Team Redline Racing made a return to winning ways in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton this past weekend (August 13/14) as Matthew Graham scored a commanding victory.
On what proved to be a scorching few days in Norfolk, the Teesside-based team bounced back from a weekend filled with joy and despair at Knockhill to claim a fourth win of the 2022 season.
Graham - who was involved in a scary crash at Knockhill - bounced back in style with a dominant display in race two, which in-turn reignited his championship charge. There were further celebrations in the Pro-Am class as Nathan Harrison bagged a podium double including his third win of the year.
After showing plenty of speed around the 2.99-mile circuit during Friday’s two practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday afternoon proved to be a battle not only for pole position but against the searing temperatures.
Smalley would lead the fight for the multiple champions with his fastest time being good enough for sixth overall. White enjoyed a season-best qualifying of eighth, with Graham hot on his heels in ninth.
Further down the order Harrison and Nigel Rice charged to fourth in the Pro-Am and Am classes respectively, whilst Micah Stanley narrowly missed out on the top ten.
Race one saw Harrison claim the plaudits as he produced a superlative drive to clinch a hard-fought class podium. Making some early moves, the Oxford racer slotted into second and that was to be where he remained despite coming under late pressure from those behind him.
Graham, Smalley and White enjoyed relatively untroubled drives, running line astern for a majority of the longer 40-minute bout. Graham moved up to fifth come the chequered flag with Porsche GB Junior driver Smalley seventh and White not far behind in eighth.
Unfortunately, Rice’s weekend came to a premature end after he was tipped into a roll on lap five; thankfully he walked away unhurt. Rice had been on course for a podium in the Am class when contact at Coram halted his charge.
Race two - which was broadcast live on ITV - saw Graham produce a clinical display to claim his third victory of the season. Starting from pole position, the 25-year-old didn’t put a wheel wrong to lead every lap and bag the fastest lap.
Harrison repeated his heroics in the Pro-Am ranks with another virtuoso performance netting him second place on the road, before a post-race penalty promoted him to a deserved class win, whilst Smalley, White and Stanley finished seventh, ninth and 12th respectively.
Simon Leonard – Managing Director: “It’s been another rollercoaster weekend for the team, where we've had to endure both the highs and lows of motorsport. The important thing is that Nigel is okay after what was a big crash.
“Massive congratulations have to go to Matty because he wasn’t 100% heading into the weekend after that incident at Knockhill, so to come and produce a performance like that is fantastic. He’s had the pace from the get-go and took full advantage of pole in race two. Nathan also deserves a huge pat on the back for his double class podium.
"Whilst the results perhaps weren’t what Adam would have hoped for there were still plenty of positives to take away. That’s the case for both Oli and Micah too; they drove the wheels of their cars in what were really tough conditions.
“We’ve got another quick turnaround now so it will be all hands on deck before we get to Thruxton at the end of the month. Hopefully we can take the momentum of this win and enjoy more success in Hampshire.”
Team Redline Racing are next in Porsche Carrera Cup GB action over the weekend of August 27/28 where two races are scheduled to take place around the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton.
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