It is that time of the year once again, well…with slight delay and hindrance, but the new Formula One game has been out for a month and through the inconsistencies with game mechanics and bugs, we can officially get SLR Season 7 underway under the lights of the Bahrain International Circuit for round 1 of the championship.
Qualifying would see the return of some of SLR’s top guys vying for a strong start to their season, as well as drivers being promoted within SLR’s ranks as they aim to reach the summit, and with a 17 car grid, it kicks off the championship charge for each and every driver.
SLR AlfieDK would take top honours with a blistering 1;24.690 on Elite debut in the Mercedes and would share the front row with another newcomer, Arbon EPA, who was only 0.09 off the pole time. Crispy would round out the top 3, being 0.106 off Alfie’s time, however, the competitiveness in qualifying was fierce as it would conclude with the top 6 being separated by only 0.154 seconds, and it would also be 6 different constructors in the top 6, it was a strong setup for splitting strategies within teams and a lot of twists and tales in the upcoming season opener, as we all got ourselves sorted for the race.
The 5 lights would go out and with the charging pack going down to the heavy braking zone of turn 1, it would be Arbon bogging down on the start as their car slowly trundled off their grid slot, which gave drivers prime opportunity to make gains and pounce on the slow-starting Alphatauri. SLR Dylan and Midzy15 would see themselves jump up 2 places, up to 2nd and 4th respectively by Turn 1, as Arbon would slide down as far as P10 by turn 4 on the opening sector.
It wouldn’t take long to have the season’s first piece of chaos as V2 and Bunny would make contact and spin at the difficult turn 9-10 complex on the opening lap, as drivers would begin to settle into the race and become accustomed to the feeling of their cars.
Lap 2 would see Alfie steer clear of DRS detection and Midzy15 making a small mistake that seen him fall out of the DRS of Crispy in front, as drivers would feel the degradation of their soft tyres very early on in the stint, with some managing tyres better than others. This would be seen with UKBeastAssassin, who was making the best of their tyres and made some moves on Riggs, who notably was struggling with grip, and made the same move on Midzy as well a lap later, as tyre wear would soon see the Williams driver slide into a mistake. Later this same lap, it would see SLR Cech make a mistake at the top of the hill at turn 12 that would send his Mercedes careering into the wall, bringing out the first safety car, which not only came out for the retired Mercedes, but also drew his teammate the short straw as the Safety Car came out just after Alfie crossed the pit entry line, giving everyone prime opportunity to make the jump, and would see him rejoin the snake at the very back in P16
The safety car would bunch everyone up, but strategy would split as the majority favoured the hards, but Crispy and Bezzas fancied their chances on the medium tyres, which would be a big ask of the drivers to manage tyres, as well as keep up the optimum pace. Para in the other McLaren would lead the drivers away and quickly let his teammate through, allowing Crispy to build up a gap should a second stop be needed.
Bezzas on the Mediums would need to cut through the field to keep tabs on Crispy, who shared the same strategy, and would make a late-braking move on Riggs into turn 1 on the restart and climb back up the order, as Alfie had his work cut out and having to carve through the field, making a move on FRA Ham into turn 8 and move up the order.
Safety car would come out once again on Lap 10 and with McLaren playing the team game as best as they possibly could, Crispy enjoyed a 3s lead but would see this advantage wiped as the safety car would come out once again, and this saw plenty of pit activity as drivers opted to jump off the hards and onto the mediums, finding a new confidence in both pace and tyre conservation at this period in the race. The grid would be shaken up once again as drivers were on old hards, new hards, old mediums and new mediums, it really was a mixed bag of strategy. Before the restart, it would see champion FRA Jam spin his Aston Martin just before the restart, and an earned P6 on strategy would be sent back to the end of the train as it would be the other McLaren of Crispy, leading the pack away opting to stay out during the melee
Raceroller and Riggs looked the liveliest on the restart as their mediums were fired up and ready, as both made their way past V2 on old hards, Roller on the inside of turn 4, and Riggs following through at turn 6, as the Scottish duo looked to make the best of the tyres as they were slapped on the car. Midzy fancied his chances on Para who was on a fresh set of hards, into turn 4, but with the gap closing, it sent the Williams into a spin, and behind FRA Ham and FRA Jam.
