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A great day for TwinSpark Porsche Racing at the HARC races in Assen today. In its first race since a Winter engine rebuild – by TwinSpark rather than outside suppliers – our Viper Green Porsche 911 RSR took third place in the Historic Touring Car race.

“I started sixth on the grid,” said Leonard Stolk, top man at TwinSpark. “In front of me were a gaggle of Escorts, behind in eighth position was Lex Proper, fellow TwinSpark partner and well known Netherlands racer. The lights go out, the Escort in front bogs down off the line, and Lex goes shooting up the middle: from eighth to second in 300 metres!

“Sadly, Lex found Woodstock developing rich running problems on the new race fuel we’re running. As the power fell away, he came into the pits for some pump adjustments. That left me defending TwinSpark Porsche honours. I got the hammer down. The new 3.0 RSR MFI engine is just a dream; power everywhere and so much fun right through the rev range. The limiting factor was my lack of experience around Assen, but I sooon started to find a rhythm.

“Eventually, I was in fourth and fighting with the black and gold Escort in front. His local knowledge was better, but I had the grunt on the straights. For lap after lap, we swapped places with no contact and absolute trust. Ahead at the end of what I thought was the last lap, the finish marshal waved a closed chequered flag at me and the timing clock stopped. I lifted off, happy with third. The Escort shot past me to cheers from the crowd – we were still racing!

“I slid it back into gear and took off after the Escort. With both cars running on worn out Michelin TB15s, the last lap was incredible. Somewhere near the finish, that green Porsche RSR managed to get right up behind on the exit of the twisties into the long straight and edged past. Third position was mine. What a start to the weekend!”

Further down the field, fellow R Grupper Gerd Rijper suffered a blown tyre, with Ronald Aardse finishing well in his RS clone. Tomorrow is another day – we start the race with two TwinSpark Porsche 911 RSRs and Lex is already raring to go. His Zuffenhaus RSR brakes have proved incredible, so with those and slicks he should have a great event. Fingers crossed!