Porsche Round 8 Brands Hatch GP

Toro Verde GT travelled to Brands Hatch at the weekend (October 8/9) for the season finale of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB season, celebrating a double podium appearance for Angus Whiteside, who finished the year third in the Pro-Am class to round off the team’s maiden championship campaign on a high.

After racing on the Brands Hatch Indy layout earlier in the season, the drivers would benefit from two free practice sessions on the challenging Grand Prix circuit before heading into qualifying which was a strong session for Angus, hooking up a lap to put him fourth in class and in a good position to fight for podiums.

It was a frantic start to race one, as Angus attempted to make a move on Pro-Am rival Will Aspin, clipping his car and sending him onto the grass which resulted in a multi-car pile-up. With the Safety Car deployed, Angus was up into ninth overall and third in class. The circuit was live again for one racing lap before contact sent title contender Will Martin into the tyre wall at Paddock Hill Bend, bringing out a red flag with the race not restarting, meaning Angus collected his first silverware of the weekend.

Lining up third in Pro-Am for race two, he had a clean getaway and had the pace to battle for second, holding his nerve during the first Safety Car period and further still as competitors went off the track around him. When green flag racing resumed he was able to gain a position, before drama further down the pack meant the race ended under Safety Car conditions. Claiming his highest finish of the season, an elated Angus brought home a second-place trophy and sealed third place in the Pro-Am category.

It was a very positive end to Toro Verde GT’s maiden Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign, with Angus’ continuous improvement over the season a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. The team will visit Donington Park this coming weekend (October 15/16) for the season finale of the Ginetta GT Academy, before beginning preparations for next year.

Angus adds: “Qualifying was really good, and I’m really happy with my lap. The team were celebrating when I got out of the car so that was a good feeling. I was only one tenth off the top ten, so that was positive. Race one felt more like doing parade laps rather than racing, with the extended Safety Car and eventual red flag. I was aggressive into turns one and two and swapped positions back and forth for a bit at the start. On the entrance to Graham Hill I lunged down the inside of Will Aspin and was alongside his door, but he turned in on me and I slammed on my brakes, making contact. I felt a bit bad about that, but it was classed as a racing incident and these things happen. After that the race was chaos, and Will Martin's incident meant that my podium was a little bit bittersweet, but it's good to see he's doing okay.

“In race two the start was fine. I had loads of Pro class drivers around me, but I tried to capitalise on it by following them through. When the Safety Car came out it was game on. We were all bunched up together and I was trying to make small gains here and there. Then, when I saw a car spin in front and [Nathan] Harrison lifting off, I kept it pinned and managed to pass him. I'm so happy to finish ninth overall and second in class, it's the best I’ve done all year, and it was a really cool experience to be chasing the Pros. I was crying when I got out of the car and saw my family, so it means a lot.

“To sum up the season, it was a roller coaster, but mostly positive. I've learned a lot and I’m definitely a better driver than I was at the beginning of the year, so I’ve got really good momentum going into next year.