Tag: Formula One

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Race Report: Speed Circuit 2023 Silverstone (by Steve)

British Fledgling Crashes at Silverstone

Six teams attended the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this year. Amon sat on pole in his red number 17 Martini Techno. Galli joined him in the second row in a dark green and red Williams, the only car in the field setup with weak down-force. The season points leader, Stewart, shared the second row with Beltoise. The rising British star Hunt started on the third row with the ever tenacious Reutemann. The engines roared and they were away in a flash.

Stewart drove like a man possessed and pushed his blue number 3 Elf to an early lead. Williams slipped into second. Reutemann got around Hunt while flying through Beckett’s Corner.

The contest’s theme was set early. Stewart and Galli pulled away from the pack and appeared to be in a private race. Stewart was first to complete the lap 1. Reutemann fought his way past Amon. Hunt slipped by Beltoise and battled with Amon.

During the lap 2 Stewart and Galli extended their lead and once again Stewart was first across the finish line for the bonus point. Hunt got around Amon and trailed closely behind Reutemann who showed him no quarter.

During lap 3 the unthinkable happened. Hunt exited Beckett’s corner at high speed, out-braked Reutemann going into Chapel Curve, and then lost control resulting in a terrifying crash. Later in Hospital, Hunt claimed he felt something just, “let go”. Doctors cut the interview short, but team manager Steve agreed that the most likely cause of the incident as a broken suspension. Hunt’s injuries are severe and he may be out for the rest of the season.

While exiting Maggot’s Curve, Stewart made a dreadful error and gave away the inside position to Galli. Galli immediately capitalized on Stewart’s mistake and captured the lead going down the Hanger Straight.

Stewart tried to recapture the position he had held for most of the race, but the Elf was spent and Galli held the inside advantage. Galli won in an exciting photo finish with Stewart beside him. Reutemann fended off Amon and finished second.

Race details follow:

1st Travis (N. Galli) 60/20/40/160/6 W
2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/40/20/160/5 S**
3rd Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/40/160/5 S
4th Dave M. (C. Amon) 80/40/40/140/5 S
5th Ray R. (J. Beltoise) 60/60/40/140/5 S
CR4 Steve (J. Hunt) 60/60/40/180/4 S

Note: Special thanks to Terry for hosting the race at his house.

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Race Report: Speed Circuit 2023 Monjuic

Stewart Wins Three Races in a Row

Monjuic hosted eight teams this year. Shadow’s Oliver (#21) held pole position sharing the first row with Elf’s Stewart (#3). The second row was occupied by contenders Reutmann (#16) and Fittipaldi (#1). Galli (#19) and Von Opel (#28) filled the third row. The final row included Hunt (#26) and Beltoise (#13).

Stewart got the jump on Oliver and led through the first corner. Initially, the rest of the pack stayed in a tight formation.

Stewart and Oliver battled for the lead. Oliver made a move, but lost control of the Shadow going into La Pergola. Galli began reeling in Stewart. Meanwhile, Hunt weaved his way to the 5th position.

Galli stayed glued to Stewart looking for an opening. Oliver closed in on the leaders, but spun-out again. Hunt passed Fittapaldi avoided the spinning Shadow and secured 3rd.

The second lap heated up as Fittapaldi and Hunt battled for third place and Stewart and Galli dueled for first. Galli’s Williams began to fade just as Stewart pushed the Elf through Sant Jordi.

Stewart began to build separation. Hunt had fallen back to fourth, but rebounded by making a series brilliant moves in the El Anulo de Miramar, Rosseleda, and Font Del Gat, ultimately moving into second.

Stewart led the third and final lap finishing in first place for the third race in a row. Hunt finished 2nd, and Fittapaldi 3rd. Race details follow:

1st Den (J. Stewart) 80/40/20/160/5 S**
2nd Steve (J. Hunt) 60/40/40/160/5 S
3rd John H. (E. Fittipaldi) 60/40/20/160/6 S
4th Travis (N. Galli) 60/20/40/160/6 W
5th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/40/160/5 S
6th Dan (R. von Opel) 60/40/40/160/5
7th AJ (J. Oliver) 80/40/20/160/5
8th Ray R. (J. Beltoise) 60/40/40/160/5 S

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Race Report – Speed Circuit Watkins Glen 2021

Ferrari Takes Win and Series Constructor’s Cup While Tyrell Driver Wins Championship.

The season’s Driver and Constructor Championships were on the line at this years season finale at Watkins Glen. Stewart enter the race with a 3 point lead over Ickx. Both driver’s teams were battling for the first place with Ferrari holding a slim lead over Tyrell. Mclaren and Brabham did not show for the race creating opportunities for other teams to advance.

Lap 1: Pete Lovely started on pole position, but his weak downforce setup plagued him throughout the day and he quickly faded into the pack finishing 8th. Stewart took and early lead and captured the bonus point for the first lap.

Lap 2: Ferrari’s number 2 driver, Regazzoni, started in 5th, but skillfully maneuver around Lotus and Tyrell to take the lead going down the front straight during the second lap. Not to be out done, Lotus driver Fittapaldi passed Regazonni. Regazonni caught Fittapaldi in the last corner, past him, and earned the bonus point for the second lap.

Ferrari sut smarts Tyrell and Lotus and takes the lead on Lap 2.

Lotus makes a move and takes the lead coming out of the Chute on Lap 2.

Lap 3: Regazzoni built an insurmountable lead. Stewart got by Fittapaldi, but could not catch Regazzoni. Regazzoni won the race followed by Stewart and Reggazoni. The contender for the series title, Ickx, had started in 9th place, but finished in 4th. As a result of their efforts, Lotus jumped two slots in the constructors championship.

Ickx takes back the lead and never looks back.

Ferrari driver Ickx win at the Glen!

On a darker note, BRM driver Siffert crashed on the final lap. A speedy recovery is expected.

Race details follow:

 #5 Watkins Glen
3 Laps
(3 Nov 2021)
Turns = 29
Spaces = 2
avg speed = 141.37mph
1st Steve (C. Regazzoni) 60/60/20/180/4* S
2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/60/20/160/5* S
3rd John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 60/60/40/180/4 S
4th Steve (J. Ickx) 60/60/20/180/4 S
5th Den (F. Cevert) 60/60/20/160/4 S
6th John H. (R. Wisell) 60/40/40/160/4 S
7th Ray R. (R. Peterson) 40/60/20/140/6 S
8th Ray G. (P. Lovely) 80/40/40/140/6 W
9th Dan (P. Rodriguez) 60/40/20/180/5
10th Ray G. (J. Biden) 40/40/40/160/5
11th Ray R. (N. Galli) 40/60/40/140/5 S
CR Dan (J. Siffert) 80/40/20/180/5

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2021 Monza

McLaren Owned the Starting Grid But Ferrari Owned the Race

McLaren driver’s held pole and 3rd positions dominating the first row of the starting grid at this year’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Brabham’s D. Hulme accompanied the McLarens on the first row. All cars in the first row were configured with weak downforce and setup to go fast on the straits. Meanwhile, the championship leader, J. Stewart, was all the way back on the inside of row 4. Team BRM, led by veteran manager Dan, made its first showing of the season.

Team McLaren dominates the starting grid at Monza!

At the Curva Grande the weak downforce cars displayed cornering instability. Team Tryell was first to capitalize on the McLaren’s weakness. Cevert took the lead heading out of the Lesmos and Stewart moved from 10th to 3rd.

Team Tyrell Challenges the McLarens through the Lesmos.

Cevert and Stewart worked in tandem and Stewart slipped into the lead. BRM and Ferrari pressed McLaren out of the Parabolica. The McLarens were fast on the straights, but to slow in the corners and ultimately outclassed by the strong downforce cars.

Can the besieged McLarens hold on?

Ickx slipped past the McLarens and held a position behind the Tyrells as they passed the line to begin the second lap. The Tyrells had spent 2/3 of their skill points in the first lap and this would negatively impact the team’s tactics for the rest of the race. The McLarens also suffered from bad luck.

Positions at the end of the first lap at Monza.

While Ickx maintained his position behind Cevert, his team mate, Regazzoni quietly maneuvered through the pack. The Ferraris linked up down the back stretch and eventually disrupted the Tyrells.

Regazzoni breaks through the pack at the Lesmos.
Regazzoni joins Ickx.
Ferrari dismantles the Tyrell tandem.

Breaking up the Tyrell tandem proved critical to Ferrari’s success. Stewart once again crossed the finish line first, but Cevert fell back and Stewart battled against team Ferrari on his own with 1 skill point and just enough wear to make it through the last lap. BRM, Brabham and McLaren had battle ferociously during the second lap and were nearly spend as well.

Lat lap into the Lesmos.

Regazonni used his teammate to slingshot past Stewart going down the back straight. Ickx got the inside position on Stewart going into the Parabolica. The Ferraris were first through the Parabolica and Stewart slip-streamed Regezonni to pull up along side the Ferraris. The leaders were three wide heading into the final corner of the race.

Leaders line up for the final corner.

