

Qualifying claimed the 924 of Karl Rossin whose engine explosively

ejected its oil before expiring on the entry of Paddock Hill Bend. The

session was red-flagged while the Orange Army dressed the spillage.

Rick Styrin was correct to predict he might not land another pole in the

Class A cars as Ed Hayes posted 54.638 to take P1 ahead of Garry Lawence

0.323 seconds behind; Adam Southgate was third. Adam Croft kept his form

to take the front row of the 924s alongside David Jones with the

returning Niz El-Chamaa behind in third.

Typical of our friendly and helpful paddock, no less than six were

working on Karl Rossin’s crippled 924 hastily fitting a replacement

engine – including Michael Goodacre – but unfortunately a couple of

sheared cross-member bolts meant there simply wasn’t enough time to

complete the work for the afternoon race. John Cleland’s annoyingly

intermittent electrical problems continued and he was unable to make the

grid.

Race 1 proved eventful to say the least. Garry Lawrence entertained the

crowd with a massive spin at Paddock Hill Bend – he was extremely lucky

to escape with zero contact as the car eventually came to rest at the

bottom of the hill. He recovered but despite his best efforts was unable

to catch the leaders and had to settle for an uncharacteristic 8th place

behind Nick Hull.

Linda Warren was holding a comfortable fourth place when a coolant hose

came adrift through McLaren, dumping collant on the track. This led to

several 924s spinning there on the next lap but it was the unfortunate

Adam Croft whose stranded car – right next to the track – led to the

Clerk of the Course stopping the race after around 13 minutes had

elapsed. Recent red book regulations meant a ‘not classified’ for him

(his first this season) whereas Linda, who had been forced to pit to

save the engine, landed her first ever podium despite not having crossed

the line.

And so it was David Jones who took the Class C win (his first) with the

returning Niz El-Chamaa grabbing vital catch-up points in second and

Linda in 3rd.

Angus Archer was forced to retire his Class A Boxster when part of the

exhaust from Philip Grayson’s newly upgraded car came adrift and

destroyed his central radiator, forcing another retirement.

Michael Goodacre brought his silver 986 home to take P1 as the sole

Class B car. Alex Stocker completed his first ever race unscathed in 9th

and 924 newcomer Jamie Callendar brought his white 924 home P4 in class

– his best of the year.

Rick Styrin was judged to have jumped the start and was thus awarded a

10-second penalty, robbing him of his hard-fought win and leaving Ed

Hayes to take P1 again, with Andy Hack using a back marker to get past

Adam Southgate for 2nd. Southgate took the bonus point for fastest lap –

a blistering 54.914, even more impressive when the temperature inside

the cars must have been approaching 50C.

In the evening the drivers gathered for the draw of our charity raffle

where another £700 would be donated to CMT UK – taking the total raised

so far this season to over £1000. Top prize was an RAF helicopter

simulator flight kindly donated by our dedicated Clark of the Course

Andy Holley.

Race 2 was bound to be a thrilling affair after an hour or so of fairly

heavy rain had drenched the circuit. But just as everyone had picked a

full-wet setting, the rain ceased and the track entered is most

challenging condition: wet but drying – this was to be a real test for

the newer drivers.

Both James Coleman (engine problems) and John Cleland (worsening

intermittant electrical issues) called it quits so Class A numbers were

already diminished.

Linda Warren’s green 924 behaved itself until she was safely back in

Parc Ferme when its cooling system again erupted, but no Class C podium

for her time time as Niz El-Chamaa led for most of the race ahead of

Adam Croft – desparate to make up for his Race 1 non-finish which meant

he started last – and David Jones, who landed his second podium of the

weekend. Karl Rossin finished 5th with his borrowed engine – fitted

after much effort late into Saturday evening – behind Jamie Callender’s

second 4th of the day.

Andy Hack was first away from the lights  but Rick Styrin forged ahead

for the second lap; sadly Andy’s bright orange 986 ground to a halt on

the Cooper Straight on lap 12. Nick Hull showed great pace in Adam

Southgate and Garry Lawrence at bay for most of the race but a missed

gear at McLaren let both Class A cars through. Richard Avery then took

over the challenge for the lead but contact between him and Rick going

up Hailwood Hill led to him spinning out at Druids and a non-finish for

the Leighton Buzzard driver. Thus Rick returned to his move conventional

top-of-the-podium position with Championship leader Ed Hayes second.

In what I believe is a first in the Championship, and on the same day as

fellow Class A driver Mark Marshall was getting married in Loudwater,

Garry Lawrence surprised his girlfriend with an engagement ring during a

MotorsTV interview.

Just two rounds remain of the 2015 season, with three races at the

Yorkshire circuit at Croft on 12-13th September is next on the cards.

With Alastair Kirkham now retired, Adam Croft has extended his lead in

the 924s and there’s a chance either Karl Rossin or Philip Waters might

jump up to second. Ed Hayes’ two podiums, both higher positions than

fellow Class A Boxster competitor Adam Southgate, stretched his lead

slightly but certainly not far enough for comfort. Michael Goodacre will

cruise to the Class B title unless another competitor steps forward.

Photo captions:

1D3_07486.jpg – Garry Lawrence’s Class A Boxster spins at Paddock in Race 1

1D3_07696.jpg – Adam Southgate pursues Ed Hayes through Graham Hill Bend

in the Race 1 sunshine

1D3_07832.jpg – Linda Warren picked up her first podium at the weekend

in her 924

1D3_07840.jpg – Andy Hack led Rick Styrin from the lights before

retiring in Race 2

1D3_07920.jpg – Andy Hack spins on a very slippy Paddock Hill in Race 2

with Richard Avery and Adam Southgate narrowly avoiding the wayward

Class A Boxster

Toyo Tires BRSCC Porsche Championship

http://www.porscheracingdrivers.co.uk

Track Days / Test Days / MotorsportDays.com