Silverstone report

by Harald Bloche Motorsport News International

Porsche Pirelli SuperCup 1998, Third Round at the British Grand Prix --------------------------------------------------------------------

Clear Victory for Patrick Huisman from the Netherlands

Reigning champion Patrick Huisman from the Netherlands (Walker Monroe- Manthey Racing) took his second win of the season on Silverstone's 5.14 km circuit at the third round of this year's Porsche Pirelli SuperCup. In the first wet race of the season the 31-year-old pulled away from the rest of the pack to take an unchallenged green light to the chequered flag victory.

Britain's Oliver Gavin, F1 test pilot and ex-Formula 3 champion, gave a stunning performance as VIP driver of the Pirelli-Unisys Carrera. The Huntingdon-born racing professional manoeuvred his 360 hp Porsche from fifth on the grid to secure an excellent second in the race. Third place went to Stephane Ortelli (PZ Rhein Oberberg). Ortelli not only won the season opening race in Imola, but also took overall honours in this year's Le Mans 24 hours race driving for the Porsche works team. Trailing Ortelli in places four to seven came a contingent from Germany comprising former double vice-champion Jurgen von Gartzen (Oberbayern Motorsport), Altfrid Heger (PZK-Zakspeed), 1997 runner-up Oliver Mathai (PZK-Zakspeed) respectively.

Ebimotors-Porsche Italia pilot Matteo M. Galimberti from Italy profited from the spins of his fellow competitors, starting from thirteenth on the grid and finishing the 14 lap sprint race eighth. Galimberti's team mate, Maurizio Monforte sat in third place for much of the race before being forced to retire with an electrical problem.

Piloting the second Pirelli-Unisys VIP Carrera,tennis ace Henri Leconte experienced an adrenalin-filled race: "The start was crazy with spray and cars coming from everywhere. I spun twice in the wet, but managed to continue and I even overtook three other guys. It was great!" Leconte started from 24th and finished his race a respectable 17th.

Local favourite and ex-British Pirelli Porsche Cup Champion, Johnny Mowlem, (AFN Oberbayern Motorsport) fought hard to finish in the top six, however with deep puddles on the circuit his Porsche lost grip and lunged from the track.

Race results (top 10):

Pos     Driver/Nat                Team                               Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1        Patrick Huisman/NL        Walker Monroe-Manthey Racing  32:32.904
 2        Oliver Gavin/GB                Pirelli-Unisys VIP Carrera      +11.074
 3        Stephane Ortelli/F        PZ Rhein Oberberg                 17.108
 4        Jurgen von Gartzen/D        Oberbayern Motorsport                 34.891
 5        Altfrid Heger/D        ZK         Zakspeed                         36.404
 6        Oliver Mathai/D                PZK Zakspeed                         41.699
 7        Patrick Simon/D         PZK Zakspeed                         42.400
 8        Matteo Galimberti/I     Ebimotors-Porsche Italia         48.648
 9        Ralf Kelleners/D        PZ Rhein Oberberg                50.987
10        Jacques Laffite/F       Kadach Tuning                    53.616

Pos Driver Points --------------------------- 1 Huisman 56 2 v.Gartzen 42 3 Ortelli 38 4 Heger 32 5 Galimberti 29 6 Schmickler 28 7 Kelleners 26 8 Monforte 20 Kulundzc 20 10 Simon 17