Race report  -  Race 8: Oulton Park, 31 July 2004Rupert Lewin blasted to victory in the eighth race of the Michelin Porsche Open Series at Oulton Park on Saturday (31 July). Lewin's mighty 996GT2R claimed victory by almost half a minute from series newcomer Des Winks (911GT3 Cup) as Gordon Matthew (944 Turbo) and Alex Eacock (944) claimed the other classes.Absent from the grid was Richard Chamberlain's 935 after a puncture in testing inflicted damage to the rear of the car. Instead, Lewin took pole by over two seconds on his return to racing after engine dramas. "It's lovely to be back out. We've had a pretty miserable time but today the car is running absolutely beautifully," said Lewin.Sharing the front row was Winks, having switched from the Carrera Cup to try the Open Series in his Red Line Racing tended 911GT3 Cup. The physical demands of racing in the Open are better suited to Winks' health and he now plans to do more races in the series. Out with his 911GT3 Cup for the first time in 2004 was third fastest Rod Carman. "I'd semi-retired," he joked. "I'll probably do selected races and I'm still getting to grips with the car," he explained.The 944 Turbos of Wayne Jackson and Matthew headed class three while Tim Bevan pipped Eacock to class four pole by a third of a second in the excellent 23-car field. However, that was reduced by one when the 944 Turbo of Clive Reay-Young was sidelined by an electrical fire in qualifying.Lewin made his intentions clear on the opening lap when he stormed into an immediate lead. After several quick laps, he eased his pace back as he started to catch backmarkers and was able to keep an eye on critical temperatures on a warm afternoon. "That was warm work! I used a couple of quick green flag laps to get the tyres hot for a quick start," explained Lewin. "The car behaved beautifully. I'm just so sad that Richard Chamberlain wasn't here."Winks was equally secure in second, pulling 25 seconds clear of Carman in the course of 17 laps. "The backmarkers were very good; it was great," said Winks after a fine debut in the championship. Behind Des, a good battle featured Carman, Tony Brown (964RSR) and Gerald Harrison (911GT3 Cup). A fast-starting Brown grabbed third initially, but he was powerless to fend off Carman when the Cheshireman dived ahead under braking for Old Hall. Brown still claimed fourth from Harrison as Matthew clinched a class-winning sixth from Jackson.However, up into sixth from the back of the grid had gone David Botterill (944 Turbo). A turbo pipe problem had wrecked his qualifying but with the problem resolved, he stormed up the order into sixth place. "I just kept on pushing, but it cut-out over the rumble strip at Knickerbrook," he explained after retiring with five laps to run.Class four featured the dice of the race as Eacock and Bevan went head to head in a glorious contest. They raced only inches apart for lap after lap, and even went each side of the 914-6 of Paul Herbert at Lakeside mid-race! The battle was only finally resolved when Bevan spun under braking for Knickerbrook. "I just out-braked myself," admitted Bevan. "That was a proper race," added Eacock. Bevan still recovered to take second before Nigel Ainge (944) took third.Results (17 laps)1 Rupert Lewin (996GT2R) 25m36.358s (88.67mph); 2 Des Winks (911GT3 Cup); 3 Rod Carman (911GT3 Cup); 4 Tony Brown (964 RSR); 5 Gerald Harrison (911GT3 Cup); 6 Gordon Matthew (944 Turbo); 7 Wayne Jackson (944 Turbo); 8 Anthony Oliver (964RS); 9 Lee Birkett (911SC); 10 Alex Eacock (944. Class winners: Lewin; Winks; Matthew; Eacock. Fastest lap: Lewin 1m27.491s (91.59mph).The Michelin Porsche Open Series now moves to the Porsche Festival at Brands Hatch on 29/30 August.