Redline Racing enjoyed a positive end to their first season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB as Dino Zamparelli and Nigel Rice picked up podium finishes during the season finale at Silverstone this past weekend (07/08 November). Zamparelli, who finished as Porsche Carrera Cup GB vice-champion with the team in 2018, was part of a new look line-up from the Teeside squad for the final round. Alongside him was fellow series debutant Daniel O’Brien, and their regular Am class front-runner Rice. The Anglo-Italian racer immediately made his mark on the championship, with blistering pace behind the wheel of his Porsche 718 Cayman Clubsport seeing him top the timesheets in qualifying by nearly half a second – the team’s first overall pole position in the series. Unfortunately Zamparelli dropped to fourth in the opening race on Sunday morning in greasy conditions, but he hit back with an impressive drive in race two. Immediately latching onto the tail of the leader, he pushed him hard throughout en-route to a podium in second. Rice headed into the weekend determined to end a brilliant season in the series with a strong showing around the full Silverstone Grand Prix layout. The former Carrera Cup GB ‘Pro-Am’ champion had a tough start in qualifying though, finishing ninth in the Ams. He hit back with a superb performance in the opening race though, fighting his way through the pack to third position. He replicated that result after an impressing showing in a close-fought race two, ensuring he ends the campaign with nine podium finishes from 12 races. Hot on his heels in both races was O’Brien. The former rallycross champion turned GT driver immediately settled in towards the front of the competitive Am ranks, with an impressive showing in qualifying seeing him finish third quickest in class. O'Brien slipped to sixth on the opening lap of race one, but fought back well to fourth at the chequered flag. A good start to the final encounter saw him move up to third, and he continued to battle for the podium throughout en-route to another fourth place finish. Simon Leonard – Team Boss: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed contesting the inaugural season of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB. To pick up three podium finishes from the final weekend, making it a total of 20 for the season, was a great way to end the campaign. “We know from his Carrera Cup GB days just how talented a driver Dino [Zamparelli] is and he showed it again with his qualifying pace. While the opening race didn’t go his way, he impressed with his drive in race two and was right in the mix for the race win. “Nigel [Rice] has been fantastic all season and his charge from ninth to third was one of his best drives this year. He richly deserved his two podiums to end the year. Daniel [O’Brien] really impressed us on his first weekend and he was unlucky not to come away with some silverware.” Redline Racing bring their 2020 season to a close this weekend (14/15 November) with the final rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
Image from Porsche GB.