Race Report: Speed Circuit 2023 Steve’s Monaco

Martini and Elf Battle at Monaco GP

Steve’s Monaco Layout.

Five teams competed in the Monaco Grand Prix this season fielding nine drivers. Martini’s lone driver, Amon, sat on the pole position and shared the front row with Elf’s Stewart.  Brabham’s Reutmann and Elf’s Cevert secured the second row followed by William’s Galli and Brabham’s W. Fittapaldi. Team Hesketh filled the fourth row with Hunt and Purley.

The Race Begins At the 2023 Monaco GP!

Amon and Stewart set the pace and seemed to be pulling away from the pack. But the other drivers caught up to them at the Station Hairpin.

The Leaders Breakaway During the First Lap at Monaco.

Exiting the Station Hairpin, Cevert passed Stewart and gained an inside advantage on Amon. Then Cevert, Stewart, and Amon exited the corners ahead of the rest and extended their lead through the tunnel. Cevert attempted to slingshot Stewart into the lead going into the Gazometre, but the attempt failed and Amon gained the lead. Meanwhile, Williams, Hesketh, and Brabham battled for fourth.

The Battle for Lap 2 at Monaco.

Amon finished the first lap with Stewart and Cevert on his heals. Cevert began to slow and Williams caught him at the Virage Du Portier. Stewart extended his lead heading into the tunnel for the second time. The Brabhams and Heskeths were in a fierce struggle.

Fierce competition at Monaco.

Amon caught up to Stewart and they raced neck-and-neck going into the Gazametre, but this time Stewart exited first and gained the bonus point for lap 2. Hunt broke away from the Brabhams and started to reel in Galli.

Stewart stayed off Amon and they built a large lead midway through the 3rd and final lap. Hunt passed Williams and tried to close the gap with the leaders going into to the Station Hairpin.

The 3rd and Final Lap at Monaco.

Stewart’s car faltered and he began to slow. Amon got by Stewart. Hunt smelled blood in the water, but could not catch the leaders. Amon crossed the finish line two spaces ahead of Stewart. Hunt finished 3rd followed by Cevert. Congratulations to Dave for the Win!

Race details follow:

1st Dave M. (C. Amon) 80/40/40/140/5 S*
2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/40/40/160/4 S*
3rd Steve (J. Hunt) 60/60/40/140/5 S
4th Den (F. Cevert) 80/40/40/140/4 S
5th Travis (N. Galli) 60/60/40/140/5 S
6th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/40/140/6 S
7th Terry (W. Fittipaldi) 60/40/40/140/5 S
8th Steve (D. Purley) 60/40/40/140/5 S
9th Travis (Howden) 40/40/40/160/5 W

Race Report: Speed Circuit 2023 Kyalami

Stewart dominated the South African Grand Prix.

Nine teams populated the Kyalami grid. Stewart in Tyrrell (#3) held the pole position and shared the front row with Hulme in the McLaren (#5), and Amon in the Martini Techno (#17). The second row featured Ickx in the Ferrari (#7), Oliver in the Shadow (#21), and Reutmann in the Brabham (#16). Beltoise in the Marlboro BRM (#13), Fittapaldi in the JPL Lotus (#1), and Hunt in the Hesketh March (#24) secured that third and final row.

Starting Grid at Kyalami 2023.

The front row cars dashed off the start finish line closely followed by the Ferrari. Meanwhile, Oliver mis-shifted and spun the Shadow’s tires resulting in a poor start. The field squeezed though Crowthorne Corner and into the narrow part of the track. Amon took the lead, but lost monentum and was passed by several drivers. Fittapaldi meticulously maneuvered his Lotus through the pack and found himself beside Hulme going through Clubhouse Bend just behind Stewart the leader.

First lap a kyalami 2023.

Some of the vehicles were already showing signs of stress. The BRMs brakes were malfunctioning and the Ferrari’s engine was losing power. The field was expending a large amount of were points.

