RAFA Racing Club Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2024 / 2025 Junior James Wallis (JTR) from Ledbury in Herefordshire, and Max Coates (Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport) from Richmond in North Yorkshire, drove to maiden wins during the historic Porsche Carrera Cup GB weekend at Snetterton.

The first victory for Wallis came in the 400th race in championship history, made more pertinent by a special race number, 400, which adorned his 911 GT3 Cup at the Norfolk circuit in honour of the milestone. There was another new winner in the second race when Pro-Am newcomer, Coates, produced a lights-to-flag victory from reverse grid pole position.

Josh Stanton (JTR) from Oxford was the Pro-Am winner in Round Three, while the top three overall finishers in Round Four were all from the Pro-Am category. Andrew Rackstraw (Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport) from Cape Town in South Africa was the highest placed Pro category driver in the weekend’s second encounter, finishing fourth overall. Meanwhile, Jonathon Beeson (Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport) from Crewe in Cheshire was the pace-setting Am driver with two wins.

Wallis and Coates are new winners in Pro
Qualifying on Saturday saw Sid Smith (Team Parker Racing) from Maldon in Essex take a maiden pole position, with Wallis finishing just 0.004 seconds behind. At the start of the 400th Carrera Cup GB race, Wallis beat Smith away from the line to take the lead. Rackstraw and George Gamble (Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport) from Nottingham came next in the order. And Will Martin (Eden Motorsport) from Hastings in East Sussex was an early retirement.

As the race settled, Smith closed on the leader, while Gamble gained on Rackstraw for third. On lap eight the tables turned, with Wallis pulling clear at the front and Smith falling back into the clutches of Rackstraw. A lap later, Rackstraw overtook Smith for second at Agostini, but as Gamble attempted to follow he spun, before continuing his race in eighth place. In the latter stages, a recovering Gamble passed Sebastian Hopkins (Team Parker Racing) for seventh as rain began to fall.

At the chequered flag, Wallis took the first win of his Carrera Cup GB career, joined on the podium by Rackstraw and Smith. After the race, the winner drew the number six ball, reversing the top six grid positions for the weekend’s second race. Pro-Am category racer, Coates, would start from pole position, with Oliver Jackson (JTR) from Reigate in Surrey alongside. Smith was the top Pro driver – he would start in third. Following the race, Angus Whiteside (Century Motorsport) from Guildford was docked four championship points and four category points for an incident with Oliver White (Eden Motorsport) from Bath.

Pro-Am category driver Coates got away cleanly at the start of the weekend’s second race, while Pro category drivers Wallis and Smith came together. With the top three in the race all Pro-Am drivers, Rackstraw emerged as the highest placed Pro category racer in fourth, while Smith was now fifth with Gamble running in sixth. Rackstraw soon pressured Stanton for third overall but he also had to watch his mirrors for an attacking Smith.

On lap eight, there was movement when Martin passed Hopkins for seventh overall, and fourth in the Pro category battle. Hopkins later came under a fresh attack from Whiteside, though their order would remain the same. In the closing stages of the race, Rackstraw looked quick again, but he could not find a way ahead of Stanton, and at the flag the South African was the highest placed Pro category driver in fourth.

Following the race, Smith was docked four championship points and four category points for his incident with Wallis on the opening lap.

Stanton and Coates take Pro-Am
Will Jenkins (Team Parker Racing) from Stafford qualified ahead of his Pro-Am category rivals for the second time this season. However, Jenkins was an early retirement from the weekend’s first race following contact with Gamble. Stanton took the Pro-Am lead from Jackson and White. White pressured Jackson for second in the category scrap (sixth place overall), however, Whiteside soon made contact with White which resulted in a spin for both drivers before they continued. The incident promoted Coates to the final Pro-Am podium position, where he joined winner Stanton and Jackson on the category steps.

Coates got away cleanly from reverse grid pole position in Round Four, he led Stanton and Jackson who swapped places twice on the opening lap. As the race order settled, the top three overall were Pro-Am category drivers, with Coates leading Jackson and Stanton. Coates created a two-second gap to Jackson, and that is how the order stayed to the flag. Coates enjoyed his maiden Carrera Cup GB victory, joining Stanton and Jackson to form the overall podium, and the trio stayed on the podium to receive their Pro-Am category trophies.

Beeson wins for the first time in Am
Jonathon Beeson (Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport) from Crewe qualified ahead in the Am category, he led Carl Cavers (Century Motorsport) from Nottingham, and William Paul (Team Parker Racing) from Buenos Aires in Argentina, at the start of the 400th race. Paul soon made his retirement leaving Beeson and Cavers to continue to the flag, with Beeson recording a maiden championship victory. Beeson led Cavers and Paul again in the weekend’s second race, and that is how their order remained to the flag.

The next stop for Porsche Carrera Cup GB is Thruxton in Hampshire – the UK’s fastest circuit – on the weekend of 6-8 June 2025. Follow the latest Porsche Motorsport GB news via the dedicated Instagram and X feeds – @PorscheRaces_GB – where users can share experiences via the hashtag #CarreraCupGB, and the Porsche Motorsport Hub: https://racing.porsche.com

Championship positions*

Overall:
Andrew Rackstraw - Rosland Gold by Century Motorsport - 36
James Wallis - JTR- 26
Sid Smith - Team Parker Racing- 22

Pro-Am:
Max Coates - Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport - 31
Oliver White - Eden Motorsport - 30
Josh Stanton - JTR - 30

Am:
Jonathon Beeson - Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport - 42
Carl Cavers - Century Motorsport - 38
William Paul - Team Parker Racing - 18