Ham retook the all time wins record outright in USA this week after championship leader Jam had equalled his twin brother last weekend. The Renault driver did exactly what he needed to do to keep the championship alive with a comfortable victory at COTA. Crispy had another fantastic drive to bring home P2, showing that he has become the real deal this season. The podium was rounded off by the Racing Point of Bezzas who took his 4th podium in the last 7 races (all of which have been P3). Home hero Freeman came home P4 after opting for a 2 stop strategy. V2 could’ve quite easily got his first SLR victory but instead had to settle for 5th after missing his braking point into T1 with only a handful of laps to go. Championship leader Jam was P6 after he decided he was gonna try and get a puncture rather than putting like a clown (self-burn). ZyDRAD came home in P7 after a quiet race. Para took his first points since returning to a full time seat, making for one very happy Dutchman after Max Verstappen’s Monaco triumph earlier in the day. MeRkz came home 9th for his first points finish since Singapore and raceroller completed the points paying positions.
Southerner finished P11, with C0LT in P12 taking home the fastest lap. Kevin was P13 and Beast was the last classified finisher in P14.
Ham has clawed the gap at the top back down to 39 points with 3 races to go. It is still well within his brother’s hands but will Ham’s upturn in form see him cause a shock upset in the last 3 rounds?
Ham will need a top 5 finish of Jam wins in Mexico.
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.29.179
1. PSR Freeman
2. HamJam2002
3. Crispy2001
4. ZyDRAD
5. Xx JamHam xX
6. bezzas1
7. raceroller22
8. gho3t COLT
9. KevinGT9389
10. UKBeastAssassin
11. MeRkz47
12. SLR Southerner
13. PaRa Quickz
14. V2 x Combat
Race
Fastest Lap: 01.31.771 gho3t COLT
1. HamJam2002
2. Crispy2001
3. bezzas1
4. PSR Freeman
5. V2 xCombat
6. Xx JamHam xX
7. ZyDRAD
8. PaRa Quickz
9. MeRkz47
10. raceroller
11. SLR Southerner
12. gho3t COLT
13. KevinGT9389
14. TommyReal +15 sec
15. UKBeastAssassin
tommyreal - Rage Quit/Retirement on track. Lap 26
15 seconds 3 LP awarded.
SLR Division 1 enters the business end of the championship as the drivers land in the land of the free, and Circuit of the Americas, playing host to round 19 of the season 6 championship, and a potential championship party. Going into this weekend, BrindyBoi67 had a 69pt championship lead over Riggsey x, 83pts over SillyBunny47711 and 101pts over Babatunde Sr, and if results were to fall in the right ways, a champion could be crowned.
Qualifying was a mixed bag for the title challengers, but it was Riggsey x doing everything he needed to do in the qualifying sessions, back to back pole positions for the Renault driver would see him start on the best slot on the grid, setting a 1:29.782, -0.192 faster than CechThisOut, who secured a front row start, and the front row would be the only drivers into the 1:29’s in the session. SLR Vandoorne was third fastest +0.225 off Riggsey x. BrindyBoi67 wouldn’t be too downhearted by a P5 start, but the two Mercedes, still in the conversation, didn’t make It into Q3, and strategically dropped out in Q2, starting 11th and 12th.
The 5 lights would go out and it would be CechThisOut getting the cleaner launch on the dirty side of the grid, mastering the wheelspin to propel the Ferrari into the lead into T1, and SLR Semm, after starting 4th, was looking to slot into P2, but Riggsey x had to cover the inside to limit the damage done following a poor start. SLR McKeon nailed the first lap to be up into the Top 6 following his P10 start.
The early laps and pace showed to be in the favour of the front row, as Cechthisout led from Riggsey x and they both managed to build a gap and demonstrated similar pace as SLR Semm and SLR Vandoorne began battling over the final podium place early on, swapping positions lap on lap, with BrindyBoi67 staying put in P5, with SLR McKeon for close company. The two would battle for the position and both would go side by side for the start of S3, before Brindy had to concede the position, a conservative play by the leader early on.