The battle for the final podium position was beginning to hit a boiling point as Bezzas would be looking to make a move on UKBeast Assassin into turn 1, and Roller would make the move on Alfie at turn 4 as they monitored the battle infront. Alfie refused to give up the position as he would fight back strongly but would soon have to concede the place. Alfie would soon have Riggs on his tail and with the Alpine going late on the brakes into turn 1, it allowed the Mercedes to position itself up the inside of 4, returning the favour, and forcing Riggs in behind once again. The following lap would see Riggs then take the inside of 4 and squeeze the Mercedes to the edge of the track and take the position. Alfie would soon retire in the pits after a race that he felt was consistently going backward after what was a very impressive qualifying and pole time.
Bezzas would make a second stop on lap 22 which would see him fall from 2nd, sharing doubt on managing the mediums to the end, but Crispy would opt to manage the tyres and with Roller, Dylan and UKBeast all fighting for P2, the McLaren enjoyed a 5s gap out in front. With one McLaren leading, Para in the other McLaren would see himself locking horns with the Alpine of Riggs as they battled fierce for two laps, with neither giving the other any quarter, but through the resilience and the pace advantage, Para would make his way past Riggs, with the Alpine finally opting to just settle in and let the McLaren do the legwork in closing the gap up ahead.
With Para closing the gap and eventually gaining the position on Beast, and Roller closing the gap a couple tenths at a time, it was nothing on the effort, the conservative driving style Crispy had to adopt to manage mediums that have seen 22 laps of the Bahrain circuit, the management of the car, battery, and ability to put in a fast lap when needed, a commanding and controlled drive for Crispy seen him take the chequered flag under the Bahrain lights, with Roller gaining 8 positions to finish P2, and his teammate SLR Dylan, rounding off the podium here in Bahrain, as the season has well and truly, started!
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.24.690
1. SLR AlfieDK
2. ArbOn EPA
3. Crispy2001
4. SLR Dylan
5. R1ggs8
6. Midzy15
7. Bezzas1
8. UKBeastAssassin
9. SLR Cech
10. Raceroller22
11. Coupe a Benz
12. SLR Niki
13. FRA Ham19
14. PaRa Quickz
15. V2 x Combat
16. SillyBunny47711
17. FRA Jam40
Race
Fastest Lap: 01.27.143 FRA Ham19
1. Crispy2001
2. Raceroller22
3. SLR Dylan
4. UKBeastAssassin
5. R1ggs8
6. PaRa Quickz
7. Bezzas1
8. Coupe a Benz
9. SLR Niki
10. ArbOn EPA
11. FRA Jam40
12. V2 x Combat
13. FRA Ham19
14. Midzy15 (DNF)
15. SLR AlfieDK (DNF)
16. SillyBunny47711 (DNF)
17. SLR Cech (DNF)
We’re back! Season 7 kicked off Friday night with division 1 taking centre Stage With plenty of familiar faces, drivers moving divisions and some brand new names to get used to.
the division kicked off in Bahrain with a very interesting qualifying session. immediately after the first session we had our first shock, last years elite driver LP smoke knocked out in q1 starting p17 with all the work to do in the race. With various drivers looking good for pole the main man of the hour was rockamad73 sending out a statement to the whole division, closely followed by TTM Sam, two new drivers to the division who certainly know how to string a lap together!
5 lights went out and we were away with TTM sam jumping rockamad and leading into turn 1 SG Darren immediately fell into trouble and found himself running 20th. Rockamad was not enjoying himself out there going from first to fifth within 3 laps then eventually spinning out of the race and collecting SLR Bennett luckily not giving him terminal damage but he did have to pit for a new front wing halting him from progressing up the Field and coming out right at the back.
The soft runners started to pit releasing the medium runners who were trying the alternate strategy, race leader TTM sam elected to do a 1 stop onto hards and not long after his stop he made a huge error at turn 6 spinning his fresh hards which meant from a net p1 he had slipped to p7 with all the work to do.
Moments later SLR Semm had a spin at turn 12 and he rejoined the track only to collect SLR Connor who was looking good to finish atleast on the podium with his excellent race pace. This of course brought out the safety car which couldn’t have been better timed for LP smoke who started p17 but made his mediums last and pitted for a fresh set of softs and also SLR Fempest who started p15 was now p2 but with a set of new hards.
