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Round Six, Rockingham, June 9th/10th 2001 - Barbara Armstrong drove the race of her circuit career in Sunday’s Michelin Porsche Cup event to add her first Feature Race podium to the two Sprint trophies she bagged at the start of the season.

Third place was an excellent result for the former British Ladies Rally Champion, who surprised fellow competitors and spectators alike with a new and more determined style. Throughout the race she showed grit and determination in a series of bold overtaking manoeuvres that moved her up from seventh on the grid to a strong third that she never looked like losing.

The race got off to an unprecedented start, when a late change to the green light had some of the front row runners holding back at the line. This gave the advantage to the second and third rows, with Demeroutis leading into the first hairpin. Taking full advantage was Armstrong, who emerged from the confusion in third, with Bernberg now the surprise leader. One to be caught out was Chambers, who then started to lean heavily on Barbara. He forced his way through at Tarzan towards the end of the first lap before moving ahead of Rice for second.

Barbara completed lap one in fourth, but promptly made an opportunistic but brilliant move through the chicane to snatch third from Rice. For three laps she held him off, despite determined pressure. Time and again they were side-by-side into the hairpins, but each time she just managed to pull out in front. On lap three she set fastest lap - she was really flying! - and was now right on Chamber’s rear. Her main concerned, however, remained Rice. On lap 4 they even swapped places a couple of times, Rice getting ahead at the first hairpin, Barbara recovering the place briefly at the next, and then diving up the inside at Tarzan, only to run wide and allow Rice back ahead again.

Lap five saw Bernberg slump from the lead to fourth, with Chambers, Rice and Armstrong all passing the #5 car. A spin with Slater than effectively ended Bernberg’s charge, and established a margin for the first three that they were never to relinquish.

The battle between Chambers and Rice persisted to the flag, while Barbara’s advantage over Salmon in fourth settled down to some fifteen seconds or more. It was a comfortable margin, and Barbara visibly relaxed in the final laps.

"Brilliant! Fantastic! She’s a star," was Paul Robe’s verdict. "It was a remarkable drive. I’m really proud of her."

Rockingham Photos HERE