Team Redline Racing got their 2021 season off to a fantastic start with a trio of podium finishes in the opening rounds of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB at Thruxton.
Embarking on the second season of the one-make championship, which utilises the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the Teesside squad highlighted their title credentials with front-running results for Jack Bartholomew, Nigel Rice and Peter Chambers across the weekend (08/09 May).
Porsche debutant Bartholomew led their charge in the Pro class and had impressed at Thruxton during the official pre-event test last month. In tricky changing weather conditions on Saturday, the former one-make Lamborghini champion recorded the third quickest time of the Pros in qualifying.
In his YESSS Electrical and Ecosphere backed Cayman, Bartholomew made steady progress in the opening race to finish in fourth position. A standout performance followed in race two live on ITV4, as he stormed his way up the order to second place and a debut podium.
Rice meanwhile headed into his second consecutive season in the championship’s Am class. The Yorshireman used all his experience in the Cayman to great effect in qualifying as he sensationally qualified second fastest overall, ahead of all the Pro contenders.
A brilliant launch in race one saw Rice storm around the outside of the pole-sitter at Allard to briefly take the race lead. While he slipped back as the Pros worked their way through, he remained firmly in the battle for the Am lead throughout.
An exciting duel for the victory went down to the last chicane on the final lap as Rice mounted a challenge, though he eventually had to settle for second. He backed that up with another great drive in race two, running second throughout to move his tally to 11 Am podiums in the series.
A new name in the Team Redline Racing ranks for 2021 is Peter Chambers, with the hugely experienced racer also tackling his second year in the series. Qualifying fourth quickest of the Am drivers, he ran in the final podium position during race one before taking fourth at the flag.
An unfortunate moment dropped him to the back of the field at the start of race two, however he fought back well in his Chambers Recycling Solutions machine. Impressing with his pace and racecraft, he gained three places to record another fourth place finish.
Simon Leonard – Managing Director: “It was great to get our 2021 race season underway and we’re delighted to have enjoyed such a strong first outing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB. All three drivers produced impressive performances across the weekend.
“Jack found it tricky in the wet conditions on Saturday, but got a good result under his belt in the opener. He then really highlighted his potential with his drive in race two and there is certainly a lot more to come from him as he continues to learn the car.
“Nigel was brilliant all weekend. Whatever the conditions threw at him, he adapted to them and picked up two fantastic podium finishes. Peter had the speed to be in the podium mix as well and was great in his climb back up the order in race two. Overall, a great weekend for the whole team.”
The 2021 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB continues in less than two weeks’ time (22/23 May) as it joins the British GT Championship package at Brands Hatch.
Image from Porsche GB.