The opening weekend of the new RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB season saw defending champion Sebastian Job (East Grinstead) and returnee Peter Berryman (Corby) each take victories in two closely contested races. A simulated Silverstone circuit played host to a packed grid of 29 professional sim racers split into two categories – Pro and Am – on Sunday 14 January.

Two time champion Job (2021 and 2023) set the pace in qualifying narrowly taking the first pole position of 2024, the Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing driver led newcomer Luke McKeown into the first corner of the opening race but he could not shake him off, McKeown was one of several drivers who troubled Job all the way to the flag. Meanwhile, Luke Pennington (Bideford) showed his intentions by dominating his category rivals to secure the first Am win of the new season.

Having featured heavily in 2022, Peter Berryman sat out the 2023 season but marked his return to Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB in style by taking advantage of reverse grid pole position for 2024’s second race. Leading into the first corner, Berryman successfully defended his track position to take victory, meanwhile Pennington’s second Am win ensured his championship bid started in the best possible fashion.

The new season enjoyed live coverage broadcast via YouTube with professional commentary featuring ITV’s David Addison, part of the dedicated TOCA broadcast team on British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) weekends. David’s familiar voice creates a further link between Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Sprint Challenge GB and RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB.

Qualifying
Following a one hour warm-up a 10 minute qualifying session determined the grid order for the season’s opening race. The nature of the shorter 1.64 mile Silverstone National circuit made navigating traffic of high importance, returnees Matt Emery (Nutfield), Berryman and reigning Am champion Leo Gariboli (Hemel Hempstead) – now competing in the Pro category – each took a turn at setting benchmark lap times.

With just two minutes remaining on the clock Job was the first driver to lap in under 55 seconds, his pacesetting 54.906 would be enough to secure 2024’s first pole position. Throughout the session Pennington’s Am category dominance was rarely put in doubt, he would start the weekend’s first race as the highest placed Am in an impressive eighth spot overall.

Following the session, for an incident between Jack Sedgwick (Stockport) and Matt Emery, five seconds was added to Sedgwick’s accumulated penalty time (ATP). In addition to Race Time penalties, ATPs are tracked over the course of the championship, if a driver’s cumulative penalties meet or exceed 30 seconds or more they receive sanctions ranging in severity, including grid position demotions and race bans, in the most severe case, disqualification from the championship.

Race one
When the lights went out all 29 drivers got away cleanly, Job led from pole position into the first corner with McKeown tucking in directly behind and William Chadwick (Wigan) maintaining a close third. Pennington remained the best placed Am, moving up to seventh, his nearest rivals were the experienced Scott Moakes (Meppershall) and newcomer Daniel Martin (Weymouth) running P16 and P17 overall. Further into the opening lap Gariboli left the circuit before rejoining to continue his race.

As the pack ran in close formation, Jacob Tofts (Hatfield Heath) – son of 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB competitor, Neil Tofts, soon found himself involved in a tight battle with several other cars. Running three-wide at one point, the Duckhams Oils driver emerged ahead taking P20. Meanwhile a close Am fight developed just behind Tofts, Crofton Woodhatch (Bath) and Daniel Cofield (Doncaster) engaged in an entertaining scrap for P22, underlining their race craft and commitment.

Back at the front of the race Job could not pull clear of the chasing McKeown who was consistently just two or three-tenths adrift, Chadwick was still poised to pounce in a close third. In the battle for seventh, Pro category racer Berryman found a way by Am leader Pennington, Graham Carroll and Jack Sedgwick immediately looked to follow Berryman through. As the four cars fought, Carroll found himself sliding out of contention at Woodcote following contact with Sedgwick, he would rejoin in a distant P19.

With 10 minutes of racing remaining Job now led a string of cars stretching back to seventh with just two seconds between them all. The reigning Pro champion continued to resist pressure from McKeown – still just two tenths of a second behind. The stalemate was partly broken when Emery spun out of the desired race two reverse grid pole position spot (sixth) at Becketts, the result of contact with Luke Bennett. The drama left six cars fighting for victory; Job, McKeown, Chadwick, Josh Thompson (Isle of Man), Bennet and Berryman.

