Jota Sport’s second-ever appearance in the Grand Prix-supporting Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup saw 28-year old Sam Hancock charge from 23rd on the grid to take seventh in a torrential downpour at a sodden Silverstone.

After a dry qualifying session in which 2.5 seconds covered the top 27 drivers, the heavens opened on Sunday morning to ensure a wet race would take place in dreadful conditions.

In front of the 100,000 spectators gathered to cheer Lewis Hamilton on in the afternoon’s Formula One race, Hancock produced a fine drive, climbing 16 places in the 14 lap event, three of which were behind the Safety Car.

12 of those positions were taken on the first lap alone, as the London-based driver carved through the field by utilising the improved grip and visibility off the traditional racing line. After ending the first lap in 11th, Sam’s progress was halted when the Safety Car was scrambled to remove debris from the circuit following an accident in the midfield, but when the green flag flew he made several more passing manoeuvres to claim seventh at the chequered flag, right on the tail of the two cars ahead.

Hancock: “I’ve been watching some videos lately of recent races here and also payed close attention to the Formula BMW and GP2 race this morning, so I had a pretty good idea where the grip was and what parts of the circuit were best for overtaking in these conditions. It wasn’t easy though and I don’t think I have ever done a race where visibility was so bad. It was like staring at a blank grey wall and I think we could have gone at least three seconds a lap quicker if I could have seen more and probably got up to fifth.

19/05/2008

Double Victory For Xpress Coffee & Jota-Porsche

Xpress Coffee are the Offical Coffee Suppliers for Jota Sport in this season Porsche Carrera Cup.

In only their fourth ever Porsche Carrera Cup GB meeting, Jota Sport secured a memorable double-victory at Thruxton to truly announce their arrival as championship contenders in the UK’s leading one make series.

Having been denied a maiden win at Donington Park two weeks earlier when Phil Quaife was handed a controversial penalty, team-mate Sam Hancock made amends at the notoriously challenging Hampshire circuit by winning both races in fine style. Quaife meanwhile took another solid points haul for his championship challenge with a fourth place in race 1 and superb recovery drive to claim fifth in Sunday’s second race. To complete a perfect meeting, Jota Sport collected the ‘Team of the Weekend’ award while Hancock was named ‘Driver of the Weekend’.

The Porsche Carrera Cup is the fastest, most-prestigious one-make racing series in the UK and is held over ten 'double-header' weekends at the country's premier motor racing circuits. All competitors drive identical Porsche 997 GT3 Cup cars prepared by professional racing teams.

30/03/2008

Xpress Coffee have become the Offical Coffee Suppliers for Jota Sport in this season Porsche Carrera Cup.

With time against them as the first races of the season started at Brands Hatch this weekend, Xpress Coffee had a Taylor made Jura X7-S machine asembled by Jura Uk just in time for Xpress Coffee to have it installed in the VIP tent in time for the first race.

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.