Quaife Wraps Up Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship At Brands Hatch

The weekend started badly with appalling weather conditions during Friday's test session. The worst of the conditions came in the morning, when standing water affected much of the session.

Some of the drivers, including Phil, decided to sit out the worst of the conditions. However Phil did venture out for the last 10 minutes, just to run the car.

The afternoon session was less waterlogged, although the track remained wet throughout. Phil again put in a few laps, but due to the track conditions changing all the time, it was difficult to decide on the most suitable set up.

Thankfully the weather had improved dramatically for Saturday's qualifying, which did not go quite according to plan.

There was a large grid for the weekend and on the Brands Indy circuit finding space to set a time became a real issue. Before Phil was able to put in a hot lap there was a red flag which stopped the session. When the cars were allowed back on track there was just 3 minutes left on the clock!

Phil's attempt at a quick lap was hampered by slower traffic and he finished qualifying 2nd in Pro-Am and 9th overall.

Phil managed a reasonable start in Race 1, but heading to Druids hairpin in a bunched field, Phil was hit from behind which caused him to spin off.

Phil soon recovered and rejoined the race at the back of the pack. He drove a superb race working his way through the field, but suffered a puncture on the second to last lap. He was left with no alternative than to nurse the car home to take the chequered flag in 13th position.

For Race 2 on Sunday, Phil made a great start but was in the thick of some very hard established racers.

Although he was involved in some very close racing with Nigel Rice, Mike Richards, Jason Young and David Ashburn, Phil chose not to take risks which might jeopardise his championship. He brought the car home in 11th position, but collected enough points to secure the 2006 Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship.

As the new Pro-Am Champion, Phil is really looking forward to the final round of the season at Silverstone on the 14th-15th October, where he can concentrate all his efforts on driving the car without the worry of a championship!

For more information, www.philquaife.co.uk