Richardson Racing was able to celebrate an eighth podium finish of the season as the Porsche Carrera Cup GB headed for Donington Park for the penultimate meeting of the campaign.
The Corby-based team headed up the M1 to the East Midlands circuit looking to add to the silverware it secured on home soil at Silverstone, and a strong showing in qualifying saw Will Martin and Josh Malin both qualify inside the top six on the grid for the opening race, with Will Bratt securing P10.
Martin held station in fifth place through the early stages of the race, but his challenge would end in unfortunate fashion when contact with the rear of rival Dan Cammish damaged the radiator on his car and forced him into the pits to retire.
Josh had slipped back a place on the opening lap before getting ahead of Ross Wylie into sixth place, and then inherited fifth when Martin was forced out; a position he would keep to the finish to secure the reverse grid pole for race two.
Although not at one with the handling of his car, Bratt worked his way up to seventh place at the finish following a race long squabble with Micah Stanley and Nathan Harrison.
From the front of the grid in race two, Malin held the lead through lap one before a small error at turn one allowed Kiern Jewiss to nip ahead.
Undeterred, Malin would keep his rival honest for the remainder of the race and also kept points leader Cammish behind to secure a fine podium finish, with the youngster also scoring the fastest lap.
With his race one retirement leaving him down in 20th on the grid, Martin produced a storming drive through to the field from the back to end the race in sixth place, with Bratt ending his weekend with eighth place.
Going into the season finale, Richardson Racing remains second in the Entrants Championship with just two races left to run.
Will Martin, #10 Richardson Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, said:
“Race one was really unfortunate but it meant that in race two, there was no pressure on me in terms of the result and I could just go out and attack. To come from so far back to get P6 was really pleasing and I think was the most we could have hoped for.
“By the time I got up into the top six, the cars ahead had got a gap and I couldn’t close them in, but it was a really enjoyable race and I think we put on a good show. We go to Brands Hatch hoping to end the season on a high and I see no reason why we can’t have a good weekend there in a few weeks time.”
Josh Malin, #90 Richardson Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, said:
“That second race is probably right up there with the one that won me the Ginetta GT5 title last season. It was so intense but I’m delighted to get a second place and get it on merit, as I showed we had the pace to be there by getting the fastest lap.
“Silverstone was a tough weekend for me, but we had a good qualifying result here and then did a solid job in race one to get up to P5. It was nice to hold the lead for a bit in race two and to hold off the title contenders was great as I knew they’d take the chance if I offered it to them. Hopefully it’ll be much the same at Brands Hatch.”
Will Bratt, #91 Comline Richardson Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, said:
“It’s been another tricky weekend for me and I’ve not managed to get the results I was hoping for. I’ve not quite got the car how I want it to be and it means I’ve not been able to push higher up the order like I know I can do.
“Race two was particularly tricky as there was something not quite right with the handling, which hopefully we can get to the bottom of for Brands Hatch.”