Phil Quaife marked his Porsche Carrera Cup GB return with 4th place in the season opener at Brands Hatch on Saturday as Jota Sport made their debut in the UK's fastest one make series. However there was misfortune for team-mate Sam Hancock whose race ended in the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend.

On a damp track, with a threat of further rain, Hancock opted to start the race on wet tyres, with Quaife going for slicks and the rest of the field split 50/50 in their choice of Michelins.

Hancock made a brilliant start from 5th on the grid and looked set to lead into the first corner. However disaster struck when he was taken out by spinning poleman Tim Bridgman, an incident which left both cars stranded in the Paddock Hill Bend gravel and out of the race.

Following a safety car period to remove the pair's stricken cars, Michael Caine led the race from Tim Harvey and Andy Britnell. Quaife meanwhile was making strong progress through the field despite the far from ideal conditions as the drizzle continued to fall.

A second SC period, after Nigel Rice spun out of fourth place, halted Quaife's progress, but in the dying laps he won a closely fought battle with Steve Rance to claim a hard-earned fourth overall and third in class finish.