The mouthwatering title fight resulting from a BTCC ace's exile

Three drivers have left an indelible mark on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB over the past six seasons.

Each of them has been a dominant champion; each secured the crown a round early; and each was the unquestioned benchmark when it came to qualifying and race pace. But only one of Dan Cammish, Dan Harper and Harry King had ever been on the grid at a time. Until now.

Cammish’s unfortunate winter exit from the Team Dynamics British Touring Car squad through no fault of his own allowed him to return to his Porsche roots and take on King, the most dominant of the three Carrera Cup megastars, setting up a mouthwatering battle with two titans of the category facing off against each other for the first time.

For Cammish it means a switch back to a rear-wheel-drive sportscar, after handling a front-wheel-drive Honda tin-top for the past three years. And that meant a brief period of readjustment during testing.

“It’s a very different car to drive than a touring car,” says Cammish, who admits he found getting to grips with the Honda BTCC machine easier than adapting back to the Porsche.

“The thing I had forgotten about the Porsche is just how fast it is – it feels like the tracks have shrunk! You’re arriving at each corner so much quicker than you were in a touring car. My first few laps were more of an adventure than I thought they would be. I’ve done four or five days and it’s amazing how quickly it starts to come back.”

Dan Cammish, Porsche Carrera Cup GB test

Photo by: Porsche

Cammish was the undisputed Carrera Cup king in 2015 and 2016, before missing out on making it a hat-trick of crowns the following year when a Porsche Supercup campaign meant he had to skip an event. But, just because he has 32 series victories to his name, Cammish says that doesn’t mean he’s assured of more glory this time around.

“I’ve had a lot of success in the past but that’s no guarantee of success in the future,” states Cammish, who was offered the full-season BTC Honda touring car drive, but stuck with his Porsche plan, staying loyal to Simon Leonard’s Redline squad.

“Harry King is an exceptional talent – he was just on a bit of a different level to everyone else at times last year. He starts as favourite but if I can get myself back to where I was at the end of 2017, I would like to think I can run him pretty close.

"When a lot of people mention Carrera Cup, Dan Cammish is the name people think of and I’m looking to upset that!" Harry King

“There’s pressure both ways but it’s only really what we put on ourselves. I’m coming back but we’re both in quite a good position. If he beats me, people are going to say Harry was exceptional and you got beaten by someone very, very good. If I beat him, then they’ll say Dan was always quick in Porsche racing and very good in touring cars.”

Cammish is likely to have his work cut out landing a third title when battling with King. The 2019 Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion entered the world of Porsche racing in some style last year, his breathtaking passing ability and flat-out approach winning him scores of fans.

It is therefore no wonder that Cammish says he plans to put the skills he learned in the rough-and-tumble of the BTCC to good use again this year. As for King, he is taking nothing for granted, despite his mesmerising display in 2020.

PLUS: How a Porsche King became 2020's breakout star

“I’m starting with a completely clean slate – no points carry over from last year,” he says. “It’s important to approach it exactly the same way. I’ve been training the same and I’m trying to replicate everything I’ve done last year.”

Dan Cammish, Harry King 2021

Photo by: Porsche

King is dovetailing his second year as a Porsche GB Junior in the Carrera Cup with a campaign in the Supercup, where he’s getting to grips with the latest ‘Type 992’ version of the 911 GT3 Cup car, for the newly formed Parker Revs squad. But after such a strong season last year, King says he does not feel any expectation to repeat his dominance when going up against Cammish.

“The only pressure I have is from myself – I’m the biggest enemy when it comes to that,” he says. “Dan’s got a lot of experience and he might’ve had a few years off, but it would be wrong to turn a blind eye to him. When a lot of people mention Carrera Cup, Dan Cammish is the name people think of and I’m looking to upset that!”

But both Cammish and King are quick to point out that this is far from a two-horse race. In fact, the Carrera Cup grid is overflowing with potential frontrunners this year. Expect Will Martin and Lorcan Hanafin to be on the pace right from the off, the former Ginetta Junior racers now having a year of Porsche experience under their belts, while proven race winner Lewis Plato is another returnee, now driving for the Valluga squad. Add in 2018 British Formula 4 champion Kiern Jewiss making the switch to sportscars, and there are plenty of drivers to keep an eye on.

