Duckhams Yuasa Racing with Redline ready for first Carrera Cup GB races of the season at Donington Park
Six months after claiming the Porsche Carrera Cup GB title, Duckhams Yuasa Racing with Redline is set to begin the 2022 season this weekend (April 23/24) at Donington Park.
Following on from a superb year of action, where Dan Cammish secured the championship in Duckhams’ first year back in front-line motorsport, the programme expands to a two car team, this time out with Porsche GB Junior Driver Adam Smalley being partnered by Oliver White, in addition to the involvement of Yuasa Battery and CarFinance 247.
Adam joins the team after an impressive first five years in racing, having taken titles in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series, Ginetta Junior Championship, and Ginetta GT4 SuperCup, as well as finishing runner up in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, before being named Porsche GB Junior Driver for the 2022 and ‘23 seasons.
Oliver, meanwhile, has spent the past nine years racing very different machinery to great success in Formula Ford, taking three Champion of Brands titles, winning the 2020 Walter Hayes Trophy, impressing at the Formula Ford Festival, and even scoring a hat-trick of wins at the legendary Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia.
Both drivers have been carrying out pre-season tests and familiarising themselves with the Redline Racing team and the new 992-style Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, both in the UK and Portugal, as they prepare for the opening two rounds in Leicestershire, where the fast, flowing, and challenging venue will put competitors through their paces.
After two unofficial practice sessions on Thursday, April 21st, serious business begins at 13:45 on Saturday 23rd with a single 30-minute qualifying session, which will set the grid for the opening race of the weekend. That contest is scheduled for 10:55 on Sunday 24th and will run for 23 laps, with finishing positions setting the grid for race two, except for a partially reversed draw at the front of the field. That race will begin at 16:30 the same afternoon, with live coverage available via ITV4 or online at ITV Hub.
Adam Smalley, driver #21
“I have fitted in really well with the team, Redline has done a fantastic job, and it feels like a new home. I’m feeling pretty confident going into the first race weekend that we can be up at the front end of the field. I know it's not going to be easy as there's a lot of competition this year, but the main goal is to take it round by round, learn each time I'm out, and hopefully be pushing for race wins throughout the season.
“Donington Park is a circuit I really enjoy. It's fast, flowing, and an enjoyable track to drive, especially in this car. Last season we came into a weekend at the circuit and managed to extend the championship lead by 30 or 40 points, so I'm feeling pretty confident. The goal is the championship, but I'm not putting too much pressure on myself to do it. I’ll just take it round by round and hopefully we'll be at the sharp end.”
Oliver White, driver #2
“My general confidence in the car is improving and every lap I do is building that up further as, ultimately, to get the last two or three tenths out of the car that is what you need. The feel of the car is completely different to what I have raced before. The Porsche has a huge amount more power and the slick tyres are completely different in the way they come in and go off.
“Donington Park is my favourite track. I've won lots of races around it and I think it is probably the track in the UK I am most confident on. It rewards a smooth driving style, because you've got corners backing onto long straights, so if you get good exits that's very good for your lap time. There are also a lot of gradient changes which I enjoy, so I love the place.”