In the closing stages of the race an exciting fight for P11 also ignited between Thomas Cope (Sheffield) and Alexander Davidson (Menstrie), Davidson took the inside line as the pair scrapped through Luffield but Cope quickly retaliated, their dice continuing through several corners. When no quarter was given the two began to slow themselves down allowing an opportunistic David Williams (Rugby) to overtake both cars picking up P11 for himself.

On the final lap Job was forced to defend hard, weaving down the Wellington Straight to break the aerodynamic tow enjoined by McKeown and managing to stay ahead. Job recorded the first win of the 2024 season, joined on the virtual Pro podium by McKeown and Chadwick, Berryman took sixth handing him reverse grid pole position for the second race of the day. Pennington’s Am category win never looked in doubt with Moakes second and Woodhatch third.

Following the race, for an incident between Dylan Platt (Bangor) and Stuart McPhaden (Falkirk) on lap 26, five seconds was added to Race One time of McPhaden.

Race two
The grid for the second race was determined by reversing the top six finishing positions from race one. Berryman started on pole with Bennett alongside, Thompson and Chadwick formed the second row of the grid with McKeown and Job creating row three. Berryman made a clean start fighting off an attack from Bennett who soon had a determined Chadwick to deal with, the latter grabbing second further into the opening lap. The order was Berryman from Chadwick and Bennett with McKeown and Job giving chase. In Am Pennington led Moakes and Woodhatch but all eyes soon turned to Gareth Higgins (Exeter) when he was spun around by Alexander Davidson before rejoining the action.

With the running order settled the weekend’s second race began to bear a striking resemblance to the first. Just as had been the case with Job and McKeown, leader Berryman could not break away from the chasing Chadwick with just two tenths of a second between them. As Williams slipped backwards following an incident at Brooklands, Gariboli was making forward progress as he recovered from his disappointing opening race. With 16 minutes to go Bennett unsuccessfully attacked Chadwick for second but this allowed McKeown to close, Job got in on the action too. McKeown eventually passed Bennett but not before the scrap had enabled Berryman and Chadwick ahead to pull away.

There was renewed excitement when Carroll, Cope and Emery engaged in a battle for tenth, the trio swapped positions on more than one occasion. However, with eight minutes remaining on the clock Gariboli suffered another incident at Brooklands when he attempted a move on Cope that resulted in contact. Martin was another casualty when he went for a spin at Copse.

On the final lap of the race Berryman was forced defensive by the chasing Chadwick, McKeown in third was looking very feisty too, however the positions would remain the same to the flag. Berryman marked his return to the championship in style with victory, Chadwick enjoyed his second podium of the weekend and McKeown marked himself out as a driver to watch in 2024. For his second Am win, Pennington was joined on the Am podium by Woodhatch and Moakes.

Following the race, for an incident between Alexander Davidson and Gareth Higgins on the opening lap, 10 seconds added to Race Two time of Davidson. For an incident between David Williams and Matt Emery on lap three, five seconds added to Race Two time of Emery. For multiple instances of moving late under braking in order to maintain a position, Peter Berryman had five seconds added to his accumulated penalty time (ATP). Finally, for an incident between Thomas Cope and Leo Gariboli on lap 18, 10 seconds was added to Race Two time of Gariboli.

Rounds three and four of the championship take place on 28 January at Donington Park on the shorter National layout. Keep up to date with RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB news via the dedicated Instagram and Twitter feeds: @PorscheRaces_GB

Championship positions:

Pro
1st - Sebastian Job - 18
2nd - Luke McKeown - 16
3rd - William Chadwick - 16

Am
1st - Luke Pennington - 22
2nd - Scott Moakes - 14
3rd - Crofton Woodhatch - 14