Xentek Motorsport took their class title challenge down to the final race of the season as they signed off their 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB campaign with a brilliant hat-trick of podium finishes at Brands Hatch this past weekend (05-06 October).
The South Yorkshire team were aiming to bring their impressive second season of Porsche racing to a close on a high note around the world-famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, entering Clubsport Pro title contender Sam Harvey, Oliver Cottam and Bal Sidhu.
Only six points separated Harvey from the top of the CS Pro points standings heading into the event, and he strengthened his title chances with a perfect qualifying performance on Saturday morning. Two rapid laps in his Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport netted him a crucial double class pole position.
Whilst he slipped back to second in the opening race, he still crucially finished ahead of his title rival Oskar Dix to cut the gap to three points overnight. Initially slipping from pole to third in race two on Sunday morning, the West Midlands racer mounted a fightback and passed Dix into Surtees on lap four.
A challenge for the lead next time round though would unfortunately result in contact between the two, forcing Harvey to pit with a puncture. While he recovered in third, the lost points meant that despite a second-place finish in the finale, he would have to settle for vice-champion honours.
Cottam brought his debut Porsche campaign to a close with another impressive performance behind the wheel of his Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, starting with a seasons’ best qualifying performance of seventh overall.
The 18-year-old talent followed that up with a consistent trio of races in Kent. Enjoying some exciting racing throughout, Cottam picked up a best result of sixth in RS Pro on two occasions to secure a top six finish in the final class points standings.
Sidhu meanwhile concluded his busy 2024 race season with a strong performance at Brands Hatch. The recently-crowned GT4 champion in the British Endurance Championship qualified sixth in the RS Am class and replicated that result with a good run in the opening race.
Christopher Richards – Team Principal: “We’re incredibly proud of the efforts of our drivers and team members across the Porsche season. To have been in a championship battle down to the final race of the year is a big achievement for us and something we aim to build on in 2025.
“Sam has driven exceptionally well this year and 17 podiums in 18 races is a brilliant record. Oliver has put in some great drives in the RS and the breakthrough podium at Croft was a highlight for us all, while Bal has been great fun to go racing with and deservedly ends 2024 as a champion.”
Image from Porsche GB.
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