Season 11 of SLR starts today with the final race of the action with the McKeon Division. Last season was a good season and brought a back to back winner, but with him no longer being in the division, there is guaranteed to be a new champion, so this season could be great with everyone knowing they could have a chance at the top spot. This season the opener is in Bahrain, a difficult track to overtake, so this is a great track to open the season with.
The first qualifying of the season was a close one with many drivers putting their names forward and battling for the top spot going onto the race, but after 18 mins of action, it was SLR Ham19 who took the first pole position of the season! A driver who had an up and down championship last season and this is definitely a signal of intent to try and see if he could go any better this season on the new game. Second place, in the end, was BMidzy, who last season had his fair share of bad luck with many winning positions ending in unfortunate retirements or no points but this is something he is more than capable of and let’s hope he can find some more fortune this season and fight again for the championship, where he belongs. Rounding off the top 3 was SLR Corey, a driver who found the last game difficult, has found some great form so far in this game, and this result is going to be interesting in the grand scheme of the championship as he could certainly challenge should he keep going for the rest of the season. With the top four only 0.182 apart I’m sure this race is going to be an entertaining race.
The first race of the season, is always a tricky one, with many hoping to make their goals and dreams in the championship a reality, it can cause so many different outcomes but it was a race with many different strategies and after all the action, it was SLR Ham19 who would take the win and convert the pole position and take the first win of the season! A great drive from the Ferrari driver who looks to be in such great form and was such a strong and commanding drive from him, so I’m sure he will be a driver to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. Second place in the end was Snypz SB, a driver who didn’t race much if at all last season but from starting in 7th place, a great race from the Alfa Romeo driver, to take a podium in the first race of the season, could he be a darkhorse and challenge the top guys in the division going forward? And rounding off the podium was BMidzy who gets another podium, he may be upset about losing 2nd place but he definitely will be happy considering how last season was going, a steady set of results will be a welcome thing for Midzy and who knows, this could be a season he could fight for the championship again. A notable drive was ZyDRAD, who from starting P17, had the thought of mind to try and go for something different, and in the end, it really worked and got him P5 in the end, a really good result for the returning driver, who used his experience to good use and gains valuable points.
A great race with a highly competitive qualifying, hopefully, this is what we can look forward to going forward as it will be a fantastic season for all to watch. Next up we have Saudi Arabia, one of the most tricky tracks for different reasons to Bahrain, a fast very challenging track and one that is tough on drivers with barely any time to rest and one that is highly competitive for all so will be a good race to look forward to, but until then hope everyone has a great week!
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 1:27.915 SLR Ham19
1. SLR Ham19
2. BMidzy
3. SLR Corey
4. Crispy2001
5. ELiTE x RisKz
6. BRT Griffiths
7. Snypz SB
8. NRX Finn
9. Riggsey x
10. SLR EVVO
11. raceroller22
12. SemmF1
13. SimbarocksONE
14. SLR Jam40
15. SLR Medal2533
16. J Lee Menz
17. ZyDRAD
18. MeRkz47
19. Evoke Replay
20. SparksYT15
Race
Fastest Lap: 1:29.916 SLR Corey
1. SLR Ham19
2. Snypz SB
3. ELiTE x RisKz
4. ZyDRAD
5. BRT Griffiths
6. Riggsey x
7. Crispy2001
8. BMidzy +10sec
9. J Lee Menz
10. NRX Finn
11. SLR EVVO
12. SimbarocksONE -3sec
13. SLR Medal2533
14. SLR Jam40
15. Evoke Replay
16. SLR Corey
17. MeRkz47
18. SparksYT15 (DNF)
19. Raceroller22 (DNF)
20. SemmF1 (DNF)
Incident 1: Roller vs Midzy - Lap 13 - Causing A Collision
Outcome: 5s Time Penalty + 2LPs to Midzy
Verdict: Midzy reacted to Roller attempting the overtake and therefore being a late defensive move caused damage to Rollers front wing.
Incident 2: SLR Corey vs Midzy - Lap 13 - Causing A Collision
Outcome: 5s Time Penalty + 1LP to Midzy
Verdict: We don’t think he was far enough alongside to be keeping his nose in and should’ve let off as he was never really challenging for the corner and causing corey to spin
Incident 3: Elite Riskz Penalty Removal
Outcome: Penalty stands
Verdict: Elite didnt get pushed off nor a double warning as he left the track and re-entered then left again through fault of his own.