By Lap 6, a quarter of the grid had picked up penalties, which would be pivotal in relation to the final race result on a track that is easy to commit track excursions. Lewisod would bring out the first yellow flags after a spin in S1 and soon retired in the pitlane as Babatunde was able to exercise their strong pace on the mediums, up to P7 by lap 7. Riggsey x and Cechthisout continued to extend the gap and push themselves further out in front and both swapped places, as the gap settled around the 2.4/5 range from SLR Vandoorne. The end of the lap saw SLR McKeon pull the trigger on the undercut, with a stop onto the mediums and a good run of clean air could see him jump up a few places.
McKeon’s undercut saw the front runners jump in for mediums and create a new dynamic that would shape up the second stint. Riggsey x managed to stretch a lead over Cechthisout, who got caught up in a busy pitlane, but managed just to beat SLR McKeon out of the pits and into Turn 1, who found himself running in a net P3 in the early stages, as Babatunde would lead on the alternate strat from his teammate SillyBunny47711.
As the Mercedes would lead on a 1-2 but still hadn’t made a stop, it was up to Riggsey x, Cechthisout and SLR McKeon to carve their way through the non-stoppers and try get themselves back into clean air, but this was easier said than done. TIR Jason and TRT_KFCSeb would battle fierce as the latter’s soft compound tyres began to drop off and found themselves battling and holding the leaders, creating new obstacles and aiding the Mercedes strategy up in front. TRT KFCSEB soon began having a train form up behind as the tyres would be calling it a day.
As the race was setting into the half distance, TRT Seb and LegendaryDanny made contact on lap13 at Turn 19, as the Renault was sent careering into the barrier just at the pitlane entry, with SLR Semm getting some damage from the collision as well. Furthermore, the skies began to grey over and clouds set in over the circuit as the threat of rain loomed, but it was a matter of when more than if for the drivers, as they had been informed of the changing conditions.
Babatunde jumped in for a set of fresh softs on Lap17 and began the chase for the lead, and as his teammate and RSF1 Vettel battled hard for the lead, RIggsey x and Cechthisout tucked in behind the fighting pair. Babatunde began reeling in the drivers ahead and cut through them like a hot knife through butter, but the race was not only against the time, but against the weather as well, as the rain began to fall on Lap19, could this change the face of the race?
The rain was quickly getting heavier, but oddly, the track wasn’t getting soaked as quick, as the slick tyres were the tyre of choice on the cooling track. By lap21, Babatunde managed to get his way past Riggsey x for the net race lead, with 7laps to go, Babatunde, starting P11, managed to execute the alternate strategy as he looked to drive into the distance at a relative canter as the rest of the grid became skittish on a dampening track.
Drivers began having their moments on the slicks as the track conditions continued to deteriorate, with ARL PReDaToRZz having an off in S1 and race leader Babatunde having a mistake in S2, as the conditions got worse, it was SLR McKeon again triggering an early undercut and execute the perfect switch to intermediates once again on lap23 as the leaders continued to crawl round.
The leaders would have mixed fortunes as Cechthisout again would be caught up in traffic coming into the pitlane, taking him out of the equation for the race win and a bad rub of luck, but it would be close as SLR Mckeon was inches from taking the race lead. Riggsey x managing to just keep the rampant Haas driver behind, and Babatunde and SLR McKeon would go side by side through T1 on exit, with the latter getting one up on the former, as it would be Renault vs Haas for the race win, given the circumstances of penalties.
The rain would shift everyone onto the intermediates, and battles would become more sporadic and spread at the front as the leaders found their groove and comfort in the adverse conditions, but battles between SillyBunny47711, SLR Vandoorne, Cechthisout and RSF1 Vettel all fighting for the P4.
