Porsche fields combine for epic Silverstone circuit showdown

All of Porsche Club Motorsport’s track series combined for two entertaining races at Silverstone on Saturday 14th August. Chris Dyer and Simon Clark’s Cayman S, heading the Petro-Canada Lubricants Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli, were runners for the outright wins, with Toby Barlow’s Boxster S taking top honours in class two. The Porsche Classic Boxster Cup saw a pair of close races with Will Heslop and Richard Forber taking a win each, but all eyes were on the TracTive Porsche Club 911 Challenge Series, even though the packed programme of motorsport meant participating cars competed in twenty-five-minute races, rather than the usual one-hour outing.

The 911 Challenge runners started on their own grid at the back of the field with a twenty second delay after the rest of the pack set off, but this didn’t stop Tim Bates and his 911 SC catching the rear of the main field and climbing up to nineteenth overall by race end. Just one place behind him was class rival and 964 driver, James Neal, who felt he could have been closer if he hadn’t slipped down the order early on after a poor start. “In contrast, I got a good start and enjoyed chasing down the Boxsters ahead,” says Bates, who coined fastest lap with 2m28.846s at an average speed of 88.53mph. “I didn’t want to interfere too much with the newer Porsches racing, but I picked a few off!” he laughs.

When the 911 Challenge entrants were released for their second outing of the day, Bates once more showed his pace by reaching sixteenth overall. Neil Harvey came home second in class and twentyfirst overall in the 964 Neal had raced a few hours earlier. Similarly, David Harrison took the controls of the 964 Carrera RS N/GT Nathan Luckey had driven in the first event of the day. Both men scored third place in their respective 911 Challenge races.

“I enjoyed Silverstone,” Bates continues. “Moreover, I was pleased to be quicker in race two. I’ve owned my SC for so long, it gets developed bit by bit, rather than a wholesale rebuild in advance of race weekends. I just love driving it.” We don’t doubt him — with a time of 2m27.247s, he achieved fastest lap in the second 911 Challenge race, too!