Dan Cammish:
“The fastest I went all this week was Wednesday and we really worked to try and get a car setup that worked for the long distance – and arguably did if you take Hanafin out of the race. In qualifying, even on the theoretical times I would have been fourth quickest, so with a fourth and a win you have got to be happy. In the old days it would have been fourth and fourth, but the reverse grid makes the championship so close.
“We set the car up to come on late or at least mid-race for race one and we never got there. We did two five lap sprints, and it was over, so I did my best with what we had. Fourth is probably the best we could have got, and I am happy that Micah is okay because his car was really badly damaged.
“I’m not sure we were the fastest car and I’m not sure this track was suited to us, but we came away with a win in probably one of my best races. I was driving qualifying laps every single time to hang on against someone like Hanafin and I defended at the end for all my life. He kept it clean and drove brilliantly, I did my best as well, and when I came over the line, I was pretty exhausted to be honest, pretty spent. It took every little thing I’ve learned over the years to keep that car going at that speed.
“At one point I locked the rear brake, but I still got the apex which I was thankful for, though my heart went through my knees. I was getting a bit greedy and trying to put some space between me and him in the bits of the track where I was stronger and got very, very lucky. Having that experience of being able to watch your mirror while still going around is what touring cars teaches you. Racing for a championship, every point is going to count at the end.”
Dan Cammish claimed his 35th Porsche Carrera Cup GB victory at the weekend (September 25/26), closing in on the all-time record while remaining on top of the championship standings after a close battle with his title rival.
Knowing he wasn’t in the fastest car on the grid after qualifying fourth, the Duckhams Oils and Porsche Centre Preston backed competitor was in the hunt in the opening race and drove a masterclass of defensive driving to claim the win in race two.
Starting fourth for the opening contest of the weekend, Dan started well and got ahead of Kiern Jewiss for third position in a frantic opening few laps. However, he fought back coming out of Copse and regained the place into Maggotts just before the Safety Car was called to recover a car which had spun into the barriers at pit entry.
After nine laps behind the Safety Car, the race resumed and it was still a close battle between Dan, Jewiss, Lorcan Hanafin, and Harry King for the top four positions. However, the Safety Car returned just five laps later which then quickly became a red flag as two Am class competitors came together at Luffield, spreading debris and fluid across the circuit, keeping the Yorkshireman in fourth.
That fourth became pole for race two when ball number four was drawn from the bag for the partially reversed grid contest and the Redline Racing driver got away from the line well, holding the lead over the first lap. Coming under pressure from title rival Hanafin, Dan showed why he is a two-time champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, not putting a wheel wrong throughout the contest.
There were a couple of close moments late on as Hanafin managed to draw alongside and make some late breaking attempts into Brooklands, but Dan would not yield, claiming his 35th series victory and leaving Silverstone with a three-point championship advantage with four races left to run.
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship after 12 rounds
1. Dan Cammish - 95 points
2. Lorcan Hanafin - 92 points
3. Kiern Jewiss - 77 points
4. Harry King - 67 points
5. Will Martin - 62 points