Porsche Carrera Cup GB resumes at Croft

After a four-week break, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB resumes over the weekend of 2/3 June for rounds seven and eight at the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire. Heading to the technically challenging track, just two points split the two leading title contenders.

It all started perfectly for Tim Harvey (Oxford), with two wins at Brands Hatch. By his own high standards, Tim didn’t have such a good weekend at Rockingham and then spent the Thruxton weekend feeling decidedly under par. Meanwhile, Steven Kane (Brixworth, Northants) stormed to three victories as he quickly got to terms with the 911GT3 Cup car. In the space of two weekends, Kane eroded Harvey's championship lead to just two points and that is how they stand heading for Croft.

By any measure, Croft will be an important weekend in the title race. Harvey will be determined to re-assert his authority on the championship, while Kane will be just as determined to maintain his winning sequence and wrest the points' lead away from his rival. The results at Croft could be a very significant pointer to the way the title race is going to play out.

However, this is far from being a two-way contest, as James Sutton (Barnet) is well in contention and one poor result for Harvey or Kane is all that is needed for the former single-seater racer to move right into the contest. Like Harvey, Sutton races for Cleveland's Red Line Racing, and the team is very eager to win on its home ground.

Right behind Sutton in the points' table is Michael Caine (Newmarket), and he rates Croft as one of his favourite tracks. Caine and the 2006 title-winning team have been consistent rather than blindingly quick so far, and a hike in qualifying performance would help them challenge for race wins.

Completing the top five is Sam Hancock (Clapham). He's got a fine pedigree and is getting quicker and quicker as learns about the Carrera Cup. Sam hasn’t raced at Croft for a while, but he will be aiming to get onto the podium for the first time.

The pro-am category is now in its second season and offers a race within a race as well as a separate podium presentation, points and prize money. Nigel Rice (Beverley) is having a brilliant season for Red Line Racing, and currently dominates the category with five wins from six races. Croft is as close as it gets to a home track for the Yorkshireman, so he's aiming for more wins.

Rice's big rival is Andy Britnell (Kent), while others starting to show in pro-am also include championship newcomer Charles Bateman (Boston) and Pete Osborne (Worksop). Osborne scored his first Carrera Cup podiums at Thruxton, and will be keen for more at Croft. Due to make their 2007 Carrera Cup debuts are Maxi Jazz (London) and Mark Stephenson (ABG Motorsport), while Colin Willmott (Redditch) will rejoin the series after missing Thruxton.

Meanwhile, Porsche Open racer Peter Morris (Tamworth) will make his Carrera Cup debut in the Porsche Motorsport guest car as reward for his success in the Porsche Club GB race series in 2006.