LFSBC/NDRC Round 1 Race Report
by Adrian DeBono
The race started with 02 Dan Buck at second place on the grid, the green light was on and the 16 driver race had started. As ambitious as he is, Dan Buck came in quick and braking late on the first corner of Blackwood hoping to grab first place. 93 D.Adelin held a firm first place whist D.Jahnig and N.Demec held places 4th and 6th respectively.
Just before the first lap was completed Dan Buck (car 2) ended up timing out so it was up to Car number 47 D.Jahnig from the PPD team to make his move from 4th place, on the back S turn of Blackwood, D.Jahnig made 2 positions by taking the inside line.
A smart move which then pushed D.Jahnig up to second place. 93 D.Adelin held first place to complete the first lap, A.O'Brien (car 12) was hot on the tail of D.Jahnig (car 47) coming into the last corner and kept this close racing right into the 3rd lap.
After a good turn into the straight, A. oBrien (car 12) had ample speed to overtake car 4 - N. Demec and would be now sitting in 3rd place.
Coming into the 4th lap D.Nemec regained 3rd place on the back straight and held it coming into the next corner. It was evident that this would would be a tight battle between 04. N.Demec and A.O'Brien as this duo pushed hard to keep 3rd place. A bit of a slip up on the last corner of 4th lap put 04. D.Nemec into 5th place and 82 S.Mathei gained 4th position from 5th and A.O'Brien had 3rd position.
On the 5th and 6th lap driver positions were firmly in place while car 82 M.Mathei held a close line behind 12. A.O'Brien with a close 0:00.56 split between the drivers coming into the 7th lap.
46 D.Kheireddine braked late and pushed hard into the first corner and nearly gained 5th place but a bump through the S section after the first corner lost speed for him and the battle between these drivers down the main straight of Blackwood. It was nearly neck and neck as the drivers came into the corner after the long straight, D.Keheirddine braked late but N.Demec took the inside line and held 5th place.
On the 8th lap A.O'Brien held 3rd place but S.Mathei braked later and got 3rd place. 93 D.Adelin had held a decent lead in 1st place for 8 laps and D. Jahnig drove hard to reach that first place position. By the 9th lap there was some distance between the drivers with on average a 1.5 second split between drivers.
At the last corner of the 10th lap S.Mathei gained a very respectable 2nd place and held this position through the next few laps
M.Bingham received a drive through penalty for chatting during races.
A.O'Brien still held 4th position over D. Kheireddine (car 46) with no signs of either driver letting anyone get their position. Coming into the corner after Blackwood's main straight D. