Team Redline Racing added another trio of podium finishes to their 2022 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB tally at Oulton Park last Saturday (9 July), including a couple from in-form driver Steve Roberts.
The Teesside-based team came close to breaking their season's victory duck in the previous pair of races in the one-make Porsche Cayman championship at Croft, and headed to Oulton Park aiming to change that record with Steve Roberts joined by Jason Pelosi and debutant Stuart Gibson.
Leading the team's charge in qualifying, multiple podium finisher Roberts put himself in the running for pole position with a flying start to the session to head to the top of the times. In the closing stages, Roberts traded pole several times before settling for a front row start, just 0.2s adrift. Pelosi topped the Am class for most of the timed session, but an off into the barriers put an unfortunate end to his day earlier than planned, with Gibson fourth in class.
Roberts started the opening race giving chase to pole-sitter Charles Clark when the lights went out, and that pursuit would continue for much of the race with the Team Redline Racing man looking rapid in second. A 10-second time penalty for an out of position start curtailed his victory quest, but he still pulled out enough ground on rivals behind to seal third place overall. Gibson made up ground, narrowly missing out on an Am class podium in fourth - ninth overall - on debut.
Roberts lined up from third place on the grid in the day's second contest, and latched his Cayman firmly onto the back of the two cars ahead of him in a bid to add another podium finish to the team's tally.
Sitting in third place, Roberts would have the pace to keep Matthew Armstrong at bay to complete the day with two third place finishes, making it six podium finishes in a row. He sits third in the drivers' standings, with Redline in the same position in the team's battle.
A slow start cost Gibson initially, and again he chased the three cars ahead of him in the Am class in a bid to add another trophy to the team's collection in Cheshire. He made up a spot late in the race to ensure a maiden class podium in third.
Team Redline Racing next return to action in British GT with their Lamborghini Huracan GT3 car, when the series heads to Europe and the fantastic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium on 23/24 July.
Simon Leonard – Managing Director: “It wasn't quite the day we hoped for at Oulton Park, but we still came away with some silverware as a reward for all of the team's hard work and commitment.
"Steve is now looking a regular front-runner which is really encouraging for us, and he's getting closer to picking up that first win which is certainly what we feel he is now capable of achieving this season. Consistency is putting us right in title contention now too.
"It was a big shame for Jason not to get the chance to add to the positives, as his pace prior to the off was massively encouraging and comfortably fastest of the Am drivers. Two more wins were certainly possible, while Stuart gave it everything on his debut and deserved the podium."
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