K-CLASS VAPES THUNDER ENDURO ROUND 3 – ROAD ATLANTA 17th JULY 2018
CAL’S CRAZY ROAD TO VICTORY
Carcrazycal wins on debut ~ 11th only for Nikemikerules but he extends series lead ~ CelticFox superb run to second ~ Bradders & Rangersrick get airbourne ~ Weebilly on the podium again ~ 22 car grid and great overtaking
22 cars lined up for the third round, with a few like CQR Rob, Bradderstig, RangersRick and WeeBilly returning from Silverstone, plus with some new entries as well. Carcrazycal and the Sauber team had taken over the Alfa Romeo seen on Media Day, whilst Team Hard made its debut in a smart looking BMW M3. Testing had shown Cal to be the favourite, although he was set to line up last on the grid, whilst on the front row, Nikemikerules was looking downbeat. The Pi success was going to hit him hard here with the long back straights, and he believed he was 30mph down on some and over 2 seconds slower than when the car was at 750Pi.
Championship leader chased by the race winner early on.
On pole was BMR Sutton, and he was hoping for a good start, and had stated before the race that Mike may hold a few up through the twisty section and give him a chance to make a break. BMR Sutton did get his good start from pole, chased into the first corner by CelticFox, who went around the outside of a fast starting Kenty. Nikemike was shuffled down to 4th, doing well to hold the car as it had a real tank slapper on. Down through the esses Kenty got it all wrong, and hit the tyre wall hard. Mike was now challenging Celtic, but slight contact between them allowed Pie Key through and saw Celtic drop to 6th with Mike right behind. On to the back straight Sutton managed to get two wheels onto the dirt and in a flash Pie Key was through into the lead, the KRR Racing driver doing superbly to avoid the wall.
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Pie Key crossed the line at the end of lap 1 in first, chased had by Sutton, the three Fords of Devil, Mad and Kinky, the green Focus a rocket ship down the back straight. Behind these three in 6th was Celtic, leading the Hyundai of Penfold who had a mega first lap, which was in complete contrast to Mike behind, who had Major Raver and CarcrazyCal completing the top 10. Not all were lucky to find a safe passage through lap 1, firstly Captain Storer got far too hot into the final chicane, delaying himself and WeeBilly, whilst Bradders, Rangersrick, Wambogini and Hoppers were runningr 4 a breast down the back straight. Over the slight brow all 4 slightly took off and joined in the middle, Rangersrick rolling the Lancia down the grass like Brazilian footballer Neymar when touched at the World Cup, whilst Bradderstig was going for the more elegant backwards bunny hop.
Sutton was keen to remove Pie Key for the lead, and on lap 3 he did so, but behind him was the Alfa and Cal, and even Sutton knew his lead would be short lived, and it was to be the case on lap 6 as the Sauber run car took the lead, moving quickly in to a comfortable lead.
Cal pitted on lap 16, and this allowed CelticFox to take the lead, for the next couple of laps the Dodge used the clear track to good effect and the independent runner was looking to make up the time needed to come out in second. Sutton was aiding this cause, as the Lancia was making slight errors and this now meant he had fallen behind WeeBIlly. Billy was making good progress in the Mercedes after a lowly grid slot and was moving away in third, clear of Bradderstig. Bradders had stopped a little earlier than most, and this had helped in giving him a bit of clear road to make up the time, after some battling early on with the likes of Nikemike
Team Hard and lead driver Diboor were a welcome addition to the grid.
Another running really well was Devils in 6th, the Ford having jumped Pie Key in the stops and running away from the Nissan, and homing in on Sutton for a top 5 finish. Sutton made this easier on lap 28, as he went off, the slightest of damage, and dropping him back into the hands of the Nissan. These two now spent the last few laps battling superbly, and tripping over each other in the process, allowing Devil to escape but bringing Major Raver in to the mix. Raver had tried to do a one stop, but it hadn’t worked, he pitted on lap 28 and with fresher tyres than the rest was flying. Sutton and Pie Key made contact down before the back straight slowing them both, Raver now on latched on to the back of the pair and was looking for a way past, tough but fair defending left Raver with only the grass available to overtake and a slide lost him momentum needed, Sutton holding on for 7th.
Out front and Cal reeled off the remaining laps for victory, very comfortable, but now knowing his Pi is dropping. For CelticFox who had been drowning in bad luck, this was to be no bad day or good fortune either, the Black Dodge took second place deservedly after a fantastic fast error free drive, so quick in the latter stages that he will find himself on the front row next week at Long Beach. Third place for the second time this season was Billy. Billy didn’t have the pace of the front two, but was overjoyed to grab the podium and some of his overtaking was breathtaking, on two occasions mugging not one car, but two at the same time. Bradderstig did well to salvage 4th after the first lap fun and games, and happy that Team Cheetah have improved their championship lead. First of the AWD cars home was Devil Lord, who seemed a lot happier than last week in Germany. Devil lacked any mistakes and with that and his strong pace, left Road Atlanta as Class A leader and joint Class leader to boot. Cerberus team mate Kinky had a more difficult day and ended up 10th. He was involved in a few more battles with his teammate, especially with CQR Rob in the later stages, the Escort and Volvo swapping paint and having a great time as per Silverstone. Rob was free of any late mechanical issues this time round and 9th place was a great reward for him and the small team from Plymouth.
