Moderator's Report
SUMMARY
Robert Fleurke wins the race from start to finish, in front of Peter "Gismo" Antonsen. Pelle Buchner rounds out the podium. Sadly the race started with a multicar wreck in the Esses, and many cars had to retire or suffered damage.
Server replay time: 0h00m57s
Pelle Buchner has a good start and gets alongside Axel. This upsets Axel and he gets out of shape losing some momentum. Bob sees an opportunity to try to get alongside Axel, just when Axel tried to close the gap. Both cars touch (they only make lag-contact), Jethro slows on the outside, and then cars start to pile in from behind.
This was all a chain reaction. It starts with Pelle's agressive start. You can argue he should be more cautious, but after all we're racing, and he makes sure to hold his line. Axel can't be blamed for getting out of shape, he genuinly didn't expect Pelle, and despite losing some momentum he was entitled to steer into the apex. Since Bob uploaded his client replay, things are more clear, it seems to be a lag contact. There's even more space between Axel/Bob than on the server replay.
When contact was made between Bob and Axel, Bob was doing 101mph and Axel was doing 100mph. So it was very close and it does look like warp played a part, but we're not convinced the cars wouldn't have collided without lag. Bob had already overtaken Jethro and was then intent on diving up the inside of Axel. We don't think Bob had any overlap when Axel turned in. Patience and care should be paramount at the start.
Due to the nature and topography of the Esses, in our opinion no one is to blame for lack of care after the initial "contact" between Axel and Bob. Arf and David did an admirable job avoiding the mess, but the others were all victims themselves. Andreas, Dean, Ronnie and Doni can continue the race, damaged or not. The others have to retire.
In the aftermath Iestyn -who has connection problems- runs through the wrecks at full speed, and hits Bob who has to retire, but he doesn't see other cars, and also disconnects at the backstraight. We have seen this before, and Iestyn can't be blamed.
We ask the drivers to be more careful at the start, stick to their own side until they know it is safe to move over, don't take unnecessary risks and if the car ahead slows, be prepared to slow too if it is not safe to make a pass!