Smalley keeps podium run going as Duckhams Yuasa Racing continues championship lead

Duckhams Yuasa Racing with Team Parker enjoyed two more visits to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB podium at the weekend, as Adam Smalley claimed second and third place finishes to remain on top of the championship standings.
 
Heading to the high-speed Thruxton in Hampshire, the UK’s fastest circuit, Adam and teammate Harry Foster had to contend not only with the rapid and challenging venue, but also hot sunny weather which bathed the track all three days.
 
After two free practice sessions on Friday, June 2nd, both drivers went into Saturday’s solitary qualifying session optimistic of good results and achieved just that, with Adam finishing third quickest and Harry just behind in fourth – his best performance to date.
 
Championship leader Adam started the opening contest well on Sunday morning, getting alongside Josh Malin and gaining the position at the complex to take second position. Behind him, Harry was unlucky as he lost his front splitter which affected the downforce and handling of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machine. That was compounded further as he took contact at the chicane and was spun around, falling well down the order. Out front however, Adam drove a calm race, making sure Malin had no way past and crossed the line for his fourth podium in five races.
 
He had another good start to race two, this time from fourth on the partially reversed grid, moving into third and almost gaining second on the opening lap. From there he again drove maturely for the remainder of the 22-lap contest, finishing third and opening up a seven-point lead in the championship standings. Behind, Harry quickly made his way up eight places from 21st to 12th, gaining three positions in the Pro class and adding a handful of valuable points as he made significant steps forward on his first season in the series.
 
Both drivers will be back out in just two weeks’ time, as the Porsche Carrera Cup GB heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire for rounds seven and eight of the season, in front of what is often one of the biggest crowds of the season.

Adam Smalley, #21

G1 – 3, R1 – 2
G2 – 4, R2 – 3
 
Championship: 1 (54 points)

“It was a difficult weekend but to come away with two podiums is quite nice. We had a difficult qualifying, as I don't think we quite had the outright pace, but having said that if a bad weekend is a second and a third, I'll definitely take it. A big thank you to everyone at Team Parker Racing, as we still lead the championship which was main focus coming into it, and we just need to keep taking the points. If that was the best we could get today then we'll take that and work harder to come back stronger next time.
 
“It's very difficult track to overtake around so I knew in race one, despite the pressure I had one me, if I backed him [Josh Malin] up, he couldn't get past me. In the slow stuff I let him get to me and then we went into a high-speed corner he'd pick up the areo wash and fall behind. It was a bit tactical as I tried to save a bit of the tyre as well, but overall, with two podiums I can't complain. We scored plenty of championship points and I'm ready for a very busy few weeks ahead.”

Harry Foster, #16

G1 – 4, R1 – 9
G2 – 9, R2 – 6
 
Championship: 10 (10 points)

“It was the best qualifying session I've had this season, starting P4, so for race one, I was coming in hoping for a much better result than we've had so far. We were sat comfortably in fourth position, but unfortunately, I lost the front splitter, somewhere around lap seven, and then I ended up getting swamped from behind and sent off, which put me in 21st position for race two.
 
“I did the best I could in that one. It's such a hard track to overtake, it's similar to how Brands was but I managed to stay out of trouble and did the best I could to get some overtakes because once you get close behind someone the dirty air makes it so difficult to do anything. Scott [Malvern - driver coach] said it's the best I've driven the Cup car so far and it's the closest I've been to the front. I think it’s starting to click for me, I just need to keep working at it and some good results will come.”