Moderator's Report
Round two of the championship took place along the sunny riviera of Monaco. Bastian Grupp took the winners trophy across the unforgiving streets. Fulvio Policardi took 2nd place and John Hammonds rounded off the podium, his first podium in UKGPL.
There was several incidents throughout the race but only a few were reported. I can only assume you fine gentlemen were happy enough to let things slide. Onto the incidents that were reported below.
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After the flag dropped, Francesco Molteni slides the Ferrari towards the left hand side of the track, straight into the Cooper of Billy Nobrakes. The contact spins Fran around facing the wrong way while Bill could continue on. Next on the scene is Pepe Higdon who brakes hard to avoid the stationary Fran, but unfortunately behind Pepe is an unsighted Michael Turner whose view of the accident was obscured up ahead. Micheal hits the brakes but can\\\'t slow the car in time and rear-ends Pepe, pitching him into a half-spin. All thankfully can continue though Pepe does have to take a shift-r.
The Ferrari is a tricky car to get off the line as the differential can easily run out of slip. While Fran only veered the left-slightly at the start, Monaco is a tight circuit and if starting on the right, staying on the right hand side of the track to the run down to St. Devote should be a priority for self-preservation\\\'s sake!
This is a similar situation to Dave & Andy\\\'s starting incident at Kyalami. If the incident was reported, Fran typically would have received a penalty as he veered to one side of the track, into Bill\\\'s path. From the moderator\\\'s perspective, mapping the \\\"look-left\\\" and \\\"look-right\\\" commands on the steering wheel is a great aid when pulling off the line to help avoid situations like this.
Pepe and Michael\\\'s follow-on-incident, which was reported, while unfortunate, is a typical racing incident after attempting to avoid a first lap armageddon.
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Pepe took a shift-r after the start line incidents, but doesn\'t take a stop and go penalty after two laps. Pepe did the honorable thing and reported himself after the race.
The default penalty for failing to take a stop & go penalty is 30 seconds. However, as this is Pepe\'s first race in UKGPL and he got caught in someone else\'s accident at the start, the penalty won\'t be applied as it would have a very minor affect on the race outcome.
- Pepe Higdon — caution — No stop & go after two laps - 30 second penalty waived.
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Phil spins on the approach to Massenet and clouts the barriers on the right-hand-side of the track. Getting back up the speed, Phil uses all the available track which causes Bastian, next on the scene, to brake hard to avoid contact.
This situation can be judged differently depending on whether Phil & Bastian were racing for position. If Phil was on the same lap as Bastian, Phil would be entitled to use the available track to get going. However, Bastian was approaching to lap Phil and in this situation, while Phil wasn\'t technically rejoining, with two wheels of his Brabham remaining on the circuit, it would have been prudent to keep on the right hand side of the track until up to speed.
On Phil\'s replay, there were no blue flags until Bastian was right on Phil\'s gearbox. Phil then did move over as soon as he could. Bastian did have to be mindful not hit Phil on approach, but fortunately no contact was made and the two could race on.
- Phil Thornton — advice — Remain on one side of the circuit when being lapped if possible
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Phil attempts to lap Michael on the Beau Rivage, but with the snaking of the so-called straight, the gap Phil was aiming for reduced and contact occurred.
This situation was caused my Michael trying to be helpful to Phil and slowing when being lapped but it happened at an awkward part of the circuit. In hindsight, waiting until the approach to Casino Square to move over would have been a better option, even if it delayed Phil ever-so-slightly. Both can continue after the incident.