The safety car came in and immediately DPT Paul went after SLR Fempest and a slight tap in the rear sent Fempest
into the wall and out of the race meaning SLR Vandoorne would race off into second. Lap 26 came and new driver dreemteembn crashed on his debut 3 laps from the end bringing out a safety car bunching up the field for a 2 lap shootout with SLR Vandoorne hunting LP Smoke for the win.
The safety car came in and smoke had a tremendous start whilst SLR Ranga and Elite X riskz were having a feisty but fair battle showcasing amazing race craft and respect for each other but Elite picked up a 3 second corner cutting penalty which would prove costly.
The checkered flag waved and LP Smoke crossed the line first to claim a excellent victory from p17 on the grid and making the alternate strategy work with a perfectly timed safety car and right choice of tyres to keep him ahead of Vandoorne who finished second and TTM Sam rounding out the podium recovering well from his spin!
After an excellent first round in Bahrain we look forward to next week for round two in China!
Qualifying
Pole Time: 1:25.197
1. rockamad73
2. TTM Sam
3. ELiTE x RisKz
4. SLR Vandoorne
5. SLR ranga
6. KlutzyWinter830
7. Hamy is best
8. SLR Bennett3810
9. SLR Liamm
10. SLR Morgan
11. SLR Connor
12. SLR Allen
13. Darren l 22
14. SLR Semm
15. SLR FemPest
16. dreemteembn
17. LP Smoke
18. l VR46 l
19. DPT Paul
20. ETSR Badders
Race
Fastest Lap: 1:27.596 - dreemteembn
1. LP Smoke
2. SLR Vandoorne
3. TTM Sam
4. SLR ranga
5. SLR Bennett3810
6. ELiTE x RisKz
7. l VR46 l
8. SLR Allen
9. SLR Liamm
10. SLR Morgan
11. DPT Paul (+13s)
12. dreemteembn (FL) (DNF)
13. Hamy is best (DNF)
14. SLR FemPest (DNF)
15. Darren l 22 (DNF)
16. SLR Connor (DNF)
17. SLR Semm (DNF) (qualifying ban for next race)
18. KlutzyWinter830 (DNF)
19. ETSR Badders (DNF)
20. rockamad73 (DNF)
SLR ranga Vs KlutzyWinter830- Divebomb- Lap 1
Outcome: 2 LP for Klutzy
Reason: Klutzy outbrakes himself and dives up Ranga's inside into turn 1. However he did just about make the corner and both drivers luckily avoid any damage so this wasn't so severe.
SLR Fempest Vs DPT Paul - Spinning another car- Lap 19
Outcome: 10 secs + 2LP for Paul
Reason: After slowing down the clip and listening to audio, there was definitely contact with Paul's front wheel and Fempests rear. We think Paul could of backed off to avoid the contact however the contact made was not a big amount and the bad game mechanics have played a part in this. So the penalty given is not a major one.
SLR Connor Vs SLR Semm - dangerous rejoin (lap 15)
Outcome: Qualifying ban + 3LP for Semm
Reason: Semm spins at the flat right hander at the end of sector 2. Although the actual rejoin from Semm was ok, he once again loses the car trying to get going again. Unfortunately this was when Connor came speeding around the corner and it would of been very difficult for Connor to see what was going on ahead. It's an unfortunate incident but we've concluded Semm is still at fault. A quali ban had also been given due to Semm's DNF
DPT Paul - Cutting pit lane (lap 26)
Outcome: 3 secs + 1 LP
Reason: Paul clearly goes into the pit lane but then cuts it
Well well well here we go again! What a start to season 7 division 2 in SLR. Feels so long since the last race and it’s great to be back. Lots new and old faces amongst the division, great to see guys come up from division 3 and not looking out of place at all.
If you need any indication about how competitive this division is then two yes two drivers set exactly the same time in Q3 but it was JackMullCGFC that would take pole as he set his time before MasseyF1.
To the race then and every driver outside the top 10 started on the alternate strategy. For the most part a clean getaway with SLR Jack getting a fantastic start from P3 to take the lead until an unforced error and a spin later on in the lap would spoil it.