The chequered flag would wave for Riggsey x and for Renault as they prolong the championship, at least for another week as he took 25pts in America, pole position and the win, doing everything he needs to do to keep the fight alive. SLR Undercut showed strategy was the true strength to their race, getting his pit calls to perfection and managing to judge the conditions well, with the DOTD nod going to McKeon as well. Babatunde, who looked destined to win following the pitstops, was massively unlucky in the rain changing his plans for the victory, but with rapid pace and a podium finish, some solid points in the bank. Brindyboi67, at the time of writing, a quiet race and P6 finish is still a strong result, but with the final classifications here in the United States, the Williams driver will need to wait at least another week before the celebrations can start, as Riggsey x pushes the fight forward for another week, with the gap now settling around 52pts.
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.29.782
1. Riggsey x
2. CechThisOut
3. SLR Vandoorne
4. SLR Semm
5. BrindyBoi67
6. bennett628
7. SLR Liamm
8. Elite x Riskz
9. Lewisod
10. SLR McKeon
11. Babatunde SR422
12. SillyBunny47711
13. RSF1 Vettel
14. BF1Racer
15. LegendaryDannyD
16. TIR Jason
17. TRT KFCSeb
18. ARL PReDaToRZz
Fastest Lap: 01.33.796 SLR Semm
1. Riggsey x
2. SLR McKeon
3. Babatunde SR422
4. SillyBunny47711
5. RSF1 Vettel
6. BrindyBoi67
7. CechThisOut
8. SLR Vandoorne
9. bennett628
10. TIR Jason +15 sec
11. SLR Semm
12. ARL PReDaToRZz
13. Elite x Riskz
14. legendarydannyd +15 sec
15. SLR Liamm
16. TRT KFCSeb (DNF)
17. BF1Racer (DNF)
18. Lewisod (DNF)
TIR Jason - retire on track
15 Seconds and 3 LP
TRT_KFCSEB vs legendarydannyd - lap 13 spinning a car
It is clear that Danny spins TRT from behind by out-braking himself.
15 seconds and 3 LPS
SLR Semm vs legendarydannyd - lap 13 rejoin
The stewards believe that Danny was forced to avoid an incident which resulted in his movement, and it is not his fault that semm hit the back of him, instead it is an unlucky racing incident.
NFA
ARL PReDaToRZz vs TRT_KFCSEB - lap 22 causing wing damage
The stewards believe adequate space is provided and the incident is on a whole unlucky, however not TRTs fault.
Racing incident
With just 4 races left in the Division Two season, it was a first opportunity for SLR FemPest to take the first SLR title of the season. If he finished ahead of rockamad73, OwenHowell36 & SLR Leah, he would take the title.
In qualifying there was plenty of twists to the tale, as big hitters FZR IGOR, Xx Allen xX7679, rockamad73 and championship leader SLR FemPest we’re all eliminated in Q2! This however meant that they were able to start the race on harder tyres. After it was all settled in Q3, it was TRC AlfieDK who took pole for the second time this season, ahead of SLR Teddy and reserve driver Darren I 22.
Off the start however, disaster struck for the Pole sitter as a glitch caused him to disconnect from the lobby before the race even started. This meant he dropped down the field rapidly.
After a lot of interesting events, including one safety car after a crash for SLR bunny, it was the number one contender for the title rockamad73 who took the victory in the USA after taking his mediums what he needed to do a one stop, where most opted for a two stop with the safety car.
3rd place Championship man OwenHowell36 took P2 for the second week running, the only other driver other than the winner not to get a penalty in game. Darren I 22 took P3 in his final race before moving to a full time seat in the Alfa Romeo. The remainder of the points were Xx Allen xX7679, ZachIsBeast25, dRaSt1k bLazE, with championship leader SLR FemPest in P7. This means that the title remains alive for another week. SLR Morgan took P8 on his return to racing, with SLR Barlow and SSR Halo finishing off the points.
