Redline Racing made a welcome return to the top step of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB podium at Knockhill this past weekend (29/30 August), as Matty Graham produced a sensational drive to record his maiden win in the championship. The Teeside squad are the most successful team in Carrera Cup GB history with ten drivers’ and teams’ titles under their belts, and Graham’s success in an action-packed opening race of the weekend increased their tally to 151 overall victories in the championship. Graham and his team-mate Scott McKenna had both been knocking on the door of a race win across the opening three events in their Eighty-One Powerdrink backed cars, and it was almost a fairytale double win for the duo in Scotland as McKenna narrowly missed out on victory in race two. The weekend started strongly for Graham in qualifying as he posted the third fastest time overall, and a fantastic launch off the line in race one moved him to second place in the early stages. It soon become apparent the leader had a technical issue though and he was forced to pit. Graham therefore moved into the race lead and produced a faultless drive over the remaining 24 laps to keep his pursuers at bay for the victory. He followed that up with a composed performance to fourth place in race two, which keeps him third in the championship standings. McKenna meanwhile had qualified lower than hoped in eighth, however he benefitted from the action ahead to rise to fifth in race one. That secured him the reverse grid pole position for race two and a fantastic early spell saw him break clear of the pack and built a lead of over five seconds. As the race wore on that lead margin was being decreased though and in a heart-breaking conclusion, a lock-up whilst braking at the penultimate corner on the last lap sent McKenna wide and dropped him to second at the finish – his fourth Pro podium of the year. Fellow Pro class contender Dorian Mansilla enjoyed a breakthrough weekend in the series. Gelling instantly with the undulating Scottish circuit, he produced a seasons’ best qualifying result of seventh. Better was to come in the opening race too, as he picked his way through to a brilliant fourth place. The Argentinian ace’s best result of the year to date secured him a front row slot on the race two reverse grid. Impressively running second for the opening eight laps, his podium challenge was cruelly cut short by a hit on the rear at the hairpin. He recovered to tenth at the finish. John Ferguson meanwhile made it three Redline Racing drivers to grace the podium over the weekend. Third quickest in the Am class in qualifying, the Irishman converted that into a great third class podium of the season so far, before unfortunately retiring from race two. Simon Leonard – Team Boss: “We’re delighted to be back on the top step of the Carrera Cup GB podium. I’ve said the past couple of weekends that big results were coming for Matty and Scott, and they both produced the performances we knew they were capable of this weekend. “Matty had to work extremely hard for his victory, but he didn't put a foot wrong and richly deserved his maiden success. Scott drove superbly as well and it’s heart-breaking to see him lose out two corners from the end. His time at the top will come very soon though. “Dorian was exceptional this weekend, making a huge stride forward on the grid and getting his best ever results in the championship. There’s more to come from him, while John did a great job again and was unlucky not to come away with two podium finishes from the weekend. “Everyone at Redline Racing has been working incredibly hard this month, with Knockhill being the fifth of six consecutive race weekends to start the season. Therefore to see three of our drivers on the podium this weekend and Matty on the top step was a fantastic feeling for all.” Redline Racing are back in action this weekend (5/6 September) with the next rounds of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB at Brands Hatch, before a double header over the weekend of 19/20 September sees the Carrera Cup GB racing at Thruxton and the Sprint Challenge GB at Donington Park.
Image from Dan Bathie / Porsche GB.