Focussed on Fifth

Richard Plant admitted he is 'focussed on fifth' in the overall standings after a relatively lacklustre qualifying session for him and the majority of his Team Parker Racing team-mates at Silverstone.

Experienced and multiple race winners Michael Meadows, James Sutton, Stephen Jelley and Euan Hankey had always been expected to set the benchmark throughout the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB season, and it is Plant who currently boasts the 'best of the rest' tag.

Moving into qualifying this morning, Plant was conscious of his 17 point advantage over Jonas Gelzinis in the championship and the further 18 back to team-mate Sam Tordoff, knowing that two solid finishes will be good enough to end the season as top rookie.

This didn't stop Plant giving it everything however, but surprisingly the entire Team Parker line-up seemed to be struggling. It wasn't until late on when Tordoff got the best from his second set of tyres and rose from eighth to an impressive fourth on the grid that things improved for the team. Jelley, Hankey and Plant couldn't follow suit however, and had to settle for a fairly disappointing seventh, eighth and tenth respectively on the grid for tomorrows opening race. GWPrice-backed Plant will also start the final race of the season from the fifth row of the grid later on Sunday afternoon.

"Sometimes you just get out of the car and you don't know what more you could have done," said Plant - a comment echoed by both Jelley and Hankey. Jelley himself is embroiled in a fantastic three-way scrap for the title and the result in qualifying may have ended his chances, whilst consistency is key for Plant to end his impressive maiden Porsche campaign on a high.

"I am focussed on fifth in the standings and being the top rookie this season," commented Richard after qualifying. "We will try and see where we can improve the car because it's clear we're missing something compared to Redline, but all in all I am not concerned about those guys. I need to think carefully about bringing the car home in a decent point's position, but ascalways I will giving 100% tomorrow. It should be a fantastic day of racing and I'm sure the fight for the title will make for some great TV - I will have the best seat in the house!"

Plant knows that if he was to finish tenth in the two races tomorrow, that Gelzinis would have to score two podiums while Tordoff would be out of contention for fifth in the championship. The excitement is set to unfold in front of a huge crowd at Silverstone tomorrow with the Carrera Cup races taking place 12:25 and 15:45 respectively.

All the action will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4 and the Richard Plant website will provide updates throughout his crucial day of racing.