Some fantastic racing in the early laps battling for the lead. Which came to a swift end when a couple of spinners and a retirement caused a safety car and that then called for the pit crews to get to work with lots opting to go in for a change. However J Lee Menz and SLRLofty Stayed out on mediums and looked to build a gap to the chasing pack on fresher tyres.
There was so much action in the middle part of the race it’s impossible to give every move a shout out. Was really impressed with some great fair racing and long May it continue.
A few unforced errors to some losing it on the curbs of Bahrain meant the field when then met with the second safety car of the race and a decision for the driver to what tyres to get to the end of the race with just 11 laps left.
It was a real mixture of tyre compounds on the safety car restart with the majority selecting mediums. It was J Lee Menz who emerged in P2 on fresh softs right behind Massey so we were set for a thrilling battle in the closing laps.
On the penultimate of a thrilling battle contact between Menz and Massey which the stewards have deemed worthy of a penalty despite crossing the line first pushes Menz down to P8, this then promotes and changes the result completely in division 2 with SLR Leah 5second penalty removal he wins the Bahrain GP from ZachIsBeast by half a tenth of a second! Not the first time Zach has been involved in a close finish. ARL Tooman rounds off the podium. Decent points haul for MasseyF1 in P4, DOPH1ANTOR3085 P5, OG James P6. SLR Hicklin P7. J Lee Menz drops to P8. SLR Jack and SLR Lofty take the last points scoring positions.
Lots of close great racing throughout this one bring on China next week!
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.25.410
1. JackMullCGFC
2. MasseyF1
3. SLR Jack
4. Dolph1nator3085
5. OG James 96
6. ARL Tooman
7. SLR Barlow
8. ZachIsBeast25
9. Drast1k Blaze
10. ZH Acidz
11. J Lee Menz
12. FZR IGOR
13. SLR Leah
14. SLR EVVO
15. SLR Kiara
16. SLR Lofty
17. LSW L3g3nd44
18. SLR Hicklin
19. Alpeh
20. SSR Halo
Race
Fastest Lap: 01.27.907 SLR Evvo
1. SLR Leah -5 sec
2. ZachIsBeast25
3. ARL Tooman
5. MasseyF1
5. Dolph1nator3085
6. OG James 96
7. SLR Hicklin
8. J Lee Menz +15 sec
9. SLR Jack
10. SLR Lofty
11. Drast1k Blaze
12. SLR EVVO
13. Alpeh
14. ZH Acidz
15. SSR Halo (DNF)
16. FZR Igor (DNF)
17. JackMullCGFC (DNF) +15 sec = Qualifying ban due to DNF
18. SLR Barlow (DNF)
19. LSW L3g3nd44 (DNF)
20. SLR Kiara (DNF)
Incident - JackMull Retirement on track
Outcome - 15 Seconds and 3LP to JackMull
Reason - JackMull clearly retires on track.
Incident - Leah 5 Second penalty removal
Outcome - 5 Second time penalty for Leah is removed
Reason - Leah provides the correct evidence for penalty removal and we don’t believe that Blaze deserves a penalty for the collision under sc either.
Incident - Massey vs Menz
Outcome - 15 Seconds and 3LP to Menz
Reason - While we accept it’s very difficult to go side by side through the beginning of sector 2, Menz simply doesn’t leave enough room for Massey on the inside and spins him out, costing Massey a potential win.
So here we go, the first race of the season in SLR division 3 championship here in Bahrain.
Qualifying went as follows as SLR Charlie took pole with a brilliant lap of 1:25.6 two tenths clear of 2nd place of SLR j3st3r then on the 2nd row was SLR COLDEN and sf1 moley then p5 cow3n,p6 gregers uk, p7 I 21 I maxwell, p8 x j geddes x, p9 SLR Russell and to settle the top 10 we have baggiefan in 10th place.
So the start of race as slr Charlie leads away the pack but slr j3st3r gets the better start out of the front row runners as they battle in to t1 with j3st3r up the inside of Charlie but Charlie fights back and comes out in p1 going towards t4. But there was a huge crash at the back with unrealsalmon being the first person to retire the car and that will be his race over.
It’s all happening on the first lap as SLR st2oh has a spin.
So after a chaotic start to the race lap 3 saw slr Charlie lead with slr j3st3r and slr colden closely behind but with a massive crash between the Williams of cosmic Cameron and the red bull of grumpy orange which saw the ln both after the race on lap 3 which has brought out a virtual safety to slow down the pack from the crash.