Stewart should have won the race on the following turn. but he made a critical tactical error. The Ferraris went 160mph through the 120mph corner section and occupied the two outside lanes just past the corner blocking use of the 120mph section. If Stewart had gone 140mph he could have safely navigated the 100mph section, taken the inside space next to the Ferraris, and gone 180mph during the next turn crossing the finish line ahead of the Ferraris and won, but instead he plotted 160mph. He still had an opportunity to late brake down to 140mph, but did not. Stewart attempted going 60mph over the limit through the 100mph section and rolled a 6 on the chance table. He used us last skill chip to avoid crashing and spunout blowing his opportunity for victory.

Stewart spins in the final corner of the last lap at Monza!

Ickx crossed the start finish line first and was followed by Regazzoni and Cevert. Stewart recovered from the spin and just barely beat Shenken across the finish line to take 4th place.

One – Two victory for Ferrari!

Then Githen suffered a horrific crash in the last corner. He survived, but may not be well enough to race in the next and final race of the season.

Gethin crashes in the final corner of the last lap at Monza.

Race details follow:

1st Steve (J. Ickx) 60/60/20/180/4 S
2nd Steve (C. Regazzoni) 60/60/20/180/4 S
3rd Den (F. Cevert) 60/60/20/180/4 S
4th Den (J. Stewart) 60/60/20/180/4** S
5th Terry (T. Shenken) 60/40/40/160/5 S
6th Terry (G. Hill) 80/40/40/160/4 W
7th Travis (D.Hulme) 80/20/40/160/5 W
8th Dan (P. Rodriguez) 60/40/20/180/5
9th Ray R. (R. Peterson) 40/60/20/180/5
10th Dan (J. Siffert) 80/40/20/180/5
11th Ray R. (N. Galli) 60/40/40/160/6
CR5 Travis (P. Gethin) 60/20/40/160/6 W

Stewart is only three points ahead of Ickx in the championship. Hulme could make a comeback. Ferrari is leading the constructors competition. The final race at Watkins Glen is looking to be a nail-biter. Hope to see you at the race!

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2021 Silverstone by Steve

Rookie Manger Puts Team On Pole But Does Not Finish Race

Eight players showed up for the British Grand Prix. Due to the numbers each player only control one driver resulting in an eight car race.

Rookie manager Steve L. was hired by Matra and he promptly secured the pole position for J. Beltoise, but his lack of experience was soon evident. McLaren driver D. Hulme shared the front row with Beltoise along with P. Lovely. Hulme quickly assumed the lead, a position he would hold throughout the race. Unfortunatly, Beltoise and Lovely faded back.

Hulme drove a steady pace while the field battled behind him. As a result the McLaren driver gained bonus points for leading the first two laps.

McLaren driver D. Hulme maintains the lead at the beginning of the last lap.

His dominance was challenge in the final lap. Lotus driver E. Fittapaldi began an attack on Hulme at the start of the final lap. Ferrari, Brabham, and Tyrell drivers also jousted for position.

Fittapaldi catches Hulme at Maggots Curve.

Lotus Manager, John, had reconfigured the Lotus car between races and the Strong Downforce appeared to be paying off as the Lotus threatened to take the lead at the Maggots Curve. But the McLaren had an abundance of wear points and was able to maintain the lead through Becketts Corner and the Chapel Curve.

Hulme secures his lead on the final lap while Hill and Ickx battle for third and Stewart looms in fourth.

Between Stone Corner and Woodcote, Fittapaldi once again closed the gap, but wasn’t able to pass Hulme. Hill and then Stewart slipped by Ickx.

Hulme, Fittapaldi, and Hill shoot out of the Woodcote Chicane heading for the finish line!

As the leaders crossed the finish line, Beltoise crashed in Woodcote.

Matra driver Beltoise crashes in Woodcote Chicane.

Hulme finished first closely followed by Fittapaldi, Hill, Stewart. Ferrari finished fifth, Lovely VW sixth, and March seventh. Silverstone had the closest top 4 finish this season.

Congratulations to Travis for his second win, John for his first podium finish this season, and Terry for his consecutive podium finish!

Race results follow:

1st Travis (D.Hulme) 80/40/20/160/5**S
2nd John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 40/60/40/180/4 S
3rd Terry (G. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5 S
4th Den (J. Stewart) 40/60/40/180/4 S
5th Steve (J. Ickx) 60/60/20/180/4 S
6th Ray G. (P. Lovely) 60/40/40/160/5
7th Ray R. (N. Galli) 60/40/20/160/6 W
CR Steve L. (J. Beltoise) 80/40/20/140/6

Next race is scheduled for 1 September at Monza!

Hope to see you at the race.