Tag: Historic F1

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Race Report – Speed Circuit Monaco 2022

Monaco Starting Grid 2022

Eight players showed for the race held on April using Steve K.’s spectacular Monaco map. Among the players was rookie manager John N. leading the Eiffeland team. All agreed to limit the number of drivers to one for each team.

Peterson sat on pole. For the first time this season, last year’s champion, Stewart, started in the first row. Hulme and Ganely occupied the second row followed by Fittpaldi and Stommelin. Reutemann and Galli were ready to go in the last row.

The Race Begins!

Peterson jumped into the lead followed by Stewart. Reutemann quickly moved his Brabham from 8th to 5th position.  Hulme challenged the leaders during the first lap.

The race heats up during lap 1.

Stewart held off Hulme while Peterson moved the March further ahead. The Brabham and the Malboro BRM battled for position with BRM holding 4th position through the tunnel. Stommelin positioned himself to threaten Reuteman heading into the tunnel.

Perterson had a commanding lead going into the 2nd lap. Hulme failed to pass Stewart and his McLaren began to falter.  Stommelin got by Ruetemann, but started to experience some engine trouble.

Peterson dominates in the March at Monaco during lap 2.

During the second lap, Peterson extended his lead with Stewart on his heals. Fittipaldi charged up to take the 4th position and threatened Hulme. Ganely lost momentum and began to loose positions. Stommelin’s Eiffeland trailed smoke and he also fell back.

The fight for fourth during the 2nd lap at Monaco.

Peterson maintained an incredible lead. Stewart gave his all to stay with Peterson, but could not pass him. Stommelin, Reutemann, and Hulme battled for 4th going three wide heading into the Gazometre. Reutemann made a daring move taking an inside line in the corner that resulted in him seizing 3rd position from Fittapaldi.

Field begins to spread out during the 3rd and final lap at Monaco.

Heading into the final lap, most of the cars were spent. Stommelin headed into the pits with a damaged engine that was on the verge of exploding. Peterson stretched his lead even further. Reutemann locked in 3rd place. Hulme passed Fittapaldi. Fittapaldi then struggled to keep 5th. Galli managed to pass Ganley through the Casino Corner.

March wins at Monaco 2022!

Stewart made one more charge, but it was not enough and Peterson took the checkered flagg to win the race. Brabham’s Reutermann finished in 3rd followed by McLaren’s Hulme. Race details follow:

1st Travis (R. Peterson) 80/20/20/160/6** S
2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/20/20/160/6 S
3rd Terry (C. Reutemann) 40/60/20/160/6 S
4th Ray G. (D. Hulme) 80/20/40/120/6 S
5th Steve (N. Galli) 60/40/20/160/6 S
6th Ray R. (H. Ganley) 60/40/40/140/6
7th John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 60/20/20/180/6 S
DNF John N. (Stommelin) 60/40/40/160/5 S

Hope to see at the next race on 18 May 2022 at the Rheims circuit.

Posted on

Race Report – Speed Circuit Jarama 2022

Tabletop Racing Club’s first race at Jarama.

A great deal of speculation surrounds the abrupt departure of Steve K. from Ferrari. Did he have a falling-out with Enzo? Steve K. quickly signed with the fledgling Martini Techno team. Ferrari hired Dan to replace Steve K. as their team manager. The stage was set for Jarama’s inaugural race.

Denny Hulme seized pole position with high hopes of repeating last month’s McLaren victory. Ferrari’s Jacki Ickx started beside him in the front row. The season’s championship leaders, Fittapaldi and Peterson, occupied the front row. Last year’s champion, Stewart sat dead last in the blue #1 Elf.

Note: due to the number of teams, each team was limited to one driver.

During the first lap McLaren and Ferrari battled for the lead. Lotus tried to push forward, but was kept at bay. The Red #8 March followed close behind as Fittapaldi drove conservatively. Martini’s driver Galli stayed close behind the March and was followed by Schuppen in the white and red Marlboro BRM. Stewart lagged far behind.

Hulme was first to complete the initial lap and looked unbeatable, but the first lap was costly and he began to slow going into lap two. The the Ferrari pounced.

Meanwhile the two drivers who had started in the last row, Reutemann and Stewart had quietly moved up through the pack. Hulme slipped further back. The Ferrari completed the second lap just ahead of the STP March.

Travis’ strategy and patients paid off as the STP March car had more wear points going into the third lap than the leader. Martini Techno also began to push and move up during the last lap, but Galli ran into some bad luck when his car’s brakes failed going into the final corner.

Fittapaldi finished first and secured a sizable lead in the championship for himself and team STP March. Congratulations to Travis and a well run race. Ickx finished second followed by Reutemann marking Ferrari’s and Brabham’s first podium finishes of the season.

The final standings follow:

1st Travis (R. Peterson) 80/20/20/160/6 S
2nd Dan (J. Ickx) 80/60/20/140/5 * S
3rd Terry (C. Reutemann) 40/60/20/160/6 S
4th Den (J. Stewart) 40/60/20/160/6 S
5th John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 80/20/40/160/5 S
6th Ray G. (D. Hulme) 80/20/40/160/5* S
7th Ray R. ((V. Schuppen) 60/40/40/140/6 S
DNF (Brakes) Steve (N. Galli) 60/60/20/140/6 S

Next race is scheduled for April 6 at Monaco. Hope to see you at the races!

Posted on

Race Report – Speed Circuit Kyalami 2022

The South African GP Challenge

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.