A Big Pie Key got off to a flying start, leading BMR Sutton and the pack on lap 1
Behind them in 11th and 12th we found our two championship leaders. Mike’s race was nothing but eventful, the messy opening few corners, became a messy few opening laps as a mistake on lap 3 at the last corner saw him catch the tyre wall and dropping him for 7th down to 12th. Mike then got into a great battle with Bradders for a few laps, and then later on with Fkart as well, it may not have bought the trophies of the past 2 weeks, but he had to really work hard for the 11th place. He like FKart both gained massively with the big grid and the bonus Pi points that bought with it, so it was far from a bad day at the office for either. FKart had a great battle with Major Raver early on, and always seemed to be close and battling with other cars, in fact 12th was an impressive performance in a car of 715Pi.
13th was the second DART Ferrari of new boy Wambogini. Wambo was delayed early on in the first lap synchronised flying down the back straight, but then drove very strongly and quickly, lapping at the same pace as his team mate which bodes well for the remaining rounds. 14th and 16th were Diboor and Robraceruk. These two were never far from each other and were often found battling with other AM THORS runners. Rob seemed to struggle with a bit of pace in the Mazda, whist Diboor got stronger and stronger in the BMW. Sandwiching these two in 15th was Mad. Mad ran strongly early on, well in the top 10, the green Ford not only lively off the line, but also mega down the back straight, he did a great job of holding up a train of cars for many laps. Sadly though the thirst issues reappeared and he slipped down the order in need of a top up of fuel. RangersRick and the second KRR Lancia were not expected to be down in 17th, but he came off worst in the first lap fun. A pitstop for repairs was needed, but his pace afterwards was brilliant, a slight Pi increase and a third row start next week gives him a great chance of a top 3 place at Long Beach.
18th was Captain Storer in the sole Alert-It BMW M2. Storer started well, but left the braking far to late at the final chicane on lap 1 losing him time. He then had a good battle with AM sparring partners Diboor and Robraceruk, the three trading paint and positions in an entertaining battle, the car showing a bit of promise but still very new. Even with that promise, he and the team did not look happy at the end of the race, and they were the first to leave the paddock. 20th was Hoppers, who enjoyed the race and set a superb fastest lap in the 1.27s, showing the Lotus has bags of speed and potential. He had 19th stolen off him right at the end by the first of the DMR Hyundai’s of Penfold. After so much promise at Hockenheim, this was a difficult day for the team and the pair of Veloster’s. Penfold had an early off which required a stop and turned the race into a test session, but he seemed upbeat after the race and happy that he is learning a lot with the car. As for Kenty, we had no repeat of the top 6 form of a week ago as he really struggled for balance all race. Both cars should go well at the AWD friendly circuit next week.
Last but not least was Devilsbogeyman. Devils returned but with a Mercedes A45, totally under developed but he looked miles happier than he had in the Subaru two weeks earlier. Sadly he didn’t quite make the finish, but with more time with the car he will be closer to the runners ahead.
So Mike leads the title comfortably, and happy in the knowledge that his rivals are getting closer to his Pi if not his points lead. Next week we are staying in America at Long Beach, a track that may favour the AWD cars. It will also favour anyone who races without contact with the walls. Don’t be surprised to see a lot of shocks and surprises in the results.
Result After 50 Laps
1. CARCRAZYCAL - ALFA ROMEO GUILIA - 50MINS 32.086 secs
2. CelticFox - Dodge Viper - +46seconds
3. Weebilly - Mercedes 190E - +1minute 8secs
4. Bradderstig - Honda NSX - +1minute 27secs
5. Devil Lord - Ford Escort Cosworth +1 Lap
6. A Big Pie Key - Nissan GTR - +1 Lap
7. BMR Sutton - Lancia 037 - +1 Lap
8. Major Raver - Ferrari 288 GTO - +1 Lap
9. CQR Rob - Volvo S60 - +1 Lap
10. Kinkycowboys - Ford Escort - +1 Lap
11. NIKEMIKERULES - Mazda RX7 - + 1 Lap
12. Fkart5 - Mazda RX7 - +1 Lap
13. Wambogini - Ferrari 288 GTO - +1 Lap
14. Diboor - BMW M3 - +1 Lap
15. Mad - Ford Focus - +1 Lap
16. Robraceruk - Mazda RX7 - +1 Lap
17. RangersRick - Lancia 037 - +1 Lap
18. Captain Storer - BMW M2 - + 1 Lap
19. Penfold - Hyundai Veloster - +1 Lap
20. Hoppers - Lotus Evora - +1 Lap
21. Kenty - Hyundai Veloster - +2 Laps
22. Devilsbogeyman - Mercedes Benz A45 - DNF
CelticFox was in inspired form finishing second place
FASTEST LAP Carcrazycal 1minute 24.369seconds (NEW LAP RECORD)
The race was full of close racing through the field.
WeeBilly was overtaking for fun, 3 cars in one move here.