THUNDER MAG - 28th MARCH 2019
Bradderstig starts his defence in style
Thunder Enduro Season 4 starts with a win for Bradderstig ~ Maj2012 takes the Classic WTCC title in Dubai ~ Bradderstig wins the other two Touring Car titles ~ Impressive week for J47TEE ~ Thunder Enduro AM battle a cracker ~ Beetle and TORC Touring Cars announced for the Sunday action.
Season 4 of the Thunder Enduro got under way at the Nurburgring in Germany.
Latest News
The Thunder Enduro sprung into life at the Nurburgring and there were a few surprises to the grid at the last minute. WeeBilly returned to the series and with the Honda NSX, last season in Season 1 with Team Cheetah. The expected return of Nikemikerules didn’t materialise, and the entry in Class A for AWD was surprising low, but will be interesting with no obvious favourite to win that title.
The Touring Car Sunday’s came to an end at Dubai Mountain on Sunday, and it was quickly announced that next season will see a 9 race calendar for the TORC Touring Cars and VW Beetles. These rounds will not clash with BTCC race days, and the admin team were quick to announce that Prague for host the Media night, including a race for the whacky VW Bus’s. Thrills and spills guaranteed.
Gossip
Rumours are that Hopperswwfc has gained sponsorship from Pampers for the rest of the season, after he was literally caught short in the pits in the Nurburgring. The Hoppers Sport driver had a new take on the saying “splash and dash”, the car though was doing the dash down the pitlane without the driver.
Rumours are that RML have more drivers than cars for the new TORC TC Season. The team are running the Ford UK Focus’s next season, and have entered a three car team, but 5 drivers claim to be driving the cars.
Thunder Enduro
The Support race for round 1 at the Nurburgring, was for the Citroen 2CV’s. The iconic French cars proved the usual amounts of fun and some surprises. WeeBilly on his first run in the cars charged through to win the race, having to overcome early race leader Maj2012 who went on to finish second. It was a difficult race for the two preseason favourites, as CQR Posh Rob and Bradderstig spent a bit of time fighting each other in the gravel and finished back in the pack. PRM Plato managed to grab third place, whilst class wins in ProAM and AM, went to EmpireMSport and Devilsboogeyman.
The Thunder Enduro race was held under clear skies and reigning Champion Bradderstig proudly displayed the number 1 on his brand new Mazda MX5. There was no stopping the champion who romped to victory, but he was keen to point out that days like this would be very rare this season. J47TEE showed up in an ex KRR Racing Lancia 037, Gulf Racing colours as well and gave valiant chase, although in later laps he had one eye on the returning WeeBilly and his Honda NSX. Billy had to start at the back of the grid and fought through the pack to give chase and although the gap came down he couldn’t get there in the end. In Class A for AWD, EmpireMSport took the honours, chased home by the RML pair of Mad2012 and Penfold. For Penfold it was nearly a perfect day, as he led all but the last quarter of the mile in the AM class, holding off the challenge of Pre-Season favourite Badbeat. The two were neck and neck coming down to the last lap, when they came across cars that had finished, and this caused the RML Ferrari to be slowed and the SMEG Racing Honda to sneak the AM honours. Penfold was extremely gracious in defeat, and buzzing for chances this season. It was a promising debut in AM for Devilsboogeyman who after a few early issues slowed him, showed pace nearly equal to the top tow, and this bodes well for a great season ahead.
Teams & Drivers:
BTC Honda Civic: Did not enter
Cerberus Chevrolet Camaro 02: Devil Lord – DNF, Kinkycowboys 9th
Slightly disappointing start to the season for the reigning champions. Devil Lord run inside the top 10 early on but electrical issues left him in retirement on lap 6. Kinkycowboys was challenging close to the top 6, but some of those around him got faster in the second half of the race. He had a good battle with Maj and just missed beating him late on. Already a pre race favourite for Long Beach.
Cerberus R&D Mazda MX5: Bradderstig 1st
Victory for the champion, and he made it look effortless. Also took fastest lap, the Mazda handling well and looks a good car in these early rounds. Bradderstig was keen to point out the Pi drops will not give him an easy ride in any of the upcoming rounds.
DARE Alfa 4c: Wambogini 18th
The new Alfa looked fantastic in its VUE Cinemas livery, but it was a difficult race for the Dublin based runner. First lap damage caused an early stop, and then he needed to make a further stop late on for fresh rubber as he felt his tyres had badly grained.
DART Alfa 4c: xKidders 7th, Major Raver12th
Promising debut to the team for Kidders, who had a couple of early offs and found himself stuck behind Kinky and Maj. A later stop than most gave him clean air to jump them and he hoped to catch the two KRR Honda’s but found them a little too strong. Confident that it’s given him a good platform to start the season on. Raver was taken off on lap 1 and then seemed to struggle in the early laps. Improved as the race went on, and was closing in on the top 10, when he received further damage from contact off another driver and settled for 12th at the end.