Hulme and Fittapaldi were putting a great deal of pressure on Stewart. Then, Fittapaldi spun in the Esses.  Stewart managed to exit the Leeukop ahead of the field gaining a substantial lead. The McLaren, Martini, and Ferrari were next out of the corner and in hot pursuit of Stewart.

First lap Kyalami 2023. The Lotus spins while Tyrrell takes the lead.

Stewart maintained the lead. Hulme and Amon jockeyed for second while trying to close the gap on Stewart. Ickx, in his wounded Ferrari, struggled to stay with the leaders. Hunt, who had started in last place, began to make some progress.

Second lap at Kyalami 2023. Stewart keeps the lead and the battle for second continues.

Hulme pushed a little to hard and spun his McLaren in the Esses. Stewart capitalized on the disruption in the field to charge out of Leeukop Bend and extend his lead once again.

Second lap at Kylami. Stewart extends his lead and Hulme spins-out.

Stewart looked untouchable and unless he made a dire mistake he would win the race. The competition for position in the field escalated.  Reutmann, Fittapaldi, and Amon went three wide down the front straight battling for second position. Fittapaldi seized second closely followed by Amon through Barbeque Bend. Reutmann fell back and fought Ickx fourth.

Third lap at kyalami 2023.

Stewart did not make a mistake and smoothly drove the Tyrrell to victory, but the race was not yet over. Amon got around Fittapaldi and secured second place. Hunt successfully executed a series of daring maneuvers through the Esses, Leekop Bend, and the Kink to blast through the field and take third place. He was closely followed by Hulme in the McLaren.

Stewart wins at Kyalami 2023.

Race finish details follow:

1st Den (J. Stewart) 80/40/20/160/5 S**
2nd Dave M. (C. Amon) 80/40/20/160/5 S
3rd Steve (J. Hunt) 60/40/40/160/5 S
4th Ray G. (D. Hulme) 80/40/40/140/5 S
5th Stephen L. (J. Ickx) 60/40/40/160/5 (Eng Dam)
6th John H. (E. Fittipaldi) 40/40/40/160/6 S
7th AJ (J. Oliver) 60/40/40/160/5 S
8th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/40/160/5
9th 5th Ray R. (Beltoise) 60/40/40/160/5 (Brake Dam)

Next race is scheduled at Monjuic in March 2023.

Race Report – Speed Circuit 2017 Nurburgring

Strategy and luck pay off at Nurburgring.

Hahne, Andretti, and Rindt bolted off the starting line taking an incredible early lead.  During the first two laps, BMW and Lotus battled.  Hahne crossed the finish line ahead of Rindt and Andretti on both laps, but started the last lap with one wear point.

The Race After Turn One

During the early stages of the race, the Matra drivers worked as a team and drove conservatively saving their tires.  Near the end of the second lap Beltoise began to make his run against the leaders.  He began the last lap with relatively fresh tires.

On the last lap, because of their deteriorating tires, Hahne, Andretti and Rindt slowed and were unable to exceed corner speed limits.  Meanwhile Beltoise exceeded most corners by at least 40mph (spending one wear and rolling on the chance table) and exceeded his top speed on the straights.  As a result he caught and passed the leaders on the back stretch, getting ahead of Hahne before the last corner.  Beltoise won the race followed by Hahne.  Andretti and Gavin raced side by side.  Andretti made it through the last corner first, but left the inside lane open.  As a result of Andretti mistake, Gavin crossed the finish line ahead of him securing 3rd place.

Race Results:

1st Den (J. Beltoise) 80/40/40/140/6
2nd Ray G. (H. Hauhne) 80/40/40/140/6**
3rd Den (J. Gavin) 40/40/40/140/6
4th Steve (M. Andretti) 80/40/20/140/6
5th Steve (J. Rindt) 80/40/20/160/6
6th Ray G. (J. Biden) 60/40/40/140/5

The win puts Beltoise in a commanding lead in the driver’s championship followed by Hahne and Andretti.  Matra holds onto the lead in the constructors championship while BMW threaten to take second place from Lotus.