Epperstone’s George Gamble competes in the International Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup at Silverstone – a support race to the British Formula One Grand Prix

Race ace George Gamble was ecstatic after taking part in the International Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup at Silverstone – a support race to the British Formula One Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old who normally takes a seat in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain for the Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport team, raced in front of a record crowd of 164,000 fans at the Northamptonshire circuit and was televised live on Sky Sports F1 and to a worldwide audience, writes Paul Horton.

Gamble arrived at Silverstone last Friday with the usual UK in his 510 hp ‘Type 992’ 911 GT3 Cup supercar but with Supercup modifications, including the car being lighter and having to get used to over steer and traction made by this.

The weather for the weekend was going to be one of the biggest issues, it was a weekend of typical British weather one-minute glorious sunshine followed by torrential rain showers and the rest.

Silverstone was no stranger to Gamble – he had taken part in the Supercup previously in 2019 and since then had raced there in the Kwik fit British Touring Car Championship for the last two seasons and would be back again in September in the Porsche again.

A good free practice on Friday evening got the adrenaline going for Gamble and his two teammates’ Angus Whiteside and Gus Burton having to use new tyres as guest drivers where other competitors were using tyres from their previous round in Austria.

Qualifying on Saturday saw George take 24th with bad weather conditions hampering his chances for a better starting position, but he would make the most of it and the experience. Burton finishing in 14th and Whiteside 15th.

Gamble lined up 23rd on the grid and Sunday’s race would lay some rubber on Silverstone’s 3.66-mile circuit for the British Grand Prix that followed.

The grandstands were packed to capacity for the race and the gauntlet was laid for the 30 cars and drivers on the grid with 14 laps to warm proceedings before the big race.

This wasn’t the case, as a torrential downpour put a dampener on this, the race started behind the Safety Car due to the tricky conditions, that looked less like a race circuit and more like a lake.

On the first lap it was single file and the spray was a problem that saw Crees spin off. The race was red flagged hoping that the conditions would get better and all the cars back into the pit lane.

Tyres and engines were getting colder by the minute stood idle, when the timing screens flashed a 5-minute warning that conditions were getting better and the race would restart still under the safety car, with a reduced 12 lap race or 27 minutes.

The spray was still bad, it resembled thick fog and racing in these conditions were to be interesting to say the least.

The rain had stopped by the end of lap two under the safety car and its lights were out and it was go go go, we were racing.

By lap three Gamble was into P22 and a good move straight afterwards into 21st and by lap eight he had moved the Porsche into 18th spot.

A lap later, the yellow flags were out again and a beached car in the gravel at Luffield. The safety car was deployed due to the car being in an unsafe place and it was procession time for the drivers. Gamble was promoted into 17th due to the incident, which is where he finished.

Whiteside finishing in P16, and Burton came home P14 after starting in the same position.

Gamble made up six places during the race. It was a difficult weekend for him although his performance was second to none and what you would have expected from the 2024 Porsche season driver who is currently second in the GB Championship Pro category.

Gamble said afterwards: “What a weekend taking part in the Porsche Supercup at Silverstone GP.

“After a tough Saturday losing my best lap in qualifying (due to track limits) I had some work to do on Sunday but made up seven places to finish 16th in a shortened race due to the weather.

“I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped this come together at such short notice, it was an incredible event to be apart of and something I won't forget.”

Gamble now will be on it and concentrating on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB when racing returns in just over two weeks’ time at Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire, on July 27- 28, which is televised live on ITV4.