DMB34 BMW M2: Devilsboogeyman 19th
Promising start for the team after some good testing pre race, the first lap left Devilsboogeyman on the back foot, after being spun at turn one, and going off on his own at the chicane. He needed to two stop, but showed enough pace to suggest he is in the hunt for AM honours this season.
The KRR Honda's were quick and in the top 6.
Penfold had a great start to the season and nearly won the AM Class.
EmpireMSport BMW M3: Maj 8th, Empire 14th
Good start to the season for the team, Maj fighting just outside the top 6 and showing pace on a circuit not likely to be the most friendly to the BMW’s. Empire had some close battles through the race, and managed to stay ahead of all the other AWD cars, to grab a Class A victory. Both won their class in the support race as well.
Hooligan Racing Mazda RX7: RotaryRhys Disq
Promising bursts of speed from the new Mazda, although it looked a bit of a handful. Made contact with a number of cars on lap 1, especially at the chicane, and then made further contact through the race. Stewards deemed this unacceptable and he was disqualified from his 12th place finish.
Hoppers Sport BMW M3: Hopperswwfc 21st
Took chunks of time off his best through testing, and came to the Ring full of confidence. A couple of spins on lap 1 put him at the back, and he then seemed to lose a bit of confidence, unable to match his testing pace. The whole toilet issue in the pitstop will go down in Thunder Enduro folk lore.
Horizon with Scruffs Chevrolet Camaro 16: Pronag 10th
The team spent the week worrying about the fuel consumption on the new Camaro, so he was relieved to do it on one stop. Car showed a lot of pace and he was close to the top 6 early on. Good points on the board for the driver and team.
KRR Racing Honda NSX 02: RangersRick 5th, PMR Plato 6th
The new Honda turned heads in the paddock, and was quick on the track as well. RangersRick had a few moments early on, but flew on his Thunder Enduro debut in RWD. He was chased hard for 4th place, but kept an eye on his teammate behind him. Plato lost a bit of time in those early laps but was very quick late on. The cars looked planted unlike the past two seasons Nissan’s, and both drivers will be in the Championship hunt this season.
Monster JamSport Honda NSX 2005: WeeBilly 3rd
Great debut for a new team that literally hadn’t decided what car to run until race day. Billy started at the back, but showed the racecraft seen in Season 1 to make his way through the field. Got up to third by lap 10 and although he chased J47TEE hard, the TOS driver didn’t make a mistake and third was the best he could do. Romped to the support race victory, so all in all a good day.
Quicksilver Lambogini Countach: CelticFox 11th
Another car to turn heads, the Lambogini Countach looked and sounded the part. The Nurburgring wasn’t the circuit for it, and the result was very promising, especially as it made two stops. What was worrying for the team was the second stop, which was for a fuel top up, so the team will be hoping that the thirsty engine was just a one off.
RML Ferrari 355: Mad 15th, Robraceruk 13th
A bit of a disappointing start for the team after a lot of promise and hope in testing. Mad made no secret for his dislike for the track, and that he is more confident in races coming up. He had a few battles through the race, and just missed challenging for Class A honours. Robraceruk made a cracking start and was running in the top 10, but car slowed late on and he dropped back to 13th after a late battle and back marker issues. They will be stronger as the season goes on.
RML Devolpment Ferrari 355: Penfold 17th
Last season you could often find Penfold head down in the paddock after a difficult race, but he was absolutely buzzing even though cruelly denied AM honours late on. Led the AM class for all but the final quarter mile, he loved the handling of the Ferrari and was close to his sister team drivers pace. His battles with Badbeat this season in AM will be a highlight, and don’t discount him in Class A either. DRIVER OF THE DAY
SMEG Racing Honda NSX 02: Badbeat 16th
Happy to get his hands on the KRR Honda, and it showed. Had a few issues in the opening laps which lost him time, but then chiselled away at the gap to the AM leader, and took advantage on the last lap to win it. Reward for not giving up.
SWR Subaru BRZ: CQR Posh Rob 4th Place
Not the day the team were hoping for. Only one entry and Posh Rob was surprised he couldn’t match the pace of the three cars ahead. Did well to keep the KRR boys off his rear wing, and he will be looking forward to faster more flowing circuits that should play in to the Subaru’s strengths.
SWR with Prostate Cancer Subaru BRZ: Scarlet Witch 22nd
A lack of presesason testing seemed to hamper the dark horse of the AM Class, as she was the slowest in class. Don’t write her off though, Barcelona and track time before the race will see her fighting at the front of the AM Class again.
Team Hard Porsche Cayman: RGreenwood 20th
Not the most friendly circuit for the new Porsche Cayman, but Tricky Dicky stuck with it and racked up some decent mileage, and a 4th place finish in AM. Not far off the outright AM pace either, which promises much for fast circuits later in the season.