Qualifying
Pole Time: 1:29.845
1. TRC AlfieDK
2. SLR Teddy
3. Darren I 22
4. OwenHowell36
5. SLR Barlow
6. OG James 96
7. ZachIsBeast25
8. J Lee Menz
9. SLR Morgan
10. SLR Leah
11. SLR FemPest
12. Xx Allen xX7679
13. rockamad73
14. FZR IGOR
15. SSR Halo
16. dRaSt1k bLazE
17. LSW L3G3ND44
18. SLR Hicklin
19. SLR bunny
Race
Fastest Lap: 1:32.788 - LSW L3G3ND44
1. rockamad73
2. OwenHowell36
3. Darren I 22
4. Xx Allen xX7679
5. ZachIsBeast25
6. dRaSt1k bLazE
7. SLR FemPest
8. SLR Morgan
9. SLR Barlow
10. SSR Halo
11. FZR IGOR
12. OG James 96
13. LSW L3G3ND44 (FL)
14. J Lee Menz
15. TRC AlfieDK
16. SLR Teddy (DNF) (+20s) (qualifying ban due to DNF)
17. SLR Hicklin (DNF)
18. SLR Leah (DNF)
19. SLR bunny (DNF)
Legendz vs Teddy - Causing full wing damage (lap 26)
Outcome: 20s + 4LP awarded to Teddy
Reason: Teddy, being the following car, is obligated to not make contact with the car ahead that will cause damage to the car ahead. Upon reviewing the clips the stewards came to the conclusion that Legendz was travelling at a good speed at the moment of impact and did not brake check Teddy. As a result, the fault of the incident lies entirely at the feet of Teddy and the stewards have decided to punish him proportionately for the damage sustained.
SLR Teddy is awarded a Qualifying Ban for breaching the 13LP threshold.
Blaze vs Allen - Causing a collision (lap 11)
Outcome: Racing incident
Reason: Despite contact being made by Allen at the last corner, no notable advantage was gained, nor any notable time lost by Blaze. Thus, the stewards felt it would be highly unfair to punish anyone for something that ultimately had no impact on the wider race.
Fempest vs AlfieDK - Causing minor wing damage (lap 17)
Outcome: No Further Action
Reason: Fempest runs into the back of Alfie causing his own wing damage. Alfie does not move or alter his line going into the braking zone and thus, no further action is taken.
Onto the Circuit of the Americas for race 19 in division 3 and it was SLR Dodgy who took pole position with
Jackcgb27 joining him on the front row. SLR Hyperz was starting in P3 with SLR Charlie1 making up the second row in
P4. As the race got underway it was a brilliant start from Jackcgb27 who immediately took the inside line for T1 and
claimed P1 with SLR Dodgy moving back into P2 and SLR Hyperz right behind in P3. SLR Nealix was the first driver to
take a spin on lap 1 as he dropped from P8 into P19 folowed by GrumpyOrange976 in sector 3 as lap 1 came to a
close. SLR J3st3r was the first car to pit at the end of lap 1 as he must have picked up some wing damage on the first
lap of the race. By lap 5 the front three of Jackcgb27, SLR Dodgy and SLR Hyperz had opened a gap to SLR C0w3n
in P4 while further back I Cxzmn I was battling hard with Unrealsalmon518 for P8. Onto lap 6 and Unrealsalmon518
then took a spin at T2 and dropped down to P13 which then brought out a VSC. Lap 7 saw the end of the VSC and
JAckcgb27 at the front managed to open up an early restart lead of over 1s leaving SLR Dodgy and SLR Hyperz to
fight out P2. Lap 8 and SLR Hyperz who had been pressuring SLR Dodgy since the start made the pass into P2 on the
back straight. At the end of lap 8 and both SLR Hyperz and SLR Dodgy chose to pit with SLR Hyperz cutting the pit
entry corner and getting a 10s penalty. The pitstops moving SLR C0w3n into P2 and SLR Charlie1 into P3.
