Porsche Sprint Challenge GB: Rounds 7, 8 & 9, Croft
Local hero, Max Coates, was cheered on to two victories at Croft. The Yorkshireman from Scorton won the weekend’s opening race, while Sebastian Hopkins from Petersfield, Hampshire secured the second. Coates returned to the top step of the overall podium in the final encounter. As their rivalry intensifies, Hopkins and Coates are now tied on points in the RS Pro category standings at the midpoint of the season.
Coates and Hopkins trade blows in RS Pro
Sebastian Hopkins (Team Parker Racing) set the pace in Saturday’s 30-minute dry qualifying session, however, with a 10-place grid penalty pending for Round Seven, Will Jenkins (Team Parker Racing) would secure the top spot for the weekend’s first race. Hopkin’s second-fastest time was good enough to see him heading the grid for Round Eight.
The weekend’s first race took place on Saturday afternoon in mixed conditions. The majority of drivers opted for grooved wet-weather Michelin tyres, with the exception in the RS Pro category of a slick-shod Toby Trice (Clean Racing). At the start, Jenkins got away cleanly to lead into the first corner – he survived an early attack from Max Coates (Team Omologato with Graves Motorsport), while Thomas Bradshaw (Toro Verde GT) slotted in close behind. As the car of Trice struggled and slipped down the order, Jenkins came under fire several times from Coates, the local driver finding the inside line at Barcroft to assume the lead.
In the closing stages, Ethan Hammerton (Team Omologato with Graves Motorsport) overtook Bradshaw for third, and a flying Hopkins moved up to fifth from his starting position of eleventh on the grid. When Jenkins, Hammerton and Hopkins engaged in a battle for second, it was Hopkins who emerged ahead on the final lap of the race as Jenkins left the circuit. Bradshaw also found the wall at the Complex following a puncture. Coates enjoyed his second win of the season at his home circuit.
The second race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon in dry conditions. Hopkins led into the first corner from pole position, with Jenkins second and Coates in third. After an early Safety Car period, just under eight minutes remained on the clock. Hopkins drove on to victory, with Jenkins finishing second and Coates third.
Hopkins made a clean start to lead from pole position in the third and final race of the day. Coates challenged Jenkins at Clervaux where he left the circuit – that allowed Hammerton through into third. When Hopkins ran wide at Sunny In, Coates assumed the lead, meanwhile Bradshaw pressured Hammerton for fourth. With under 10 minutes left on the clock, Hammerton was given a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, leaving him sixth on corrected time.
In the last few minutes, Hopkins dived to the inside at the hairpin to snatch the race lead. Hopkins pulled clear but received his own five-second penalty for a track limits offence, making Coates the leader on corrected time. Coates enjoyed his second win of the weekend, with Hopkins finishing second. Bradshaw dropped down the order at the end of the race allowing Oliver Cottam (Xentek Motorsport) to make his maiden podium appearance.
Tofts edges clear of category rivals in RS Am
Jacob Tofts (Graves Motorsport) initially led the way in the RS Am qualifying battle, however, Matt Kyle-Henney (Clean Racing) later improved, his fastest and second fastest lap times putting him ahead for the weekend’s first two races. Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) was the only RS Am to select slick tyres for the weekend’s first race in drying conditions, but it was Kyle-Henney who maintained the advantage at the start. George Jaxon (Q Mix Concrete with JWB Motorsport) soon pitted to make his retirement from the race.
Tofts drove an impressive opening race, crossing the finish line in fourth overall, and was joined on the RS Am category podium by Kyle-Henney and Oliver Meadows (Parker Classic Works). Tofts led again at the start of the second race, but following the Safety Car period, Kyle-Henney attacked for the lead. A lurking Edward Stanton (Toro Verde GT) saw an opportunity and passed Kyle-Henney for second. At the flag the order would be, Tofts from Stanton, and Kyle-Henney.
Stanton led the weekend’s final race from Tofts and Somerfield, but later into the race Kyle-Henney moved into the final RS Am category position. Stanton would see the flag first with Tofts and Kyle-Henney retaining second and third.
Mulryan takes maiden Clubsport Pro win
Samuel Harvey (Xentek Motorsport) had the early advantage in qualifying but Ben Mulryan (Race Car Consultants) would end the session ahead of his Clubsport Pro rivals, earning category pole position for Rounds Seven and Eight. Mulryan stayed ahead of his category rivals at the start of the first race, driving to a maiden category victory, Oskar Dix (Team Parker Racing) and Harvey joined him on the podium.
Mulryan led at the start of the second race and went on to take his second category win of the weekend, Dix was second with Harvey in third. In the final race, Mulryan was the driver to beat once more. He maintained the advantage to the flag for a clean sweep, with Dix hanging onto second despite receiving a five-second penalty, and Harvey completed the category podium.
Wilson and Beeson draw level in Clubsport Am
Jonathan Beeson (Graves Motorsport) was on top form in qualifying – he set two lap times good enough to secure Clubsport Am category pole for the weekend’s first and second races. Darelle Wilson (AALCO with JWB Motorsport) drove to the grid for the weekend’s first race on slick tyres, but pitted before the formation lap to switch to wets. When the lights went out, Paul Porter (Team Parker Racing) went ahead but he was soon passed by Beeson for the lead in Clubsport Am. Later into the race, Wilson, Beeson and Harvey engaged in an exciting fight, but it was Beeson who would take category victory. He created the Clubsport Am category podium with Karim Sekkat (Breakell Racing) and Porter.
Wilson led his Clubsport Am category rivals in the second race. At the end of the second lap, Sekkat made his retirement at the last corner and, with his car deemed to be in a dangerous position, the Safety Car was scrambled neutralising the race. After the restart, Beeson looked for a way by Wilson for the category lead – they raced out of the last corner and ran side-by-side across the finish line. Wilson stayed ahead, however, and the battle brought Porter into play, making it a three-car fight. The order at the flag was Wilson from Beeson and Porter.
Sekkat was the early race leader in the final, however, he lost the category lead to Beeson, with Porter and Wilson ending the weekend on the Clubsport Am category podium.
The next stop for the championship is Donington Park on the weekend of 24-25 August. There it is joined again by Carrera Cup GB creating a bumper weekend of Porsche racing action. Follow the latest Porsche Sprint Challenge GB news directly from Porsche Motorsport via Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) – @PorscheRaces_GB – where users can share experiences via the hashtags #SprintChallengeGB.
Championship positions*
RS Pro:
Sebastian Hopkins - Team Parker Racing - 70
Max Coates - Team Omologato with Graves Motorsport - 70
Thomas Bradshaw - Toro Verde GT - 50
RS Am:
Jacob Tofts - Graves Motorsport - 81
Edward Stanton - Toro Verde GT - 74
Matthew Kyle-Henney - Clean Racing - 73
Clubsport Pro:
Oskar Dix - Team Parker Racing - 79
Samuel Harvey - Xentek Motorsport - 61
Ben Mulryan - Race Car Consultants - 55
Clubsport Am:
Darelle Wilson - AALCO with JWB Motorsport - 74
Jonathan Beeson - Graves Motorsport - 74
Karim Sekkat - Breakell Racing - 56
*results remain provisional
