Local hero Graham Carroll (Edinburgh) and new winner Matt Emery (Nutfield) emerged triumphant in Rounds 11 and 12 of the RAFA Racing Club Porsche Esports Carrera Cup GB championship. The two gripping races saw a full grid of 26 sim racers attacking the challenging Knockhill circuit over a total of 64 laps.

Sebastian Job (East Grinstead) secured his fourth pole position of the season in qualifying, but drama at the start of the weekend’s first race relegated him to tenth position early on. As the challenge from those ahead faded, Scottish sim racer Carroll assumed the lead, and maintained his advantage to the flag. Job produced an impressive recovery drive to finish third overall, while Luke Pennington (Bideford) secured Am category glory.

Emery took a maiden championship win in the afternoon’s second race following a commanding lights-to-flag performance from reverse grid pole position. Job and Luke McKeown (Brighton) reignited their season-long battle in an exciting dice for the final podium places, while championship leader Job stayed ahead with an impressive defensive drive. Meanwhile, category pacesetter, Pennington, took his eighth Am win of the season.

Qualifying
The short 1.3-mile Knockhill circuit made qualifying tricky for all 26 drivers. During the 10-minute session, heavy traffic left several frustrated as they were compromised by other cars during flying laps. Job and McKeown emerged as the main contenders for pole position, the former’s time of 46.905 seconds ultimately enough to secure the top spot. Pennington confirmed his dominance to start ahead of his Am category rivals by a healthy margin.

Following the session, Luke McKeown and James Parker saw five seconds added to their accumulated penalty times (APT) for impeding, and for contact between Gareth Higgins and Thomas Cope, Higgins received the same penalty.

Race one
Job led through Duffas Dip, but when McKeown drew alongside as they approached McIntyres it resulted in contact, and both drivers took a trip through the gravel trap, slowing their progress. William Chadwick (Wigan) now assumed the lead with Carroll second and Leo Gariboli (Hemel Hempstead) third, and McKeown and Job rejoined the race further down the order. In Am, Pennington remained ahead with Crofton Woodhatch (Bath) and Scott Moakes (Meppershall) giving chase.

When Chadwick suffered hardware failure it resulted in his retirement, leaving the way clear for Carroll to grab the lead. The local racer was followed through by Peter Berryman (Corby) – up to second from sixth on the grid – and Gariboli. A delayed Job quickly set about making up lost ground. With 21 minutes left on the clock, Job was up to fifth then, when Gariboli left the circuit, he grabbed fourth, before overtaking Thomas Cope (Sheffield) for third.

With Job closing in behind, Berryman put increasing pressure on leader, Carroll, however, the Scotsman used all of this local knowledge to successfully fend off each attack. In the closing stages of the race, the top three drivers were covered by just over one second, however, the order would remain the same to the checkered flag. Carroll took his second Esports Carrera Cup GB win of 2024, flanked on the overall podium by Berryman in second and Job in third. Pennington, Woodhatch and Moakes formed the top three in Am.

Following the race, for an incident between Jack Sedgwick, Dylan Platt, James Parker, Adam Holloway and Adam Cox, 10 seconds was added to the race time of Parker. For the incident between Sebastian Job and Luke McKeown on the opening lap, 10 seconds was added to the race time of McKeown. Jamie Moone received the same penalty for contact with Daniel Martin. McKeown received a further five second penalty for forcing Luke Bennett off the circuit.

Race two
The grid for the second race was determined by reversing the top six finishing positions from race one. Emery made a clean getaway to maintain first, followed by McKeown and Cope. Towards the back of the grid, several drivers left the track including Daniel Martin (Weymouth) and Dylan Platt (Bangor), while Nathan Tague (Derby) also suffered his own incident joining those in retirement. The early order in Am was Pennington from Woodhatch and Daniel Cofield (Doncaster).

Job soon got alongside Cope out of Taylor’s hairpin, and the pair ran side-by-side across the finish line but, as Cope attempted a comeback at Duffas Dip, there was contact - he spun and was collected by race one winner, Carroll. The top three was now Emery from McKeown and Job, however, McKeown soon took a trip through the gravel trap which allowed Berryman to snatch third place. Berryman then suffered his own off before rejoining, McKeown retaking the final podium spot.

At half distance, Knockhill’s traditionally high rate of attrition was underlined by the exits of Adam Cox (Woking), Platt and Eric Grove (Birmingham) following contact. Attentions soon turned back to the front of the race as McKeown closed in on Job. The Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing star, Job, was repeatedly forced defensive at Taylor’s hairpin to deny McKeown a run down the straight. Despite multiple attempts, McKeown could not find a route through.

After 32 laps, Emery took his maiden Esports Carrera Cup GB championship victory, followed home by Job and McKeown in that order. Category championship leader Pennington secured another win, joined on the virtual Am podium by Woodhatch and Moakes. Having started Round 12 at the back of the grid, the recovering Chadwick crossed the line in a noteworthy sixth place – an impressive gain of 19 places in total.

Following the race, for an incident between Dylan Platt and Daniel Martin, 10 seconds was added to the race time of Platt. Chadwick received the same penalty for contact with Gariboli, who in turn was handed a five second penalty for contact with Luke Bennett. Bennet saw 15 seconds added to his race time for the same incident.

Following the Knockhill weekend, accumulated penalties will result in James Parker and Luke McKeown missing the next qualifying session of the season.

With just four races remaining, the championship visits the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit for its penultimate stop on 14 April, with the finale at Brands Hatch in May. Following the weekend in Scotland, Job now enjoys a larger 23 championship point advantage over McKeown. In the Am table, Pennington has increased his margin over Moakes to 34 points. 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 - 106
2nd - Luke McKeown - 83
3rd - Graham Carrolll - 68
Am
1st - Luke Pennington - 119
2nd - Scott Moakes - 85
3rd - Crofton Woodhatch - 53