Race Report – Speed Circuit Kyalami 2022
Speed Circuit Race – Jarama
Speed Circuit Race – Kyalami
Race Report – Speed Circuit Buenos Aires 2022
Thrilling Season Opener!
During the 2022 season we will be racing with the teams that participated in the 1972 formula season. Steve returns to manage the 2021 constructor’s championship team, Ferrari. Den once again leads Elf Tyrell, Terry spearheads MRD Brabham, and John steers the helm of JP Lotus. Travis moves to STP March. Yardly McLaren filled the void left by Travis by hiring Ray G.
The season opener took place in Argentina at the Buenos Aires circuit. Steve built the track board and it is the first time the club raced on the circuit. The narrow fast circuit proved to be a challenge to both drivers and vehicles.
Lotus driver Fittipaldi took pole position on the 12 driver starting grid. Elf’s Stewart, last years champion started in 10th. Ferrari drivers also started near the back of the pack. McLaren was the only team not using a strong down force setup and Hulme started in the front row next to Fittipaldi.
During the first lap Fittipaldi stayed in the lead and positioned himself coming out of the Cajon turn to pull far ahead of the pack. Stewart and Peterson began moving up while Luada moved into 3rd place.
Fittipaldi continue to beat the pack out of the corners and built a commanding lead going into lap 2. Hulme faltered as his car chewed through wear points. Ickx remained in 3rd while Lauda moved up to 2nd.
Fittipaldi dominated the second lap. The remaining positions were highly contested.
Once again Fittapaldi was first to cross the finish line to begin the last lap earning his second bonus point in the race, but his wear points were running low. Soon, Stewart and Peterson made a run against the slowing leader.
Stewart backed off, but Peterson pressed forward catching Fittipaldi and passing him in the last corner garnering victory!
Peterson was followed by Fittipaldi and Stewart. Congratulations Travis.
Race details follow:
1st Travis (R. Peterson) 40/60/20/180/5 S
2nd John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 80/60/40/160/4 **S
3rd Den (J. Stewart) 40/60/20/180/5 S
4th Travis (N. Lauda) 60/60/20/180/4 S
5th Steve (J. Ickx) 60/60/20/180/4 S
6th Terry (G. Hill) 60/60/40/160/4 S
7th Den (F. Cevert) 40/60/20/180/5 S
8th Terry (C. Reutemann) 60/60/40/160/4 S
9th Steve (C. Regazzoni) 60/60/20/180/4 S
10th Ray G. (D. Hulme) 60/40/40/160/6
11th John (J. Walker) 60/40/40/160/4 S
12th Ray G. (P. Revson) 40/40/40/160/5
Next event is at Kyalami. See you at the races.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Speed Circuit Race – Monza
Season 11 Race #4
Race Report – Speed Circuit 2020 Kyalami
First Race of the new decade! Strong Down-Force Cars Dominate Kyalami.
Because of the incredible turn-out, teams were allowed only one car in Kyalami race. The new down-force rules were introduced. Four out of eight teams opted for normal down-force settings. On the other hand, Tyrell used weak down-force and Ferrari, Volkswagen, and Lotus opted for strong.
The eight cars that lined up on the starting grid were managed by veteran players and there were no rookies in the field.
Tyrell’s Jackie Stewart and Owen BRM’s Jacky Oliver lined up on the front row. With its acceleration and speed advantage the Tyrell car looked like a sure winner, but the car would be plagued by instability in the corner sections throughout the race.
During the first lap, Oliver began to pull away while the pack bunched up in The Esses.
Lotus driver Jochem Rindt took advantage of his car’s superior down-force setup to charge through the corners and catch Oliver on the front straight, but Oliver crossed the line first to earn a bonus point.
During lap 2, Rindt took the lead and Volkswagen’s Pete Lovely slipped by the field of competitors. Ferrari also dodged through the pack. The strong down-force cars set a blistering pace.
At the beginning of lap 3 Rindt, Lovely, and Ickx sprinted away from a wear depleted field.
During the last lap, many players ran out of wear and luck. Oliver and Beltoise battled for fourth place and then Beltoise spun at Sunset Bend.
Meanwhile, Rindt took the lead through the Esses with Lovely and Ickx in hot pursuit.
Lovely made a daring move in Leeukop Bend and passed Rindt.
Lovely and Rindt ended up dead even after the kink and heading toward the finish line. The Ferrari was the only car near the the leaders.
Rindt powered his Lotus ahead of Lovely to win the race.
Final race results follow:
1st Den (J. Rindt) 60/60/20/180/4* S
2nd Ray G. P. Lovely) 60/40/40/160/5 S
3rd Steve (J. Ickx) 80/40/20/160/5 S
4th Terry (J. Oliver) 80/40/40/140/5
5th John H. (D. Gurney) 80/20/40/140/6
6th Dan (Beltoise) 80/40/20/160/5
7th Ray R. (Amon) 60/20/20/180/6
8th Travis (J. Stewart) 80/20/60/140/5 W
The race was completed in 27 turns with an average speed of 128.148 mph.
Thanks for the turn out and a fun night of racing.
Special kudos to Steve for painting the new cars and providing a new printing of the classic Kyalami track.
Next race is planned for Monaco in February 2020.
Race Report – Speed Circuit Season 2016 Finale at Mexico City
S. Moser started on pole ahead of 11 other drivers during the Mexican Grand Prix, but was unable to finish the race due to a suspension failure. Hahne bolted into lead on the first lap. Graham Hill battle his way to front and led the second and third laps winning the race and securing the championship. Denny Hulme finished one space behind Hill and was followed by Hahne. Hulme and Hahne also finished 2nd and 3rd in the championship.
Despite finishing second in the individual championship, Hulme’s team, McLaren, won the constructor’s title 4 points ahead of Lotus.
Click here for season details.
Speed Circuit Season 2017 starts in January.
Race Report – Speed Circuit 2016 Monza!
Eight drivers lined up on the grid for this year’s Monza race. Mclaren stalled at the start and was left far behind by the other racers. Hahne, Hill, and Hulme quickly pulled away from the pack and conducted an epic three way battle. Hulme slip-streamed Hahne to take the first lap and just barely held off Hill to secure the second. Hahne fell back during the last lap and Hulme fought Hill tooth and nail for the lead position. During the last lap, drivers began running out of wear and skill points. Hill went into the last two corners with no wear. He failed chance rolls in both corners and burned six skill points, but it was not enough. Hulme got through the last corner first and accelerated away for the win.
Clark maneuvered his way through the throng advancing from 7th to 4th position.
Unser, still healing injuries he received at Indy, drove into the next to last corner too fast and his suspension broke; he was not able to finish the race.
On the last lap, Attwood, Biden and McLaren lined up on the front straight. Attwood damaged his engine and Biden flew by him. McLaren slip-streamed Biden and passed him to secure 5th place.
Race results follow:
1st (3) Den (D. Hulme) 80/40/20/160/6**
2nd (2) Steve (G. Hill) 80/40/20/160/6
3rd (1) Ray G. (H. Hahne) 80/40/40/160/5
4th (7) Steve (J. Clark) 60/40/20/160/5
5th (4) Den (B. McLaren) 40/40/20/160/6
6th (5) Ray G. (J. Biden) 40/40/40/160/5
7th (6) Terry (Attwood) 60/60/40/160/4
DNF (8) Terry (B. Unser) 60/60/40/160/4
Graham Hill maintained his position as championship points leader. Check out the 2016 season standings here.
Note: Denny Hulme actually won the Monza F1 race in 1968.