PORSCHE Carrera Cup GB rookie Robert Lawson secured his first ever Pro-Am 1 class victory during round three of the season at Thruxton Circuit at the weekend.

To cap a fine outing, the North Yorkshire driver was further rewarded when he was named 'Driver of the Weekend'.

The 31-year-olds result - combined with second place in Pro-Am 1 in round four - was all the more impressive considering it was his, and the JHR Developments team's, first competitive run at the ultra-fast Hampshire circuit with the powerful Porsche 911 GT3 car, reaching speeds up to an incredible 170mph.

Starting his maiden season of rear-wheel drive competition at Brands Hatch in Kent three weeks ago with a mixed outing, Lawson - who lives in Barton, near Richmond - made a huge step forward at Thruxton as he continues to adjust from the less powerful front-wheel drive cars he has been campaigning for the past three years.

Beginning round three from fifth on the grid in his Bardon Aggregates and Bardon Concrete-backed car he got away from the line well, but was challenged on the outside on the run into Allard Corner by Lewis Hopkins and slipped to sixth position.

Leading Pro-Am 1, the 2008 SEAT Cupra vice-champion came under pressure early on from Jake Roszenweig, but as the race hit mid-distance, Lawson started to put some clear air between himself and the young American as he edged nearer to fifth-placed Hopkins.

On lap 20, Lawson was finally able to make his move after shadowing Hopkins for about eight laps and passed the Pro class racer on the exit of the complex. Moving back into the top five, he remained there to the chequered flag to take his first class win and to end up less than six seconds shy of the outright podium.

Round four didn't go quite as smoothly for the category rookie, but he still emerged with the runner-up spot in Pro-Am 1 and also the class fastest lap with a time of 1m 16.844 seconds (110.37mph).

Running comfortably in the lead of Pro-Am 1 once again, Lawson had no intention of pressuring sixth placed Tom Bradshaw and risking damage to his car but as the latter lost pace, he made his move.

Nipping past Bradshaw on the run to Church, the fastest part of the circuit, Robert headed up Woodham Hill to the chicane, but Bradshaw slip-streamed him as he tried to regain the place and this forced the pair wide over the kerbs. Pro-Am 1 rival Tony Gilham seized his chance and passed both cars to take the class lead.

The excursion over the high kerbs at the chicane broke a bumper bracket on the rear of Lawsons Porsche which led to a 3ins-wide cut on one of his rear tyres.

Seriously affecting the car's handling, his pace slowed drastically and after a small spin he had to coax the car to the chequered flag.

"We should have had two class wins this weekend really", said Lawson. "We've taken some good points though and to win my class in race one and to be named Driver of the Weekend was great. It's been a positive event and we're definitely moving in the right direction.

"I was delayed by slower cars in both races which was a shame, but the second was the disappointing one. I had a comfortable lead in Pro-Am 1 so I thought I'd bide my time behind (Tom) Bradshaw as I didn't need to race him.

"His pace dropped off though as the race wore on and with (Tony) Gilham then beginning to close in I had to make a move.

"I went up the inside on the run to Church, but Bradshaw got a better exit to slipstream me up to the chicane and he didn't give me any room as we were side-by-side. He turned across me and so, rather than risk a collision, we both ended up going over the kerbs which caused the damage and allowed Gilham to get through."

Lawson will be back behind the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 racer at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire on May 16/17 for rounds five and six of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship.