K-CLASS THUNDER ENDURO ROUND 2 HOCKENHEIM – 25th SEPTEMBER 2018
RML TOP OF THE BILL IN GERMANY
WeeBilly takes his first victory ~ CQR Rob runners up ~ Only RangersRick is able to fight with RML and DARE twins ~ Kenty a promising 6th in the Kia ~ ABigPieKey quick but slowed by damage ~ Badbeat wins the AM class ~ Big accident before the first corner ~ Classic WTCC entertains as support race.
Last week NIKEMIKERULES, this week WeeBilly, as the RML TVR dominated the race
As per the previous 11 races, the Thunder Enduro rolled up in the paddock to clear skies and a dry race. The entry was once again large, for although Alert-IT and Red Bull racing were missing, we had a second RML TVR for WeeBilly and the debut of the new Team HARD Mercedes in the hands of RGreenwood. The support race this week was the Classic WTCC, which entertained the crowd greatly. A scrappy first lap saw a number of accidents that delayed many; including pre race favourite Bradderstig in the Ford Sierra Cosworth. It was another Cosworth though that took advantage early on, as NitroRushmini shot off into the lead, before the fantastic JPS BMW 635csi of NikeMikerules caught and overtook him.
Second behind Mike at the flag, was WeeBilly in the BMW M3, whilst a brilliant third was the first of the ProAM runners in Kenty, who flew in the FWD VW Sirocco. Championship wise and Devilsbogeyman took the AM class in the Mercedes 190 from Hoppers in another BMW, this time the later M3 E36 version, which left these two top of the overall championship standings.
21 cars lined up for the main event, with Mike on Pole from Bradderstig, but both knew that the Nissan of RangersRick behind them would be lightening off the green light, which it was. Down to the first corner and the yellow KRR Racing car led, from the two DARE Ferrari’s who muscled past Mike and the very fast starting DMR Racing Kia Stinger of Kenty. Kenty’s fast start wasn’t without problems for others. The West Country driver went for a gap that soon became 4 abreast with NitroRush, CelticFox and ABigPieKey, and as the track narrowed, the Kia got a wheel slightly on the grass spinning him into the side of the Corvette, which in turn saw contact made with Celtic and ABigPieKey. The contact with Nitro saved Kenty from a complete spin himself and straightened the car, but whilst he and Nitro got away with no damage, the same could not be said for others. Celtic and PieKey hit the pitwall hard and this bounced them into the path of other runners, Robraceruk doing well to avoid, although Major Raver wasn’t so lucky, the DART Alfa hit the Aston Martin at full pelt straight in the side. These three crawled around to the pits, it could have been 4, but lightening reactions by WeeBilly saw him slam on the brakes, and although delayed he was through the first corner unscathed.
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RangersRick was in a real hurry out front and led the cars across the line at the end of lap 1, followed by Mike in second, then the two DARE Ferrari’s, Bradders ahead of CQR Rob, 5th was Kenty followed by the two Cerberus Audi’s, those being challenged by the two RML Development Lotus’s and then WeeBilly, already into the top 10. The first lap mayhem was far from over. BMR Sutton had made a decent start in the second Nissan, but unlike the AWD version of his teammate, he was struggling for tyre warm-up and the car was understeering. On the run down to the stadium he went off, and rejoined in the path of NitroRushmini, who had been lucky to get away without damage earlier in the lap, was not so lucky this time and both cars were damaged and delayed. In 12th Devilsbogeyman had made a decent start to lead the AM class from Hoppers and Badbeat, but sadly we were missing the second Kia of pre-race AM favourite Penfold, steering issues seeing the car stuck on the side of the track and out after 50 yards, a bitter blow to him and the team.
Out front and Rick was doing a superb job of leading, Mike was now up to second but not able to live with the Nissan early on, his focus on the Ferrari of CQR Rob behind. Rob had passed his teammate on lap 2, Bradderstig was playing the team game superbly, knowing his sister car was faster in higher Pi this week. Bradders soon had his mirrors full of the second RML TVR, as WeeBilly was already up to 5th, lapping over a second quicker than the rest of the field. The TVR was soon through to 4th and then followed CQR Rob passed his team mate and up for second. . It took him 2 laps to then catch Rick to take the lead, and he bought CQR Rob with him, who dropped the Nissan down a further place. In clean air the RML TVR was showing
RangersRick got the drop on the field to lead them into the first corner.
the same dominant form as it had at Brands Hatch, and he was rapidly leaving the Ferrari behind. Mike was now chasing after the KRR Nissan, and in turn leaving Bradders behind in 5th place that had managed to do the defensive work and was now running on his own. Kenty was in 6th place but being caught by Robraceruk and Kinkycowboys. Kinky was running so much better and looked like he was ready to challenge for second in the class, when a wheel on the grass saw the Audi roll, and luckily for him allowing him to make it to the pits for repairs. Behind them was the recovering ABigPieKey who was running at a superb pace, only beaten by the leader and making up for his first lap stop for repairs.
