Team Parker Racing enjoyed a strong and successful visit to Silverstone in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB at the weekend (September 22-24) as Joe Warhurst took all three wins and Matt Armstrong had three podium finishes.

Those results, coupled with a trio of strong drives from Rob Cronin, mean the team now leads the championship with Joe and has the lead of the Entrants’ standings with just one more meeting left to run this season.

Coming into the weekend all three drivers had enjoyed an official Porsche test day at the circuit, using Friday’s free practice to finalise setups and get ready for qualifying the following morning. Under cool but brilliantly sunny skies, Joe vaulted to the top of the times towards the middle of the 30-minute session, with Matt just 0.088s behind.

The trio headed back out for the final nine minutes, though sadly Robert slid off and was unable to improve his time, ending eighth in class. There was a change at the top however, as Matt went quicker to take top spot from Joe by 0.046s, before he reclaimed pole on his final lap, 0.012s ahead.

Joe started the first race well, leading the opening lap, while Matt was slower off the line and had to battle back to third on lap one and back into second on lap two, with Robert moving up into eighth overall and sixth in class. The race settled down after that, with Joe crossing the line almost four seconds clear and closing the championship fight to just seven points.

Race two on Sunday morning was held on a wet circuit, with Matt swooping past Joe to take the lead through Copse corner, though Joe regained the place through Maggotts and Becketts. Max Coates then put the pressure on both, getting past Matt before the Safety Car was called and the red flag was shown. The contest resumed for just five minutes, Joe taking a second win and moving level on points with the championship leader, with Matt third, while Rob climbed up to fifth in Pro and seventh overall.

Joe led from pole for the final contest and Matt did well to stick alongside Ethan Hammerton on the opening lap, regaining third after being beaten off the line. Coates pulled alongside Joe a few laps later, but had to relent, before sliding wide which helped Matt get past, though Hammerton snuck past both into second. The Safety Car was then called and when racing resumed – with just under five minutes remaining – there would be no further changes, Joe capping an incredible weekend with his third straight victory.

The final three races of the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge GB campaign take place on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in two weeks’ time, over October 7/8, with live coverage of the final contest shown live on ITV4.

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