Incident 4: Merkz vs SimbarocksONE vs Evvo - Lap 22 - Causing A Collision
Outcome: NFA
Verdict: looks like Simba gets squeezed and is a case of 3 cars when there’s only space for 2. its just a case of all probably feel like they were entitled to space, just nobody willing to give it.
Incident 5: SimbarocksONE Penalty Removal
Outcome: 3s Penalty Removed
Verdict: 2 warnings was unjustified as he was pushed off the track both times evidence and race director was provided
Division 2
Following on from last nights f2 action, the very first race of the SLR F1 season on F1 23 was about to be underway. A division full of drivers who will all be very close and you would think that we may well have a long list of winners throughout the campaign.
Qualifying
For the first 2 runs it was the Mercedes of Scar B0rga at the head of the table, looking for a 3rd straight pole at the Bahrain International Circuit but in the end it was FRL Kirito who pulled out the lap that mattered in the closing stages, a 1:28.824. The Red Bull of SLR Liamm took second, a mere 6 hundredths back and OwenHowell36 rounding out the top 3 being another 2 hundredths back - 8 hundredths back from pole. When the strength of competition was listed about the grid earlier, it was proven here with P1 (Kirito) and P10 (Active JMC) being 0.337s.
The Race
The 5 red lights on the grid were on and within an instant they were out and the rush to turn 1 commenced. Kirito held his pole start but a big mover into turn 1 was VapidCoot74 lunging it down the inside of Liam and Owen, a nervy 3 wide moment for sure but for Vapid, it was a case of making those mediums work compared to the hards. Give it about 3 seconds and waiting in the background was Scar, picking up the pieces of the 2 cars in front who had gone wide, and then vapid into turn 4 following a snap of the car to put himself into second. SotierClock in the back was the only casualty, albeit still able to drive, after contact sending his Alfa Romeo to the back.
We head to turn 5 for the next incident as Owen from 3rd at the time oversteers and spins dropping him to 19th. An actual crash brought out the first safety car period after lenbau had a moment with contact at turn 8, not the start to the season the former division 3 driver was looking for.
Big gainers from the first few laps was Scar going from 6th to 2nd, ChicknRosery up 8 positions to 12th from the back and ZachIsBeast going from 19th to 13th although some cars had taken the chance to pit.
The end of lap 4 saw two teammates in the form of the Aston Martins coming together at the final turn after too much throttle in the side of Kislesko, all collecting Clock in the process.
The second safety car process - this time a virtual safety car - was out during lap 6, a perfectly timed overtake from Scar gets him the lead ahead of Kirito at turn 4. The VSC was a nightmare for the driver starting second in Liam, as he managed to pick up a driver through penalty for speeding, pretty much ending his race early. Kirito on the restart was able to take back the lead into turn 1.
An entertaining drs duel for Scar and Vapid ended up with the Alpine being gift wrapped second position at turn 4. This battle gave UkBeastAssassin the all important second gap towards the leading pack. I wonder how that fight will affect things…
As Vapid takes the lead on lap 10, Beast and Scar come together at turn 10 sending the Mercedes round and out of the fight for the lead! And if the usual luck for Scar was to carry on, then it was. A game crash truly ending his chance at anything bar a couple a points.
GoldenEggFryer took full advantage of the situation getting his Williams into 3rd
During the pitstop phase, SLR Southerner managed to get ahead of GEF as the Williams began to really struggle on its tyres.
Vapid and Kirito on the undercuts on beast (Vapid as he started on the mediums, Kirito pitting earlier than Beast) worked out initially as a 7 second gap separates Beast from the net lead.
The next phase of the race was waiting for the strategies to come into their own and gaps beginning to come down.
Onto lap 24/29 was when the fight for the win effectively started. The situation: Kirito - 1st on 9 lap old mediums, 2 seconds ahead of Vapid. Vapid - 11 lap old hards now fighting off Beast. Beast - 6 lap old mediums, in the drs of Vapid and probably in the best situation of the 3.
After getting ahead, Beast was now dragging Vapid along to the fight to the Ferrari of Kirito on lap 26.
Lap 28 down at turn 1 was the first position change for the lead as Beast gets ahead of Kirito and staying out until the final lap where a great battle between the two ensued.