WeeBilly was the first of the leaders to stop at half distance, leaving CQR Rob for a few laps of glory, in fact some in the RML team were wondering if the DARE Ferrari’s could do the race without a stop and for a while it looked that way, especially as the second car of Bradders hadn’t stopped and was now doing a very good job of slowing those who had. CQR Rob finally pitted on lap 20, much to the relief of RML on the pitwall and his teammate a lap later. WeeBIlly was back in front and now clear by over 25seconds, CQR Rob back in second place, and nearly ten seconds ahead of Mike who was being kept very honest by RangersRick. All the crowd’s attention was on this battle for the final podium slot, the TVR quicker on the straights, the Nissan through the stadium, but Rick was unable to close the seconds up needed to get close enough to attack. Both were happy with the results, for Mike it was a massive result for RML in the team’s championship, for Rick it gave him a lead he could only dream of over a week ago in the class. Out front, and WeeBilly’s only worry was whether backmarkers had seen the fast approaching TVR Sagaris, thankfully for him they did each time and he reeled off the remaining laps to keep up his 100% podium record, but take his first ever visit to the top step. Second was a very deserving CQR Rob, who admitted after the late drama at Brands Hatch, of hearing noises in the car over the last few laps, and having a massive sense of relief as he crossed the line. Bradders bought the second Ferrari home in 5th, playing the team game perfectly, and setting us up for a fantastic team battle this season between DARE and RML. The battle for 6th was as entertaining as the battle for third as Kenty did all he could to fend off the Lotus of Robraceruk. The Lotus is proving to be a great car for the team and Rob hounded the Kia lap after lap, Kenty is a bit of star around here was able to hold the yellow Espirit off and grab second as well in Class A behind Rick. Mad in the sister RML Lotus didn’t quite have the pace of his teammate and came home in 11th, but it was a good brace of points for the team once again.
. It looked like all of these would be beaten by ABigPieKey and the Alfa 33, who was flying along after his early stop, and in fact if it hadn’t been for the damage on lap 1, he may not have needed to stop again and given Billy something to worry about. The CK Motorsport car was on target for the top 6th still even after all its drama, but a late scrape with the wall slowed him and saw him finish down in 9th. 8th place belonged to the Cerberus Audi of Devil Lord. The car still isn’t on the pace of its rivals in the AWD Class but, the reigning Class A champion drove a very sensible race to bring home the points, and keep Robracer and Kenty honest in the battle for 6th.
The start of the pile up in the first 200 yards.
For his team mate it was another disappointing day, Kinky doing well to recover to 14th after his earlier dramas.
The top 10 was rounded out by another driver playing the catch up game, as NitroRush did well get himself where he was and believing he could have been in the battle for 6th had it not been for that first lap dramas. 12th and 13th were CelticFox and Major Raver. Celtic struggled with the Aston Martin after that first lap damage, and wasn’t happy with the balance of the car, whilst Raver suffered engine issues late in the race that needed a third pit stop, the DART team bemused by the lack of consistency in lap times with the Alfa Romeo.
In 15th was the winner of the AM class, Badbeat. Badbeat drove a fantastic race in the SMEG Racing Mercedes A45, overtaking Hoppers for the lead in class on lap 3 and driving away to a comfortable class victory. Hoppers was equally delighted to finish second in his Porsche, although he is still struggling with the fantastic looking 911, he is racking up the points. Devilsbogeyman was third in the class, a few dramas' left him unclassified, but his A45 certainly has the pace to match his rivals. Between Badbeat and Hoppers was the Subaru of AtomStew. Stew was still struggling to find the consistency with the car and treated the race as a test session and hoping for a change of fortunes in Italy, especially at Monza where he should be fast. Another running but not classified at the end was RGreenwood, The new Team HARD Mercedes was fast in a straight line, but handled terribly, although the driver was very positive that with a bit of testing and set up work, good results will come to the great sounding car. And lastly, was the retired former lap record holder, BMR Sutton. The RWD Nissan 370z, looks a completely different animal to his team mates AWD version, and Sutton retired the car whilst running well outside the points in 20th place, not where you would expect to find the reigning teams champion.
So a second win of the season for the RML TVR’s, and Mike extends his championship lead. WeeBilly was delighted with the victory and equally thanking his stars he was able to avoid the mayhem at the start. RML lead the teams but know they are in a real battle with DARE. The teams and drivers now head to Italy double header, with next week at Mugello, knowing that the Pi’s are in full swing and picking a winner will be very hard.
Result After 31 Laps
1. WeeBilly TVR Sagaris 55minutes 04.261secs
2. CQR Rob Ferrari 360 +39secs
3. Nikemikerules TVR Sagaris +52secs
4. RangersRick Nissan 370z +55secs
5. Bradderstig Ferrari 360 +1min 15secs
6. Kenty Kia Stinger +1min 35secs
7. Robraceruk Lotus Espirit +1min 37secs
8. Devil Lord Audi TT +1min 40secs
9. ABigPieKey Alfa 33 +1 Lap
10. NitroRushmini Corvette 02 +1 Lap
11. Mad2210 Lotus Espirit +1 Lap
12. CleticFox Aston Martin +1 Lap
13. Major Raver Alfa Romeo 8c +1 Lap
14. Kinkycowboys Audi TT +1 Lap
15. Badbeat Mercedes A45 +2 Laps
16. AtomStew Subaru BRZ +2 Laps
17. Hopperswwfc Porsche 911 +3 Laps
18. RGreenwood Mercedes +4 Laps
19. Devilsbogeyman Mercedes A45 +6 Laps
20. BMR Sutton Nissan 370z DNF
21. Penfold Kia Stinger DNF
Kenty was impressive in the Kia Stringer finishing in 6th
FASTEST LAP: CQR ROB 1 minute 45.783 seconds (New Lap Record)
Hoppers leads Badbeat in the AM Class battle
It was so nearly a different story for WeeBilly at the start.