The Indy Race Circuit at Brands Hatch in Kent hosted the start of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB races. Mark Cole took to the international track in full force in his Porsche 911 GT3 car sponsored by Nicholls & Clarke, the Romford, Essex-based company that offers tiling adhesives and grouts under the N&C Nicobond brand.

Mark demonstrated his pace at the opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup by topping his previous practise times. The Berkshire-based driver showed commanding speed to set the fastest ProAm1 times in both sessions. Sadly, the weather would play a crucial part in the half-hour qualifying session on Saturday and Mark lined-up out of position for the afternoon’s first race.

As the cars left the grid for the first round of the revitalised 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship, Mark was able to maintain his position. The striking blue and yellow livery of the N&C branded car worked its way through the field, inching on to the rear of a three-car train with it’s two Pro-driver team mates as the race hit its stride.

At the half way mark, Mark had become the meat in a Porsche sandwich when he was overtaken by 2014 champion Josh Webster even as he overtook a back marker. The back marker turned in on Mark, the three cars touched, but Mark continued in his battle scarred car to bring it home just out of position for a podium finish. He was 4th in his class and 12th overall

Mark said afterwards: “I had an average start because I was starting on the hill, so I had to hold the car on the brake. The car came to me well in the middle of the race but it was a bit messy out there with a lot of cars going off, so it was the best of a bad job.”

Sunday’s race two started in fine and dry conditions with the N&C colours slotting into P16 on the 28 car grid. Mark made a decent start to gain positions off the line. At the first corner, team-mate Dino Zamparelli was tapped into a spin, sending him into the gravel. Mark was left with no option but to take to the gravel to avoid a collision. He was able to maintain momentum and rejoined the race but in last position.

With the safety car deployed to recover Mark's stricken colleague, Mark closed up on the pack and recovered some ground.

As the race restarted, he started working his way through the field. Then disaster. Contact on lap five ended his race.

For spectators, there were plenty of thrills and the Sunday, round two race was transmitted on ITV4 during the Touring Car Championship Series, with the Porsche Carrera Cup GB round being televised live. Highlights of the race were subsequently shown on ITV3 and ITV Sport.

N&C’s livery design on the car is also seen on all its hopefully more sedately driven delivery fleet of over 110 commercial vehicles.

For Nicholls & Clarke, 2015 is a milestone as the Company celebrates 140 years of supplying building materials to the construction industry in Great Britai. You can keep up to date with the race team’s progress on Twitter @NCGroupLtd or by visiting www.nichollsandclarke.com.