Lap 5 saw another set of spinners as slr spritley and baggiefan have spun. Lap 6 saw slr Russell lose out on two positions as skull killer and maxwell make an easy pass as Russell makes a mistake. Russell then gains a position back the following lap on maxwell down the big drs straight. Lap 8 and slr colden and sf1 moley attempt the undercut as they put for the mediums and drop down to p10 and p11.
Skull killer has had a brilliant start to this race as he has made up 7 positions in 9 laps starting p11 and now up in p4.
Lap 10 and slr Russell crashes out and causes a full safety car after having a good start to the race. So the front runners do pit as Charlie goes on to the soft compound tyres and j3st3r on the mediums as Charlie leads the safety car restart. Charlie goes and j3st3r follows with colden all over the back of him with moley closely behind as well and moley makes the move on colden stick. Slr Gareth makes a move on aflyinglemon to move up to p13.
Lap 16 brought Charlie the worst luck possible as his controller de synced from his Xbox and puts him straight into the wall and out of this race and he gives slr j3st3r the winning position with colden not making it easy for him. J3st3r pulls a second gap to colden giving colden zero drs and gives moley the opportunity on colden. Lap 19 brought a come together between baggiefan, Slr spritley and slr st2oh at the back of the field. On lap 21 a train starts to form between the front 5 as maxwell makes a very nice move down the inside of t1 on Slr bunny to move up to p6.
Lap 22 brings the 2 ferraris battling for p4 but team orders do come into it as gregers uk does let skullkiller past on the main straight to battle for a podium. Lap 24 skullkiller takes a dive at moley for p3 and they battle for the podium position for the next 4 corners and skullkiller does make the move stick and has moved up 8 positions since the start of the race. Lap 25 and gregers uk picks up a 3 second penalty which surely puts him out of the running for a podium. Cow3n also has a spin and takes off his entire front wing meaning he has to pit putting him down to p11. Lap 26 skullkiller makes an easy move past colden as colden does not want to go defensive and settles behind. Now skullkiller is seriously hunting j3st3r for the race win on lap 27 as skullkiller has the drs leading down to t1 but he stays behind. Lap 28 skullkiller has another go at j3st3r and goes all around the outside and makes the move stick on the penultimate lap as j3st3r gets all over the curb and spins losing out on the lead and drops to p5! So skullkiller leads the last lap with colden in p2 and sf1 moley in p3 for the podium places. P11 cow3n sets the fastest lap of the race on lap 28 but will not get an extra point as he is not in the top 10.
Lap 29 and it is ferraris day! Skullkiller takes the win on the first race of the season here in Bahrain, colden takes p2 sf1 moley takes p3, slr j3st3r takes p4 still a very solid result considering the spin he did have, gregers comes home in p5 with Slr bunny in p6, maxwell in p7, slr nealix in p8, slr Gareth in p9 and x j geddes in p10 and that settles the point scorers.
Qualifying
Pole Lap: 01.25.657
1. SLR Charlie1
2. SLR J3st3r
3. SLR Colden
4. SF1 Moley
5. C0w3n
6. Gregers UK
7. I21I Maxwell
8. x J Geddes x
9. SLR Russell
10. Baggiefan 1995
11. Skullkiller1014
12. SLR Gareth
13. SLR Bunny
14. SLR Nealix
15. UnrealSalmon590
16. Aflyinglemon318
17. SLR St2oH
18. SLR Spritley
19. I Cxmzn I
20. GrumpyOrange
Race
Fastest Lap: 01.27.941 Cow3n
1. Skullkiller1014
2. SLR Colden
3. SF1 Moley
4. SLR J3st3r
5. Gregers UK
6. SLR Bunny
7. I21I Maxwell
8. SLR Nealix
9. SLR Gareth
10. x j Geddes x
11. Cow3n
12. SLR Spritley
13.Aflyinglemon318
14. Baggiefan 1995
15. SLR St2oH
16. SLR Charlie (DNF)
17. SLR Russell (DNF)
18. I Cxmzn I (DNF)
19. GrumpyOrange318 (DNF)
20. UnrealSalmon590 (DNF)
SLR Bunny
Outcome: Qualifying ban +LP
Reason: Readying up too early
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