Porsche switch no gamble for racer
Southwell race driver George Gamble could not have made a better start to the season after he took an inaugural series victory.
He won the second race of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship weekend at Brands Hatch for Amigos Team Parker Racing in wet conditions.
The 21-year-old, who left the Ginetta GT4 competition for Porsche, shrugged off competition from many experienced Carrera Cup drivers.
“The rain changed everything and the pace was so hot that you could not afford to be an inch off line,” Gamble said.
“I had a good rhythm in the car for much of that (second) race and I just managed to pick my way through the pack.
“It is the perfect start to the season and to take my first Porsche win on the first round against pretty experienced drivers is special.
“It is a confidence boost to head into the second meeting with my first win under my belt and valuable points for the season ahead.”
In free practice, Gamble maintained a top-ten place and was second fastest on the circuit over the day, topping speeds of more than 140mph Saturday’s qualifying proved difficult as he finished fifth fastest to line up for the first race on the third row.
By lap six Gamble had dropped to sixth, but four laps later the he was fourth on the tail of Tio Ellinas.
During the last seven laps of 34, Gamble, with a slow puncture, put the pressure on to finish fourth and the topplaced rookie driver.
In the second race he was on the front row, but started slowly and allowed Lewis Plato, Jamie Orton and Tio Ellinas to go past him on the first lap.
On the 12th lap, however, a fantastic move by Gamble and a big mistake by Orton moved the Southwell driver up to second.
A safety car was deployed after an incident involving two cars and from the restart Gamble took advantage of another mistake, this time by Plato, to power ahead.
After two quick laps by Gamble, the safety car was deployed again and the race declared over after 25 laps because of worsening weather.
The next round is at Donington Park on April 28 and 29.