SLR Hyperz managing to return in P5 but SLR Dodgy had a terrible pitstop coming back in P8 and stuck in traffic but
managed to take P7 in sector 3. By lap 10 and SLR Hyperz had caught back up to Jackcgb27 in P1 and was pushing
hard after picking up many penalties. SLR Spr1tely then made a brilliant move round the outside of JackMullCGFC
into P6 as SLR Charlie1 was right behind JackMullCGFC. SLR Stevoo in P4 was now holding up a massive train of cars
down to P9 as SLR Dodgy was desperate to pass but was struggling. SLR Charlie1 then made a pass on JackMullCGFC
at the end of the DRS straight into P7 while SLR Hyperz managed to pass Jackcgb27 at the front. Lap 12 and SLR
Charlie1 then made a pass on SLR Spr1tely into P6 while SLR Dodgy misjudged a move on SLR Stevooo and had to
slow down to avoid damage. SLR Charlie1 then made a pass on SLR Dodgy into P5 who was then followed by SLR
Gareth as SLR Dodgy was down to P7 on the hard tyres. Lap 14 and SLR Dodgy eventually managed to pass SLR
Stevooo into P6 after 5 laps of holding him up and had to start making ground as SLR Hyperz was out in front in P1.
Lap 15 then saw JackMullCGFC lose it on the exit of T1 and unfortunately spun into the path of SLR Spr1tely taking
both drivers off the track, SLR Spr1tley coming off worse with wing damage. Lap 17 then saw SLR Gareth pit from P5
which then gave SLR Dodgy a chance to move up a place and give him 11 laps to hunt down SLR Charlie1 in P4. Lap
20 and on fresh mediums SLR Gareth made a move up into P6 past I Cxzmn I and set his sights on catching SLR Dodgy
in P5. Lap 21 then made things interesting as SLR Hyperz who was leading the race but with a large amount on
penalties pitted for soft tyres as SLR C0w3n was now up into P2.
At the end of lap 21 I21I maxwell and
GrumpyOrange976 were fighting side by side in sector 3 for P8 and I21I Maxwell came worse off leaving the track
and losing out to Lofty4974, Afllyinglemon318 and SLR Stevooo dropping into P12. Immediately after at the start of
lap 21 SLR Stevooo then made a brilliant move up 2 places into P9 at T1 passing both GrumpyOrange976 and
Aflyinglemon318. Lap 23 and SLR Hyperz set the fastest lap and then made a pass into P2 on SLR C0w3n as he tried
to open as much of a gap as he can on SLR Dodgy for the championship. Heading towards the final couple of laps
and SLR Dodgy in P5 had closed the gap to SLR Charlie1 down to less then a second and was within DRS as he tried to
pull back another place before the end of the race. It was lap 27 of 28 when SLR Dodgy managed to make the move
into P4 and was now trying to ensure that the gap with SLR Hyperz was small enough with the penalties to finish
ahead of him. As we came to the end of the race it was Jackcgb27 who won the race comfortably with SLR Hyperz
finishing P2 on track but with so many penalties we would have to see where he ended up. SLR C0w3n then took P2,
SLR Dodgy sneaked into P3 and SLY Hyperz was in P4. SLR Charlie1 was in P5, SLR Gareth in P6, Lofty4794 was P7,
JAckMullCGFC was P8, I21I Maxwell was P9 and SLR J3st3r managed P10 at the end.
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.30.758
1. SLR Dodgy
2. Jackcgb27
3. SLR Hyperz
4. SLR Charlie1
5. SLR c0w3n
6. UnrealSalmon590
7. SLR Nealix
8. SLR Spr1tley
9. SLR Gareth
10. SLR J3st3r
11. Aflyinglemon318
12. Lofty4794
13. JackMullCGFC
14. Scott85Laney
15. SLR Stevooo
16. SLR Russell
17. I Cxmzn I
18. I21I Maxwell
19. GrumpyOrange976
Race
1. Jackcgb27
2. SLR C0w3n
3. SLR Dodgy
4. SLR Hyperz
5. SLR Charlie1
6. SLR Gareth
7. Lofty4794
8. JackMullCGFC
9. I21I Maxwell
10. SLR J3st3r
11. I Cxmzn I
12. Aflyinglemon318
13. SLR Spr1tley
14. UnrealSalmon318 +10 sec
15. Scott85Laney
16. SLR Nealix
17. GrumpyOrange
18. SLR Stevooo
19. SLR Russell
Incident: Unrealsalmon retirement on track
Outcome: 10s + 2LP
Reason: retired on track. Was very lucky not to cause severe damage to multiple drivers in doing so.
Comments