The sixth round and halfway point of the 2010 PCGB Speed Championship was at the fast and relatively short hill climb of Gurston Down in Wiltshire. Fifteen PCGB drivers enjoyed a dry track, occasional warm sunshine and close competition that nearly broke long standing records in two of the classes.

In Class P1 Pedro Moriyon enjoyed his second competition round and second hill climb in his standard production model 993 Carrera 2. After cutting his times down in practice, Pedro completed his fastest run in 41.86 for second place. Driving a 996 with GT3 RS ‘fitments’ and slick tyres Peter Turnbull put in a series of very close runs for a final time of 37.24 seconds and first place in P1. It was a welcome return to the Speed Championship for Jeff Archer who made his first competitive outing since 2008 as sole entrant in Class P2 at Gurston Down. Driving his 1972 3.2 litre engined 911 Jeff’s final and fastest run was completed in 38.04 seconds.

Less than three seconds separated all five drivers in Class P3 at Gurston with just 0.43 seconds between the fastest three. Right from the start in practice all three drivers ran a very quick and close competition with Ian Wadsworth (3.0ltr 911) finishing his fastest run in 37.95 seconds for third place. Just 0.04 seconds lay between first and second place in P3 with David Chivers (3.0 ltr 911E) putting in a determined final run and just missing out on first place by a fraction of a second with a fastest time of 37.56 seconds. Tim Barber (911SC) must have had a similar determination in his final run has he cut down his previous fastest time by a full second to finish in 37.52 seconds for a well deserved class win.

Five drivers competed at Gurston for Class P4 with Jonathan Thompson (944) collecting his first trophy this season after his final and fastest run of 43.51 seconds earned him third place in P4. Although a relative newcomer to the Speed Championship after joining with Donald Peach at Goodwood last year, Justin Mather (924) has proved to be a very capable driver and is often a trophy winning contender. So it was at Gurston with Justin collecting second place in P4 with a fastest time of 41.50 seconds. It was Graham Rose’s (924S) sixth turnout in as many rounds and he demonstrated the kind of discipline and consistency that has given him a healthy point’s lead as we go into the second half of the championship. Graham’s final and fastest run secured the class win in 40.16 seconds.