Twelve cars, including season champion Ronnie Peterson, occupied the grid at the US Grand Prix.
Hulme in the the white McLaren jumped of the front row and took an early lead. Stewart, who started on pole, battled Hulme ahead of the pack throughout the first lap with Peterson on their heals. The Blue #1 Tyrrell completed the first lap ahead of the McLaren.
Stewart leads start of second lap at Watkins Glen 2022.
During lap 2, Stewart and Hulme continued an epic battle not only for the race but also for second place in the championship. The Tyrrell and the McLaren set a blazing pace. Meanwhile Galli in the red Martini Techo began to move up. The McLaren faltered and Hulme was passed by Peterson and Galli on the last corner of Lap 2.
Stewart clears the line ahead of the pack at the start of lap 3 of the US Grand Prix.
Galli made a run at the leader while Peterson and Hulme battled for third. Then Peterson blasted past Galli. Stewart’s Tyrrell slowed and they began to close the gap with the leader. Galli slipped into the inside of Stewart going into the last Hard Right to take the lead. Galli, Stewart, and Hulme were 3 wide across the finish line with Galli taking the win!
Three wide across the finish line at Watkins Glen 2022.
Race details follow:
1st Steve (N. Galli) 60/40/20/160/4 S 2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/40/20/160/4 S** 3rd Ray G. (D. Hulme) 60/20/40/160/6 S 4th Travis (R. Peterson) 60/40/20/160/4 S 5th Dave (M. Buettler) 60/20/20/180/4 S 6th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/20/160/4 S 7th Terry (G. Hill) 60/40/20/160/4 S 8th Steve (D. Bell) 60/40/20/160/4 S 9th Dave M. (J. Oliver) 80/20/20/160/4 S 10th Travis (N. Lauda) 60/40/20/160/4 S 11th Ray G. (P. Revson) 60/20/20/160/4 12th Den (F. Cevert) 60/20/20/160/4 S
The race concluded the 2022 Speed Circuit season our 12th running of the series. Congratulation to Travis for leading Ronnie Peterson and the STP March racing team to a resounding championship victory.
In 2023 we will race with teams from the 1973 F1 season. Hope to see you at the races.
A rules change occurred before the race began. Instead of using skill points to by back failed dice rolls, the 1 skill point could be used in lieu of a dice roll. As expected, this had an impact on racing strategy.
For the second year in a row 14 drivers occupied the grid at the South African GP. Team McLaren appeared with a new livery and reconfigured cars hoping to redeem themselves after a poor showing at Argentina. McLaren’s Denny Hulme claimed the pole and shared the front row with Brabham drivers Hill and Reutemann. Fitapaldi held 4th position in his JPS Lotus while the other series leader Peterson started in the row behind him. Who would break their 15 point tie?
Marlboro BRM hired Ray R. to lead their team and they were the only team not running strong down-force cars. But Marlboro garnered the 5th and 7th grid positions. The second row also included Ferrari driver Regazzoni in the 6th slot. Last season’s champion, Jacky Stewart was in 7th position.
As the cars roared away from the start-line line, Fittapaldi launch through the Brabhams and quickly passed Hulme. Fittapaldi was leading out of the Jukskei Sweep closely followed by Hulme. The two drivers repeated this pattern throughout laps 1 and 2.
Clubhouse Bend and The Esses proved to be a very challenging section of track for those behind the leaders. Many drivers found themselves having to emergency brake in order to avoid collisions. Fittapaldi and Hulme exited Leenkop Bend ahead the other drivers and established a large gap going down the front straightway.
Each group exiting the Leenkop Bend ahead of the other created a gap essentially stratifying the field into a leader segment, a middle segment, and an all others segment. This stratification proved difficult to overcome as it became reinforced with every run through Leenkop Bend. Drivers attempting to move up to the next group strained their vehicles to the limit.
Fitapaldi gained a bonus point for being first to complete the first lap followed by Hulme in his slipsteam. Then they raced side-by-side for most of the second lap. March driver Peterson had work his way through the pack and slowly began to reel in the leader group. Other drivers struggled to gain a footing. The teams burned through wear and skill points at a tremendous rate. Some began to experience brake and engine damage.
Then Regazzoni crashed hard in The Esses. He may be out for the next 5 races. Ferrari manager Steve said he is considering replacing Regazzoni with Mario Andretti.
Fittapaldi Stayed in the lead and then Regazzoni Crashed!
Once again Fittapaldi crossed the line first to start the final lap. Peterson was getting closer. Stewart dashed down the front straight, but it was not enough and his wear and skill points were soon spent. Brabham’s Hill began to fall back with a damaged engine. Peterson teammate, Lauda struggled with an ever failing brake system.
During the 3rd and final lap, the leaders raced side-by-side until Hulme passed Fittapaldi going into the Clubhouse Bend. Then Peterson beat Fittapaldi exiting the Leenkop Bend and threatened the leader. Hulme and Peterson pushed their engines pass the red-line as they charged down front strait heading for the finish line.
