Upper Hutt driver Simon McLennan became the 2010/2011 Porsche GT3 996 Cup Champion at the Taupo Motorsport Park last weekend.
McLennan topped off a sensational season in his New World Metro On Willis Porsche GT3 by taking the title that he had come so close to winning at the same venue last season. This year he arrived at the 3.3 kilometre circuit requiring just 13 points to wrap up the championship he had led since January. The title was sealed in Saturday afternoons opening race of the round. Simon had qualified fastest but picked up a flat tyre during the race. He limped around to the pits to have the tyre changed and rejoined to place third, a result which wrapped up the title. The following day he finished the championship in style, speeding to victory in both races to win the round to go with the championship.
A look back over the season confirms the championship title was well deserved. Simon won fourteen of the eighteen races throughout the series and was the overall winner at five of the six rounds. Not only did he win the 996 Cup Class in the Crown Lift Trucks supported championship but racing alongside the faster 997 Cup cars Simon frequently troubled the later model vehicles. His speed was good enough to place him sixth overall in the combined standings. He also made the overall podium when he finished third ahead of many of the later model cars at Timaru.
Last year Simon looked destined to win the championship only to finish in the runner-up spot when he failed to finish one of the races at the final round. That was only his second season of motor racing and his first in a Porsche. His motor racing debut came in the 2008/2009 MINI Challenge Series in which he was also a very impressive runner-up.
Asked how he felt to win the championship there was no hesitation - "it's finally amazing!" "I had an exceptionally good race car this weekend, the best I've had all year. In the first race I was extremely comfortable in front and when the tyre went I thought it was shades of last year. It was a long lap back to the pits. I wanted to finish the season on a high and it was great to win both of Sundays races. It's fair to say that in my MINI Challenge season and my first year in this class I was not expecting to win the titles with guys like Craig Innes in the MINI series and Hugh Gardiner in the 996 Cup. However this year I thought we had a great chance."
The New World Metro On Willis Porsche carried another name alongside that of the driver at Taupo. The name K Thomson adorned the side windows and windscreen of the Porsche. Simon explained that Kimball Thomson had been an owner/operator of New World Metro On Willis who recently passed away. "I never saw Kimball as a sponsor. He was a dear friend and a big supporter. I couldn't have done much without his support."
After ending his ultra successful season Simon was also quick to acknowledge Dave Taylor and the Motorsport Services Team plus mechanic Cam McCormack. Dave and the Motorsport Services guys are just a great bunch while Cam is a good enginer and friend.
After giving some of the later model Porsches a real hurry up this year Simon had one parting shot on Sunday evening. "Next year I want to be in one of those."
