Moderator's Report
SUMMARY
A dominant flag to flag win for Tim with Kevin Clarke taking second place having started at the back of the grid. Kevin’s return to GPL is gathering pace. Jack put in another solid drive in his trusty BRM and claimed the final step on the podium.
Server replay time: 0h02m28s
Lap 1 – Flugplatz – Graham Poole and Michael Turner
Robert Burton has made a mess of the Flugplatz, he spins and ends up stationary on the racing line. Several cars take to the grass to avoid him whilst others make minor contact but no real harm is done. By the time Michael Turner arrives on the scene the yellow flags are clearly waving and Michael dutifully slows down. Graham is next along but he fails to notice the yellow flags and consequently he doesn’t moderate his speed. Eventually Graham realizes Michael has slowed down and he tries to move left, away from Michael. Unfortunately Graham doesn’t quite manage it (being airborne over the Flugplatz didn’t help) and slight contact is made. Fortunately everyone can continue unscathed.
Graham should have slowed down in response to the yellow flags but he was probably focussed on getting the Flugplatz right. In the faster divisions, incidents like this would normally attract a penalty but for the tail end of slower divisions, where drivers still have the safety net of a shift R, perhaps advice and encouragement is preferable.
Please keep a look out for yellow flags, especially on lap 1, and slow down accordingly.
Server replay time: 0h02m50s
Lap 1 – Flugplatz – James Rye
This is the first of three shift-Rs performed by James but he only managed to do one Stop and Go. Given that he discoed on Lap 5 and the next runner only completed 1 lap, no amount of time penalties will affect the result so there is little point applying them. However as a learning exercise the following would normally apply.
Lap 1 – Flugplatz – Runs wide on the banking, spins out of control back onto the track and is collected by Bernie. Not Bernie’s fault but other car involved so this would incur a 15 second penalty for no shift-R.
Lap 1 – Aremberg – Runs wide hits barrier and needs to do a shift-R. No other car involved so this would incur a 30 second penalty for no shift-R.
Lap 2 – Pit Lane – Appears to try to do a Stop and Go but aborts.
Lap 3 – Kallenhard – Crashes of his own accord. No other car involved so this would incur a 30 second penalty for no shift-R.
Lap 3 – Pit Lane – Does a protracted Stop and Go as he tries to find his pit box. There is no need to stop in a designated pit box, anywhere in the stalls area will do. Note: this is where GPL may put any of the 19 starters, it is not limited to the area next to the buildings. This stop would negate Lap 3 shift-R at Kallenhard.
For an example of how to do a good Stop and Go, check out Bernie’s exemplary stop on lap 4 (server time 37:38) after his crash at Pflanzgarten on the same lap (server time 35:23).
Server replay time: 0h11m19s
Lap 2 – Sudkehre – Robert Burton and Michael Turner
Robert brakes a bit too late for the Sudkehre, looses the back end and skids to a halt orthogonal to the racing line. Michael has to take to the grass on the outside of the track to avoid him. Robert does the right thing and extricates himself from a dangerous position immediately. Michael rejoins the track just as Robert is getting up to speed. Consequently both drivers are racing for position and side by side contact is made, Michael is knocked off the track.
Robert had to get going quickly and did the right thing sticking to the inside of the track. Michael probably didn’t expect Robert to make such a quick recovery and as he rejoined, Robert’s car was not visible in Michael’s mirrors at any time.
Server replay time: 0h19m18s
Lap 1 – Schwalbenschwanz – James Rye and Graham Poole
Graham and James are fighting for position on the approach to Schwalbenschwanz. Graham runs wide on the tricky right-hander, makes contact with the bridge parapet and looses a wheel. He has to make a shift R. There was no discernable contact although the nasty bump may have made it feel that way to Graham.
The rules (see Sporting Regulations, Shift-R, Specific Rules for Clubman’s Cup) "A driver is required to make a Stop and Go within 2 laps of any shift R, unless the shift R was necessary as a result of an incident that was entirely the fault of another driver." No contact was made so no blame can be apportioned to any other driver, consequently Graham is required to make a stop and go. Graham suspected contact with James so he elected not to do a Stop and Go hence he is liable to a time penalty.
Server replay time: 0h29m46s
Lap 3 – Tiergarten – James Andrew
James looses control under braking and crashes at Tiergarten. He fails to make a Stop and Go within 2 laps.
- James Andrew — Failure to make a Stop and Go — 30.000 seconds added
Server replay time: 0h33m52s
Lap 4 – Adenaur Forst – Graham Poole
Graham looses control in the difficult dip on the approach to Adenaur Forst. He hits a tree loosing a wheel. He has to make a shift R.
Graham should make a shift R but chooses not to at the end of lap 4 and on the last lap elects to cross the finish line and accept a time penalty. Graham could have performed a Stop and Go on the last lap just before the finish line. This may have saved him some time.
Server replay time: 0h42m10s
Lap 5 – Adenaur Forst – James Andrew
Like Graham, Andrew looses control in the difficult dip on the approach to Adenaur Forst. He also hits the dreaded tree and looses a wheel. He has to make a shift R.
This is the last lap so Andrew crosses the finish line without making a Stop and Go so he is liable for a time penalty. Andrew could have performed a Stop and Go on the last lap just before the finish line.
- James Andrew — Failure to make a Stop and Go — 30.000 seconds added