In only his fourth weekend racing a Porsche, Stephen Liquorish is competing in the biggest Porsche race in history on the most demanding race track in the world, the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
As a contender in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Liquorish is racing in this weekend’s Porsche Carrera World Cup as one of 100 drivers tackling the 14-mile challenge of the famous Nordschleife. But not long ago, Stephen was taking part in Porsche Club GB track days.
“I started off doing track days with the Porsche Club GB; I had a 996 Turbo, a Boxster and a Boxster S. I’ve tried other brands but I keep coming back to Porsche,” he said. “When I got to the age of 40 I thought if I didn’t have a go at racing I never would, so I did a week’s intensive course at Silverstone about four years ago.
“I knew someone who was racing in the Mini Challenge and so I went into that for three seasons and had a reasonable season in 2010 with some success and a number of podiums. But for 2011 I decided to take the leap of faith and buy a GT3 Cup car. I spoke to Steve Kevlin at the Porsche Club about the GT3 Cup Challenge and bought Glynn Geddie’s car from the Carrera Cup. The other hook for me in buying the car was the chance to race at the Nurburgring.”
To race on the monster challenge of the Nordschleife, with 88 corners on every lap, was Stephen’s major ambition for 2011 and this weekend he is realising a life ambition. “I’d never been here before I thought it would be brilliant to do it and a big life tick. I came and did a track day a couple of months ago in my GT3 RS road car. It was hard enough doing a track day, let alone racing a Cup car!”
Stephen has now enlisted the backing of Team Parker Racing to prepare the car and that has allowed him to concentrate on driving. “There was so much for me to learn in the car. Joining Team Parker Racing has allowed me to focus on my own driving. That just makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. This is my fourth weekend in the car and I’m really enjoying it. Without a doubt I’m glad I made the change to the Porsche. Now it’s about getting the best out of me!
“Up at Croft in April for the GT3 Cup Challenge races, Chris Harris said to me that once I’d raced at the Nurburgring, I wouldn’t want to race anywhere else. It’s intimidating, but once you are in the car and you link a few corners together, it’s incredible; an amazing place.”
Source: Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain