Mighty McHugh 944 Turbo Comes Good at Snetterton
After almost 5 years of trying, and with 3 blown engines along the way, Jamie McHugh’s mighty 944 Turbo finally came good, winning the first of 3 Calm All Porsche Trophy (CAP) races at Snetterton. As Saturday’s Qualifying session started, the track was drying after early showers, and a record 35 Porsches went out to fight for their grid positions. Jamie McHugh made the most of his 944 Turbo’s previously untapped potential to claim pole by half a second from Rob Hollyman’s raucous 964 and Peter Dilnot’s 996. A welcome newcomer to the Series, Peter headed up row 2 just 0.2 seconds behind Rob, with Christian Walker alongside in the second outing for his new Cayman although a puncture curtailed his session. First SP2 car was Richard Neall’s Boxster in 6th overall closely followed by Patrick Scharfegger’s Boxster and Jon Walker in his Boxster 3rd.
SP3 was headed by the Crego family 968 an impressive 8th overall, with Tom McHugh and Rich Gravestock a little further back in 2nd and 3rd in their 968s.
The SP4 cars were at a bit of a disadvantage at Snetterton with its long straights although polesitter James Charalambides managed to qualify his 924 ahead of one Boxster to take class pole, well clear of Steve and Ted Potts in 2nd and Andy Whiting 3rd on the grid in 924 and 924S respectively.
Race 1: Saturday (20 minutes)
35 cars made it out for Race 1, although only 34 made the grid as Stuart Ings in his 944 S2 ground to a halt on the green flag lap with an electrical problem.
As the lights went out, Christian Walker leapt from row 2 to take an early lead ahead of a battling Rob Hollyman and Jamie McHugh. This trio dominated the front of the field, Jamie taking the lead on lap 7, holding this to the end with Rob in a strong P2 and Christian 3rd. Peter Dilnot and James Gunn Carter finished a second apart in 4th and 5th after a race long duel, followed by the first SP2 car, Richard Neall in his Boxster, with Andrew Duce’s Boxster on his tail for SP2 2nd. Lucas Hutchings was 3rd in this class ahead of a gaggle of 6 Boxsters with Andy Peck’s lightweight 968 joining this group.
Tom McHugh’s 968 took the SP3 win, and it was great to see him on the podium alongside son Jamie, the overall winner. Rich Gravestock took a solid P2 in SP3 ahead of Rich Gravestock and Clayton Sampson; Paul Hicks was 4th in his Cayman and Al Crego enjoying his first outing for many years in the 968 that's usually driven by son Dan.
A close fought SP4 fell to Karl Rossin’s 924 from Hugh Peart’s similar car and Andy Whiting in the 924S. Pole sitter James Charalambides made a strong start to lead the class, but a spin on lap 3 handed the initiative to Karl, and James completed the race just behind Andy Whiting, but ahead of Steve Potts. Stuart Jeffcoate (left) was an unfortunate non-finisher in his 993 after an unavoidable coming together with a spinning car and Kevin Molyneaux retired his 996 after a gearbox mount destroyed itself at the start. He was able to use his spare Boxster for the remainder of the weekend though.
Race 2: Sunday (20 minutes)
After the high of winning race 1, polesitter Jamie McHugh experienced the low of his car grinding to a halt on the Green Flag lap with an electrical issue, leaving the way clear for Christian Walker to lead from the start. His race wasn’t without drama, making contact with another car on a frantic first lap, but he managed to eke out a comfortable lead to finish 8 seconds ahead of Rob Hollyman’s 964.
Peter Dilnot spun his 996 on lap 1, commencing a fight back that saw him climb from near the tail of the field to finish 13th overall and P4 in SP1; James Gunn-Carter took second, well clear of Grant Jackson’s Cayman in 3rd, but embroiled in a close race with the SP2 winning Boxster of Andrew Duce. Tied together for most of the race, these 2 were separated only when lapping backmarkers, and finished 2 seconds apart. SP2 second and third were taken by Stuart McLaren and Patrick Scharfegger in their Boxsters ahead of the similar cars of Garry Goodwin and Lucas Hutchings.
SP3 saw a victory for the Charles Ivey 968 with regular driver Dan Crego at the wheel, ahead of Tom McHugh and Clayton Sampson. Karl Rossin (left) took another SP4 win, this time ahead of James Charalambides and Hugh Peart, all 924 mounted.
The only non-finishers were Jamie Nailard in his Cayman and Jon Walker’s Boxster which both experienced mechanical issues.
Race 3: Sunday (40 minutes)
Three cars didn’t make it to the grid for the final CAP race of the weekend, the traditional 40 minute pit-stop race, but it was a still impressive field of 31 cars that took the start. Jamie McHugh started at the back after his race 2 electrical issues were sorted, and it would be interesting to see how far he could advance in the race. Peter Dilnot was in a similar position starting his rapid 996 from row 7.
Christian Walker took the initiative off the start, but was soon locked in a fight for the lead with the Hollyman 964 until Rob pitted on lap 7. Battle was resumed on lap 13 after Christian completed his pitstop, and the pair continued to circulate less than a second apart. On lap 17 Rob ran wide on a track that was getting increasingly slippery due to light rain, and Christian escaped to take a well judged win with Rob 14 seconds behind.
The rain continued to fall from around mid race, and there were a few anxious moments on the grass for many of the field as grip levels fell away.
Meanwhile Jamie McHugh was scything his way through the field in the 944 Turbo, and was up to P4 after only 6 laps, finally finishing in 3rd place with fastest lap too, he was later rewarded with the Driver of the Day trophy. A good 4th was taken by Peter Dilnot’s 996, catching and passing the front-running Boxsters, notably Andrew Duce and James Gunn-Carter who were never far apart, and finished the race separated by less than half a second in 5th and 6th. Stuart McLaren took 2nd in SP2 behind “AD” and there was another strong showing from Richard Neall third in his Boxster. Dan Crego took his customary win in SP3, from Tom McHugh and Rich Gravestock, all in 968s.
James Charalambides took his 924 to the SP4 class win ahead of Andy Whiting and the family 924 shared by Steve and Ted Potts. Hugh Peart was clear in the class lead in his 924, but retired in a cloud of smoke after 12 laps, although he was relieved that it was nothing more serious than a loose oil filler cap.
Text: John Broadley, photos: Sean Mulcahy
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