Redline Racing brought their 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign to a close with a fantastic haul of silverware from the season finale at Brands Hatch this past weekend (12/13 October). While the Teeside squad ultimately missed out on title glory this year, they showcased their strength in depth by ending the campaign with a total of 37 class podium finishes to their name and top three points finishes in each of the championship’s five categories. Fresh from a stunning double victory during the penultimate meeting of the season at Silverstone two weeks prior, George Gamble was once again fighting at the front in Kent alongside 2018 champion Tio Ellinas, who had returned to the series for the final two meetings. The two drivers were closely matched throughout the meeting as they got in the mix for overall podium finishes. In a qualifying session plagued by changeable conditions and red flag stoppages, Ellinas just edged out his team-mate as they finished third and fifth respectively. In the opening race on Sunday morning, Ellinas ran second for a long spell before Gamble took the bragging rights with a smart move around the outside at Surtees. The duo eventually came home in second and third, with those results replicated in race two that afternoon. On that occasion though it was Ellinas in front as he held second throughout proceedings in his DMS Vinyl supported Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. That result means the Cypriot ace secured three podium finishes in four races on his return to the championship. Third place in the finale for Gamble meanwhile ensures the Amigos Tequila Beer backed racer ends his second Carrera Cup GB campaign with ten podium finishes to his name. He was unfortunately miss out on second in the final points standings by just a single point. Jack McCarthy joined his team-mates in making two visits to the podium over the weekend as he brought his maiden season in Porsche competition to a close in style at his home circuit – the 19 year old being based just 15 minutes down the road in Bromley. From second on the grid in the Pro Am class, McCarthy starred on Sunday to record two class victories with outright top ten finishes. Those results means he impressively ends the campaign as vice-champion in both the Pro Am and Rookie classes. Seb Perez put in a battling display in the tricky conditions to bring his second year in Porsche to a close with sixth and seventh place finishes, while Fraser Robertson showed consistent improvement across the meeting on his way to a best finish of sixth in the Am category. The most successful team in Porsche Carrera Cup GB history therefore end the season with Gamble third in the final Pro standings, McCarthy second in both Pro Am and Rookie, John Ferguson third in Am and ‘Amigos Redline Racing’ second in the Entrants points. Simon Leonard – Team Boss: “We’re delighted to have ended the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB season with a really strong weekend. All five drivers drove really well in what proved to be a tricky meeting with changing weather conditions throughout. “We enjoyed seeing George [Gamble] and Tio [Ellinas] both up there fighting at the front. There was some brilliant, close racing between them and they each came out on top once. Tio has come back to the series and immediately proven his credentials once again. “George has ended the season with four podiums in five races, a great way to close off a superbly fast and consistent season. Seb [Perez] put in another strong performance as well, fighting for the top six. We’ve really enjoyed working with those two and Amigos this year. “Jack [McCarthy] was an absolute star and richly deserved his two class victories. He’s hugely impressed us in his first season. Fraser [Robertson] did well again too and loved his weekend. All in all, a positive end to another fantastic season of Carrera Cup GB racing.”
Image from Dan Bathie / Porsche GB.