But in the end it was the black and white Haas of UKBeastAssassin who took the chequered flag with his overcut on the hards paying. Kirito has to settle for second and Vapid on the different compound strategy compared to the top 2 comes home to take the final step.
A performance that should be applauded came from TIR Haze finishing 4th on division 2 debut and receiving the division 2 Driver of the Day from the commentary team.
As for next week, we head to the Jeddah Corniche to battle it out around what can and will only be described and complete and utter chaos, so be sure to join us in the usual Friday 8pm slot.
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 1:28.825 FRL Kirito
1. FRL Kirito
2. SLR Liamm
3. OwenHowell36
4. VapidCoot74
5. GoldenEggFryer
6. Scar B0rga
7. SLR Southerner
8. UKBeastAssassin
9. dRaSt1k bLazE
10. Active JMC
11. TIR Haze
12. SLR Mash
13. SotierClock110
14. LSW L3G3ND44
15. BigBag92
16. F1ABQW3RTYYY
17. Lenbau04
18. Kislesko
19. ZachIsBeast25
20. ChicknRosery
Race
Fastest Lap: 1:31.772 LSW L3G3ND44
1. FRL Kirito
2. VapidCoot74
3. UKBeastAssassin +3 sec
4. TIR Haze
5. SLR Southerner
6. GoldenEggFryer
7. Active JMC
8. dRaSt1k bLazE +5 sec
9. OwenHowell36
10. Scar B0rga
11. SLR Liamm
12. ZachIsBeast25
13. SotierClock110
14. Kislesko
15. LSW L3G3ND44
16. SLR Mash
17. BigBag92 (DNF)
18. F1ABQW3RTYYY (DNF)
19. ChicknRosery (DNF)
20. Lenbau04 (DNF)
VapidCoot74 Vs FRL Kirito - NFA
Both drivers are fighting hard for the lead at the end of the race and they are both right on the limit. Space is eft by both drivers and the contact is completely accidental. The stewards agreed that neither driver was wholly responsible therefore no further action was necessary.
TIR Haze Vs drast1k blaze - 5s and 1LP to drast1k blaze for spinning another car.
blaze just slightly misjudges his braking and hits the back of Haze. An unfortunate and accidental collision but we feel a penalty is necessary due to the resulting loss of positions for Haze.
LSW L3G3ND44 Vs SLR Marsh - 2LP for SLR Marsh
The stewards agreed that Marsh brakes sharply and unexpectedly and leaves L3G3ND with no time to react behind. Even though it is the first corner on the first lap we felt as though Marsh brakes extremely early and somewhat erratically although given the circumstances we decided that 2LPs would suffice as this is the first offence of this nature.
Scar B0rga Vs UKBeastAssassin - 3s and 1LP to UKBeastAssassin
It is always the responsibility of the driver behind to avoid a collision. Scar never leaves the track and is right on the edge of the circuit so plenty of room is given. Beast comes in hot as he is taking the racing line. Given the nature of the corner he is always going to ‘wash out’ on the exit and although he steers left to try and avoid contact, a collision is inevitable. Due to the nature of the corner and the attempts by beast to avoid a collision we felt as though a 3 second time penalty was a fair reflection of the incident.
drast1k blaze Vs Active JMC - NFA
JMC isn’t left with a whole lot of room down the inside and the contact comes as a result of that.
Division 3
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 1:29.043 legendarydannyd
1. legendarydannyd
2. BadOtterTV
3. Big Mike1859
4. SLR Allen
5. JPPGaming96
6. SSR Halo
7. SLR Moley
8. SLR Barlow
9. Starsorphan6
10. SLR Vettel
11. c0w3n
12. SLR Hicklin
13. l 21 l Maxwell
14. lofty012
15. l Cxmzn l
16. HuskySaturn1943
17. richie chappell
Race
Fastest Lap: 1:31.162 SLR Allen
1. SLR Allen
2. BadOtterTV
3. legendarydannyd
4. Big Mike1859
5. SLR Barlow
6. SSR Halo
7. SLR Moley
8. JPPGaming96
9. Starsorphan6
10. l 21 l Maxwell
11. richie chappell
12. lofty012
13. HuskySaturn1943
14. SLR Vettel
15. c0w3n (DNF)
16. SLR Hicklin (DNF)
17. l Cxmzn l (DNF)
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