Team Parker Racing claimed six podiums at its home circuit of Donington Park this weekend (April 23/24) as the Porsche Carrera Cup GB began its 20th season of competition.

Having claimed the inaugural series title with Barry Horne, the team has been ever-present since then, picking up a superb 21 championship titles and 184 race wins across all classes, with the 2003 champion now heading up the teams’ Porsche Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge programmes.

Fielding a strong six-car line-up this year, there was hope for Pro class competitors Kiern Jewiss, who is reigning Rookie champion, and Seb Morris, making his series debut after becoming a factory Bentley endurance racing driver. In Pro-Am, champion Ryan Ratcliffe returned to defend his title, alongside Charles Bateman, back in the series after nine years away. They were joined by teenager Will Aspin, while Justin Sherwood, holder of the past three Am championship titles, is aiming to make it four in a row.

In the opening race, Seb had a great start, gaining three places, before taking fifth with a good move around the outside at Redgate. Kiern was quickly battling for the lead, before being edged wide by Gus Burton and losing a number of places as he ran through the gravel. He recovered well, but was again run off track and into the gravel, falling back down the order once more.

In Pro-Am, Will enjoyed a positive first race, battling with several Pro drivers in the overall order and ultimately claiming a debut class podium, in second, while Charles crossed the line fifth and Ryan sixth after a spin dropped him down the order. Reigning Am champion Justin also had a solid contest, making up one spot to claim second in class.

In the second race Seb again made a good start, jumping up to third, while Kiern gained a remarkable eight places to run sixth overall. Within a few laps he was up to fourth, at the expense of his team-mate who was struggling on a set of worn tyres after a puncture in practice meant he had to use an extra set. Kiern then passed Gus Burton to take the final podium place with Seb crossing the line to finish fifth.

Will had another excellent race in Pro-Am, crossing the line eighth overall and second in class, despite losing his splitter which cost him downforce, and late pressure from Ryan, who claimed third behind him. Charles had solid result on his Carrera Cup return, finishing sixth in class, and Justin secured another podium with second place as he defends his third-straight Am championship title.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB is next in action on the tight, twisty, and challenging Brands Hatch Indy circuit over the weekend of May 14/15, with live coverage of the second race once again broadcast live on ITV4, while there will also be live coverage during race day carried on the main ITV channel.

Seb Morris

“I was on the backfoot from Thursday, really. We had a rear left puncture on a new set very early on in practice and then I went to brake into turn one and flat spotted the front right due to that, which meant I was a set of tyres behind everyone. In the first race I had an amazing start from ninth all the way up to fourth and ended up finishing fifth.

“I knew what I had to do to go quicker in the second one, but unfortunately, I had to use a set of tyres from qualifying, whereas everyone else had new ones. I went from fifth up to third on lap one and then tried to hold them off but couldn't and ended with a fifth place at the end.

“I actually said to myself, if I could get two top fives this weekend, I'd be really happy, as I've only had two days in the car. Some of these guys have been at it for years, and I'm learning very, very quickly, so everyone else needs to watch out because it won't take me long.”

Kiern Jewiss

“We needed that race two result after what happened earlier. It's a shame as I think we probably could have cleared off into the distance in race one. We had very good pace even dropping back to 16th after the incident coming back through to sixth, having another incident, and getting damage.

“It's the first race, he started on pole, he wants to win, and maybe it's just learning when just to give that up a little bit. The second incident – everyone's racing hard and sometimes a little bit too hard. We really needed that result in race two to stay in the championship and from now on it's got to be perfect for us, but I'm ready for that.”

Will Aspin

“I've loved every minute of this weekend. Coming in, we struggled a bit with pace, but we brought it back with finishing P10 in qualifying and then finishing with podiums in both races. In the first race we just made little mistakes every now and then, but in the second, we made fewer. There were still one or two of them, but it was a good race, and I was really calm and collected.

“The only thing was we lost the splitter about halfway through, so we had to do the rest of the race with Ryan right behind me. I was kind of hoping it would end because going down the Craner Curves I had to hold my foot on the brake all the way down, which cost me a lot of time. Other than that, it was a good weekend with good results and I’m happy. We’ve just got to catch the guy in P1.”

Ryan Ratcliffe

“In the first race it was completely my fault. I had a really good start, up to third in class, which was great from where I qualified, and then I spun coming into McLean's. I haven't spun for maybe four years, so to do it when I made up good positions in the first weekend of the year, I just really put myself on the back foot.

“I went into the second race with the attitude that I had nothing to lose and made up a load of places in the first four laps. The pace is there, but Will did an awesome job. I caught him up but, he did a did a great job of keeping me behind. He didn't even defend that hard, it was just the lines he was taking made it hard for me to make a move. He's come on really well and I think it's going to be a fun year.”

Charles Bateman

“We were very competitive this weekend and it was great to be back in the car after nine years away, so I was a bit race rusty. The first race could have been better, had I not stalled, but it allowed me to practice some overtaking. The race pace was good, I'm happy about a fairly solid weekend, and we're learning still.

“The 992 is just night and day compared to the 997 I last raced. Less physical as a machine, but a lot quicker and just a more sophisticated race car, but great fun too.”

Justin Sherwood

“I’m still learning the new car, but it was fantastic. The team did a great job, I just need to find a bit within myself. I was reasonably comfortable in second, but I just need to find that bit of pace to match Josh [Stanton], really, because he's done really well and pulled away in both races. It's been a struggle to match his pace, but I'm happy with the weekend.

“Coming away with two podiums and good points in the bag means hopefully, as I get more comfortable with the car, I can push Josh. It's great to have the two Peters [Mangion and Kyle-Henney] back, and [Mark] Radcliffe pushed me all the way until he made a mistake at the Old Hairpin which gave me breathing space. I am happy with the weekend, it's great to be back racing, and the weather was great.”