Peterson’s engine misfired and a thin line of smoke trailed behind his car. The McLaren held steady and Hulme was victorious for the second season in a row at Kyalami (under two different managers). Peterson finished a split second ahead of Fittapaldi. Stewart finished 4th followed by Revson.
Although he did not win the race, Peterson took a 1 point lead ahead of Fittapaldi in the drivers championship. Race details follow:
1st Ray G. (D. Hulme) 80/40/40/160/5 S 2nd Travis (R. Peterson) 40/60/40/180/4 S 3rd John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 60/60/60/160/6 **S 4th Den (J. Stewart) 60/60/40/180/4 S 5th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/40/40/160/5 S 6th Travis (N. Lauda) 40/60/40/180/4 S 7th Steve (J. Ickx) 60/60/20/180/4 S 8th Ray R. (H. Ganley) 60/40/40/140/6 9th Den (F. Cevert) 40/60/20/180/4 S 10th Terry (G. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5 S 11th Ray G. (P. Revson) 40/40/40/160/5 S 12th Ray R. (V. Schuppen) 60/40/40/140/6 13th John (J. Walker) 40/60/40/140/4 S CR5 Steve (C. Regazzoni) 60/60/20/180/4 S
Next race is Jarama. Thanks, hope to see you at the race.
Humanitarian Aid Garners Good Karma For the Winner!
Four ships blasted off from Terra to start the race.
Ship enter orbit after blasting off from Terra.
John, Steve, and Den set course toward Mercury. They planned to complete the round trip course via Mercury, Venus, Mars and back to Terra. Terry was the only pilot to plot a course to Mars with hopes of taking the Mars, Venus, Mercury, and then Terra route.
John Dropped medical supplies at Mercury and gained bonus racing points. John, Steve, and Den pushed their ships while trying to out maneuver one another. While on the long run to Mars, Terry handled his ship conservatively.
Terry placed supplies for miners in orbit around Mars. Unfortunately the explosives included in the supplies were live. Because of the hazard he created, Terry did not receive bonus points. Fortunately, John, Steve, and Den were able to avoid the “explosives” that look suspiciously like a mine orbiting Mars.
Position after Mars.Terry takes the route less traveled.John leads with the final destination in site.
John lead most of the race. He ran an almost perfect race including a successful humanitarian drop. As a result he won!
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!
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
Six teams lined up on the starting at Monaco. Ferrari’s J. Ickx once again held the pole position. Lotus driver E. Fittapaldi started in position 2 and Ferrari driver C. Regazzoni completed the front row. On the start Lovely advanced past Fittapaldi and Regazzoni and challenged Ickx down the Beau Rivage setting a blistering pace.
Ickx and Lovely lead the pack down Beau Rivage.
The slowest segment of the course, featuring the Station Hairpin, compressed the field and allowed the leaders to build a gap.
Ickx and Lovely fly into the Tunnel leaving the field behind.
Ickx crossed the finish line ahead of Lovely to complete the 1st lap. Lovely VW team’s J. Biden held last place 27 spaces behind the leader! The field was spread out; Ickx and Lovely looked unstoppable.
Remarkable gaps appeared in the field at the end of lap 1.
During the second lap, the other strong down force configured cars began to close in on the leaders while leaving the rest of the pack behind. The strong down force group was out of the tunnel and through the Chicane du Port before the others had reached the Tunnel straight.
Ickx leads the second lap at Monaco.
Ickx was once again first across the finish line, but team Ferrari was spent and rapidly began to fall off pace. At the beginning of the 3rd lap, Lovely, Stewart, and team Brabham pressed the leader. Team Ferrari was in dire straits as the prancing ponies stumbled through the Station Hairpin.
Stewart makes an inside move while Lovely gains a positional advantage at the Station Hairpin.
Lovely and Stewart passed Ickx just before the tunnel.
Lovely takes the lead on lap 3 at Monaco.
Stewart closed the gap on Lovely. Brabham’s replacement driver Shenken slipped past Regazzoni. Stewart was forced to take the inside lane at the Gazometre and almost lost control, but emerged out of the corner ahead of Lovely and won the race. Lovely followed to take second. Shenken passed Ickx to gain the third spot on the podium.
Stewart is set to win Monaco.
Race results follow:
1st Den (J. Stewart) 60/60/40/160/5 S 2nd Ray G. (P. Lovely) 80/40/40/160/5 S 3rd Terry (T. Shenken) 60/60/40/140/5 S 4th Steve (J. Ickx) 80/40/20/160/5 S 5th Steve (C. Regazzoni) 80/40/20/160/5 S 6th Den (F. Cevert) 40/60/40/160/4 S 7th Terry (G. Hill) 80/40/20/140/5 S 8th John H. (R. Fittapaldi) 80/40/60/140/5 9th John H. (R. Wisell) 60/40/40/140/5 10th Ray G. (J. Biden) 40/40/40/160/5 S 11th Ray R. (N. Galli) 60/40/40/160/6 12th Ray R. (R. Peterson) 40/60/20/140/6
The next event is Steve’s new Silverstone course and is scheduled for 4 August 2021.