Cammish highlighted Hanafin for his one-lap pace, and the JTR racer is eyeing a title bid in his second season in the series. “With a year of experience, it’s going to make a world of difference,” says Hanafin, who has increased his amount of time on the simulator and training compared to last season.

“Last year was to bed myself in and this season’s the one where I can really prove myself to people and to sponsors and show what I’m capable of.

“I think the main competition is going to be Dan and Harry – the main focus is going to be on them. In a way, I’m coming into it as an underdog, and everyone likes an underdog!”

Given the competitive line-up, anything is possible in this most eagerly anticipated of Carrera Cup showdowns.

Porsche Carrera Cup GB tracking shots, 2021

Photo by: Porsche

Ginetta GT4 Supercup

In the space of a couple of days during the off-season, Adam Smalley went from thinking his bid to win this year’s Ginetta GT4 Supercup crown was over before it started to suddenly having a chunk of his budget in place and being raring to go.

“I didn’t think I would be racing,” admits 2018 Ginetta Junior champion Smalley. “I really wanted to but couldn’t string the money together – I was spending all day, every day trying to get sponsors and wasn’t getting anywhere.”

But just after he had informed Elite Motorsport team boss Eddie Ives that he was unlikely to be on the grid, suddenly a deal was agreed with Optimum Pay Group and Smalley’s plans were back on track.

Smalley is not the only race winner back for another crack at the title. Tom Hibbert just pipped Smalley to third in last year’s points and, after joining Rob Boston Racing for this season, will be a threat again

Smalley had a tricky beginning to his rookie GT4 Supercup campaign last year, not helped by doing little pre-season running, but stormed to three wins and four other podiums in the final three events, just missing out on third in the points. Now he’s looking to continue that momentum into 2021.

“I’m trying to hit the ground running,” says Smalley. “We did rock up to the first round with no testing last year because it was so last-minute. This year I’m more prepared so I’ve got a better chance.”

Smalley is not the only race winner back for another crack at the title. Tom Hibbert just pipped Smalley to third in last year’s points and, after joining Rob Boston Racing for this season, will be a threat again. Smalley’s fellow Elite drivers – 2020 Ginetta Junior runner-up Josh Rattican and Tom Emson – will also be ones to watch, as will the returning Carlito Miracco.

Smalley’s sole focus now is on repeating his success from the Junior series by also winning the GT4 Supercup crown in his sophomore season.

Adam Smalley, Ginetta GT4 Supercup

Photo by: JEP

Mini Challenge

“I won the Rookie Cup in my first year in the Mini Challenge and came third in the championship; last year I came second and won the Graduate Cup and I’ve got one more cup to win now!”

There is no doubting that Dan Zelos has the overall Mini crown in his sights. The Excelr8 driver scored more podiums than anyone else in the 2020 season but failed to take a win. He is now bidding to address that, starting on home soil at Snetterton this weekend.

“I’m looking to keep the momentum up from the end of last season – I feel ready to come back fighting,” says Zelos. “I was consistently in the top five last year – it was a bit of a Colin Turkington-esque season, but perhaps I didn’t take enough risks to go for wins that may have helped me at the end of the season. But I learned a lot again last year and I’m improving every year.”

Zelos will need to be on top form to achieve his goal of landing the main prize this season. Joining him at Excelr8 is Max Bird, a three-time 2020 winner, while Jason Lockwood and Oliver Barker showed impressive flashes of speed during their rookie events. Race winners Max Coates (with the new Graves Motorsport squad) and Lewis Brown are also sure to be in the mix, along with former Fiesta ace Isaac Smith.

For Zelos, maintaining last year’s consistency will be key as the series is back up from five to seven events.

“There’s more races to win but also more races to slip up and make mistakes,” he says. And with 28 other drivers provisionally entered, there’ll be no shortage of people ready to pounce during what’s set to be another intriguing campaign.

Dan Zelos, Mini Challenge

Photo by: JEP