RORY Collingbourne added to his Pro-Am class podium tally in the fourth Porsche Carrera Cup GB meeting at Oulton Park, though with better fortune it could have been more.

The weekend started in positive fashion for the Welch Motorsport racer with pole position in the Pro-Am class in a hard-fought qualifying session with a quickest time of 1:22.609mins around the 2.2-mile Cheshire circuit – several seconds quicker than the headlining British Touring Car Championship field.

A lightning getaway saw the Dreams & Wishes ambassador take the fight to the Pro class racers from the start in the opening race, while also establishing a comfortable lead in the Pro-Am class as Collingbourne chased a first class victory.

Contact from behind in the closing laps denied the Newport racer, pitching his car into a spin and off the circuit.

Despite the setback, Collingbourne recovered to take the chequered flag in seventh overall, claiming a fourth class podium of the season in the process.

The second race proved just as eventful.

Yet again Collingbourne found himself battling for the final spot on the class podium, but another optimistic move from behind led to contact, damaging the rear of the 911 GT3 and ruining the handling.

With a lap remaining, Collingbourne was forced to retire from the race.

The net result of both races means Collingbourne remains fourth overall in the Pro-Am category, with the championship heading next to the 300 layout at Snetterton over the weekend of July 27-29.

Collingbourne said: “It’s been an eventful and frustrating weekend, but the positives to take away are that we’ve clearly demonstrated we have the pace to not only comfortably compete at the front of the Pro-Am class but also take the fight to those in front.

“It’s a shame not to take the first class victory that our performance deserved, but we can take some comfort in adding a fourth podium of the season to our tally.

“Thanks to everybody at Welch Motorsport for preparing the car to such a fantastic standard all weekend – we’ll come back even stronger at Snetterton to turn our potential into results.”