MATTY EXTENDS ADVANTAGE WITH SNETTERTON THIRD PLACE BRACE
Matty scored a brilliant pair of podium finishes in the latest rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton this past weekend (24/25 October).
Leading the rookie championship standings heading into the weekend, a strong showing would see Matty extend his advantage heading into the season finale at Brands Hatch .
Proceedings kicked off with a strong performance in qualifying behind the wheel of his Eighty One Powerdrink backed machine. Matty matched his best result of the season so far by taking third position, behind the Team Parker Racing entries of Harry King and Josh Webster.
Race one took place in damp conditions on Sunday morning and a great launch from Matty saw him briefly lead through the first corner.
Running wide gave King the opportunity to get back ahead and though Matty was able to hold position against Webster, the 2014 champion put in a brave move around the outside heading into the final sector of the lap.
After the exciting opening, a lonely race developed for Matty, as he pulled away from the pack behind, but was unable to make any ground on Webster ahead as he secured his third podium of the season.
Drawn for a front row start to race two from second on the grid, a slow start allowed pole man Will Martin to pull ahead and both Webster and King to get by, demoting Matty to fourth.
It put the Northumbrian under intense pressure from main rookie championship rival Lorcan Hannafin for the opening lap, but once up to speed and recovered, Matty began to build a gap and chase down Martin in third.
By lap five, there was a six-car train beginning to squabble over the final podium spot which was also the lead position in the rookie standings.
With passing moves at something of a premium in evenly matched Porsche 911 GT3’s Matty acted decisively on lap six to seize that position and start moving away from his rivals.
Getting a good run on Martin, Matty was late on the breaks into the Montreal hairpin and lunged his way up the inside of the corner to get alongside.
With both drivers fighting fairly and leaving each other racing room, it was Matty who had the edge and advanced a position.
After Hannafin passed Martin two laps later, the closing stages of the race saw Matty having to manage the gap and though it was down to just half a second with three laps to go, he was able to seal his second podium of the meeting.
Results from Snetterton mean Matty holds a nine-point lead at the top of the rookie standings heading into the season finale at Brands Hatch, and maintains his place in third in the overall championship table.
The 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup GB concludes on the weekend of November 14/15