Redline Racing have started the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign as they mean to go on with all three of their drivers gracing the podium during a trophy-filled season opening weekend at Brands Hatch this past weekend (06/07 April). The most successful team in Carrera Cup GB history, Redline Racing headed into their 17th season in the championship with an all-new driver line-up; reigning Rookie and Pro Am champions George Gamble and Seb Perez being joined by Porsche newcomer Jack McCarthy. Competing in the fastest one-make championship in the UK, it was Gamble who enjoyed the standout result in Kent as he stormed to a race victory, while Perez notched a maiden outright podium finish and McCarthy picked up a pair of third place finishes in the Pro Am class. Of the three new faces in the Redline awning, it was Perez who emerged the quickest from a challenging qualifying session in which changing weather conditions meant that there was a narrow window to post their fastest times on a drying circuit. The 19 year old maximised the opportunity to secure himself a best qualifying result in the championship so far of fourth. Gamble put his Amigos Porsche seventh on the timesheets, while a strong first session for McCarthy saw him lap second fastest of the Pro Am runners. Perez kicked off the opening race of the season in front of the live ITV4 television cameras in great fashion, storming around the outside at Paddock Hill on the opening lap to grab third, before sliding past Dan Vaughan at Druids a lap later to secure second place. While he sadly lost a spot in the closing stages of the race, third place still marked his first Carrera Cup GB podium. Gamble was hot on his heels, enjoying some good action on track as he fought through to fourth place, while close behind McCarthy notched a debut Pro Am rostrum. With the number four drawn out of the hat for the race two reverse grid, it was an Amigos Tequila Beer backed Porsche lock-out of the front row as Gamble lined up on pole position from Perez, with the former storming into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time at the front. The Nottingham racer went on to lead every lap of the race on his way to a fourth outright victory of his Carrera Cup GB career. Perez just missed out on the podium in fourth overall, while a superb drive from McCarthy completed his Pro Am top three double. Ahead of the next rounds of the championship at Donington Park in three weeks’ time (27/28 April), Gamble and Perez lie third and fourth respectively in the overall standings, while McCarthy is fourth in the Pro Am points and the current Rookie class leader. Simon Leonard – Team Boss: “All three drivers on the podium in their first race weekend with the team … we couldn’t have asked for much more than that. The team has put in an incredible amount of work over the winter and to see that rewarded this weekend is really satisfying. “We knew from their results last season that the Amigos boys were going to be front-runners this season and they showed it. For Seb [Perez] to start his season with his best qualifying and race results in the series so far is a clear sign of the progress we’ve seen him make in pre-season. “It didn’t go his way in qualifying, but George [Gamble] fought back in great fashion and produced a superb drive to victory. Jack [McCarthy] meanwhile was really impressive on his debut and deserved his silverware. It was a brilliant first round and we’re excited for Donington Park.” George Gamble: “It ended as a fantastic weekend. After qualifying down in seventh I was anticipating a tough couple of races, so to close with a victory is amazing. At this stage of the season it’s all about bagging the points and we’ve done that, so I’m happy.” Seb Perez: “To come away with third and fourth place finishes this weekend, I’m pretty happy. We showed in both races that we have the pace to be right at the front. The first weekend with Redline Racing has been a success and we want to carry this momentum into Donington Park.” Jack McCarthy: “I knew my debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB was going to be a real challenge, so to come away with a pair of podium finishes is really pleasing. Every time I get in the car I’m learning a lot and I’m happy to have had the pace to challenge the Pro Am leaders this weekend.”
Image from Dan Bathie/Porsche GB.