Jota Sport secured their first ever Porsche Carrera Cup GB victory in race 1 at Thruxton, as Sam Hancock drove a perfect race to take a win at his home circuit.

Starting second on the grid, Hancock chased pole sitter Michael Caine off the line and fought hard throughout the first lap to hold off third place Tim Bridgman, the pair going side by side on the opening tour. He was leading by the end of the lap though, as Caine ran wide at the chicane and spun on the grass to drop out of contention.

After a solid race, Sam finished 2.6 seconds clear, having weathered the storm of Bridgman’s challenge, and breathed a sigh of relief at the end as his tyre deflated on his slowing down lap.

Phil Quaife meanwhile also drove a fine race, missing out on a third podium finish of the year by just sixth tenths of a second. Starting fifth, Quaife made a solid start behind Tim Harvey and Bridgman off the line and was promoted to fourth after Caine’s off. He defended hard from fifth placed Charles Bateman and emerged unscathed late on when the Team Parker Racing driver made a late lunge at the chicane and ended his race in the tyres.

In the dying stages Quaife was right on the tail of Harvey, pushing for third, but also had to keep an eye in his mirrors as the recovering Caine closed to within half a second behind.

Hancock will be hoping to make it a double victory in Sunday’s race 2, where he starts third on the grid, with Quaife lining up in fifth.