The
final weekend of Damien Faulkner's triumphant Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign
saw the double champion take two more podium finishes to bring his tally to nineteen
podiums out of twenty. A third place in race one following a less than ideal
qualifying result was followed up in race two with second place to give him a
fifty one point winning margin in the series which he had previously wrapped
up with two races to spare.
Faulkner's
Team SAS international car did not have the pace to challenge the front runners
in qualifying but a heroic effort got him to within 0.16 of a second of the pole
time which unfortunately in the highly competitive field was only good enough
for fourth place.
A good
start coupled with a clash between the front row qualifiers saw Faulkner promoted
to second place behind season long rival Tim Harvey. The champion held station
behind Harvey but did not have the speed to challenge him and eventually came
under pressure from the recovering pole sitter, James Pickford, who first passed
Faulkner and then Harvey to take the win.
The second
race saw Faulkner start third and keep that place through the opening laps. Harvey
initially took the lead from Pickford but Pickford was again in a hurry and made
a hasty attempt to pass the leader putting himself out of the race. Faulkner
closed on Harvey but lacked the last bit of speed to mount a serious challenge
and had to settle for second place and a slightly disappointing end to his magnificent
season.
"Its'
been another great season for me and Team SAS and I am delighted to have given
them their second drivers title and teams title in two years." said Faulkner
of his season. "With the championship wrapped up we were hoping for a better
end to the season this weekend but unfortunately it was not to be. We just did
not have the ultimate pace to challenge any of the front runners and we were
slightly lucky to get on the podium especially in race two."
"This
year was the most competitive yet in the Porsche Carrera Cup so it am really
happy to have come out on top. Thanks, once again, must go to Eddie McElhinney
of SAS International without whose support I would not be here at all. I also
want to thank all at Team Parker who consistently given me a quick and reliable
car with which I have been able to get on to the podium in the nineteen races
that I finished. It's great heading into the winter as champion again and I am
looking forward to my next challenge which hopefully will take me into the Porsche
Supercup for 2007."
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