Donington Park 16th - 17th May
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
Qualifying. In a session interrupted by two brief rain showers, Robert Lawson was third fastest for round five (9th overall) with Derek Pierce 2 places behind (11th and 5th in class)
Race 1. In pro-am1, Robert Lawson raced to a fine win with Derek Pierce getting his first podium of the year in 3rd. Lawson had battled clear of the rest of the pro-am1 pack to go clear in fifth overall, as Michael Leonard (Team Parker Racing), Tony Gilham (Red Line Racing) and Derek Pierce (JHR) battled with VIP racer Aaron Steele (Porsche Motorsport).
Lawson, who became the first driver to take a second pro-am1 victory this season. "I made things a bit difficult for myself in qualifying, so I'm very pleased with the result," said Lawson. It was a good race for JHR with Derek Pierce getting a well deserved third.
Robert Lawson 5th (1st), Derek Pierce 7th (3rd)
Race 2.
In round six in changeable conditions Robert Lawson was again on the podium with a good second place with Derek Pierce finishing 6th,
Robert Lawson 7th (2nd), Derek Pierce 13th (6th)
Elf Renault Clio Cup
Qualifying in the dry saw Andrew Herron just miss out on the front row (3rd & 4th), Tom Carnaby in 7th & 5th and Mark Hazel had his best qualifying with a 10th and 11th.
Race 1. As the lights went out for Saturday’s round five, Herron went round Redgate in third but he soon lost a place as in the midfield, contact between Tom Carnaby and Packun saw both drivers go off forcing the Safety Car to be deployed at the end of lap one.
Racing resumed on lap five with the race distance increased to 16 laps and Herron was able to pass Bradley to retake third at Coppice.
As the race progressed, the front runners of Glew, MacDowall and Herron began to pull away from fourth placed Bradley, with Herron setting the NGK Fastest Lap on lap six with a time of 1min 18.901s (89.30mph average) and a new lap record.
By lap 11 the three car train of Glew, MacDowall and Herron was unexpectedly interrupted when a mistake by MacDowall at McLeans allowed Herron to move into second but too far away to challenge for the lead when rain started to fall. Mark Hazel was another casualty of the condintions.
Race 2. The start saw Herron, who had chosen to run on full slicks, dropping down to fifth but as the race progressed the track continued to dry allowing Herron to make full use of his tyre choice.
As the race was the closing stages it was Herron who was lapping quickest with the 20-year-old setting the NGK Fastest Lap with a time of 1min 19.945s (88.13mph average). Herron’s surge came too late though handing the chequered flag to Smith to claim his first Clio victory this season and end Glew’s 100% record. Mark Hazel was running confortably in midfield and finished 18th.
A frustrated Herron, still looking for his first win, said: “It’s coming! The team has given me a fantastic car but qualifying is just so important in Clio racing and we just weren’t quick enough to be on the front row. I have to admit I’m getting a bit sick of always being on the bottom steps of the podium!”
Andrew Herron 2nd & 4th, Tom Carnably 2 x DNF, Mark Hazel DNF & !8th