TOS Lancia 037: J47TEE 2nd
Brilliant debut for the new team. Bought the last Lancia 037’s from KRR and did a deal to keep it in the Gulf Colours that it raced in season 1. Car went well and although he wasn’t able to keep up with the winner, he did well to keep WeeBilly at arm’s length. Without any shadow of a doubt, J47TEE is a championship contender this season.
It was a tough first lap for Hoppers and Devilsboogeyman.
Bradderstig started his Championship defence in style.
Touring Car Sunday - Dubai
Classic WTCC
Maj2012 knew the title was for the taking and the two Alfa 155s used their AWD to good effect and shot off the line, only pole sitter Scarlet able to keep with the pair of red cars. Empire led around the first lap, but Maj was soon waved through and was then untroubled on his way to victory and overall honours in the Championship. Behind Bradders was keen to make a fight of things, but could only come third, as J47TEE made a rare entry and took the Elite honours and second overall in the Sierra Cosworth. Poor Devilsboogeyman saw hopes of being AM Champion dashed with a race ending accident on lap 1, which left Hoppers clear to take the honours, although his Sierra looked rather worse for wear at the end of the race. Scarlet Witch romped home to with the AM class in the race, in her BMW 635, whilst Empire did the same in ProAM. In Pro, Devil Lord won the class in race, but CelticFox’s no show left Kinkycowboys clear to take the championship class honours in his BMW M3.
TORC Touring Cars
The overall championship was all but settled in advance and Bradderstig wanted to confirm the title in style. Early on Major Raver led in his VW Golf, but he saw his lead being reduced quickly by the Champion elect in his BMW 1M, and J47TEE in his Honda Civic. Both got through by half distance, and it was a close battle that went in the favour of the Cerberus BMW. Raver was trying to win the ProAM class and going into the final lap was on target to grab the points needed, but a last lap lunge by Xray Energy spun him around, and gave the title to Robraceruk by a single point. XRay Energy was very fortunate to keep his third place, which also gave him the Pro Class championship. In AM the class was comfortably won by RotaryRhys in his Mercedes A45.
Super Tourers
The last race of the Touring Car Sunday season were for the Super Tourers, and it was a brilliant finale to the season. RotaryRhy and Scarlet Witch led the first lap, but had their mirrors full of Pronag, Major Raver, Robraceruk, J47TEE and Bradderstig. The title fight was between Robraceruk and Bradderstig, and these two were door to door up the mountain section through the early laps. Raver had got in to the lead by lap 3 but Bradders was through on lap 4, only for third place Rhys to leave his braking to late and skittle the leader. Thankfully Bradders got away without damage, but was down to 4th place, but he didn’t have the championship to worry about as Rob had caught the wall and with it the car was heading to the pits for quick repairs. Bradders was soon on the leaders tail and was back through on lap 7, only for the DART BMW to retake him. These pair now had J47TEE and his Volvo right behind them, it was great racing. Bradders was back through on lap 7, and Raver had another lunge, but this time backed out. This gave Bradders a small breathing space, and although J47TEE got through a lap later, he was unable to catch and pass his elite rival. Raver and Rhys both took impressive class wins in ProAm and AM, with 3rd and 4th overall, whilst PMR Plato battled through from the back to win the Pro class and take class honours on the championship at the last round. We had impressive debuts as well from Gizzard, the first Honda home in 8th, and Sealey who took runners up in the ProAM class with 9th.
Maj and the Empire team, ruled supreme in the Classic WTCC.
Bradderstig held off Robraceruk to take the Super Tourers Title,
Race Results
Dubai Mountain:
Classic WTCC: 1st Maj2012, 2nd J47TEE, 3rd Bradderstig, 4th EmpireMSport, 5th CQR Posh Rob
TORC Touring Cars: 1st Bradderstig, 2nd J47TEE, 3rd Xray Energy, 4th Major Raver, 5th Kinkycowboys
Super Tourers: 1st Bradderstig, 2nd J47TEE, 3rd Major Raver, 4th RotaryRhys, 5th PMR Plato
Nurburgring GP
Support Series (2CV's): 1st WeeBilly, 2nd Maj2012, 3rd PMR Plato, 4th Kinkycowboys, 5th EmpireMSport
Thunder Enduro Overall: 1st Bradderstig, 2nd J47TEE, 3rd WeeBilly, 4th CQR Posh Rob, 5th RangersRick
Class: Class A: EmpireMSport, Class C: Bradderstig, AM Class: Badbeat75
Next Edition
Catch all the news from Round 2 of the Thunder Enduro at Barcelona, and the Media night for the TORC Touring Cars in Prague
The TORC Tourers were close and action packed as usual.
Empire takes a Class A lead with him to Barcelona.