Moderator's Report
Summary
Congratulations to Al Heller on a hard fought win. He was pushed very hard by the runner-up, Nicky Ickx. The race would probably have gone to the wire if it hadn’t been for an unfortunate warp contact at about three-quarter distance. Bernie drove a steady race, apart from a couple of excursions on the grass at the Loop, to claim the final podium place and pick up some valuable points.
There were a couple of warp incidents involving back markers. When being lapped it is generally better for the lapped driver to maintain their normal racing line, that way the overtaking car will be able to anticipate where the back marker is going. See the rules on Racing Etiquette for advice on how to allow a lapping car to pass cleanly. When lapping a car that is warping badly, it is much safer to take an inside line. The lapped driver should yield and the overtaking car will not be susceptible to warp (see the guidelines on warp incidents for an explanation).
Server replay time: 0h01m52s
Lap 1 – Big Bend - Alastair Baldwin and Norbert Stemmler
Norbert is on Bernie’s tail as they barrel round The Speed Trap and is on the right hand side of the track as they approach Big Bend. Norbert is not close enough to attack and slots in behind Bernie who follows the racing line to the apex of the corner. Alastair brakes in plenty of time but he closes rapidly on Norbert who has slowed appreciably in order to avoid any risk of contact with Bernie. Unfortunately minor rear end contact is made but it is sufficient to send both Alastair and Norbert spinning off the track.
Alastair must shoulder most of the responsibility for this incident since he was the following car. However he would not have made contact if Norbert had not slowed unexpectedly. Norbert is entitled to a free shift R but Alastair does not and he correctly does a S&G at the end of lap two.
Server replay time: 0h02m50s
Lap 2 – The Loop – Alastair Baldwin and Barry de la Rosa.
Alastair is much faster into the loop and rear–ends Barry.
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Lap 2 – Finish Straight – Barry de la Rosa and Norbert Stemmler
Barry runs wide at the 90 degree and applies slightly too much throttle whilst partially on the grass. This sends him into a nasty slide which he corrects but not before he has collected Norbert. Both cars can continue apparently undamaged.
Racing incident
Server replay time: 0h13m23s
Lap 11 - Front Straight - RogUK
RogUK blows engine and makes a shift-R but fails to make S&G within two laps – penalty 30 seconds.
Server replay time: 0h16m59s
Lap 13 – Finish Line – N Hance65, Barry de la Rosa and Billy Nobrakes.
Billy is leading N Hance by a dozen car lengths when they catch up to Barry near the 90. Barry is a couple of laps down and tries to get out of the way but nevertheless slows Billy considerably. This gives N Hance the opportunity to catch up and he tries to pounce on the run down to the finish line by driving between Billy and Barry. As the cars funnel down to turn 1 the gap narrows and contact is made, all three cars spin out.
N Hance makes a shift-R but correctly does a S&G at the end of lap fourteen.
Server replay time: 0h28m38s
Lap 23 – Back Straight – Billy Nobrakes and Barry de la Rosa
Billy is trying to lap Barry but gets a little too close and warp contact is made.
Warp incident
Server replay time: 0h29m34s
Lap 25 – Turn 1 - Nicky Ickx and Barry de la Rosa
Al Heller has a 3 or 4 car length lead over Nicky as they round the 90. They catch up to Barry but can’t lap him before the finish line. Al decides to tuck in behind Barry as he turns in to turn 1 but Nicky sees an opportunity to pass both of them around the outside. Nicky makes it past but he is foiled by warp contact that catapults him into the Armco. Al avoids Nicky’s spinning Cooper and tries to overtake Barry on the inside of the first part of the Esses but warp intervenes again and this time Barry is sent spinning out.
Warp incident.
Server replay time: 0h38m20s
Lap 30 - The Loop - N Hance
N Hance65 runs wide at loop and is beached on the straw bales. He makes a shift-R but fails to do a S&G within 2 laps.
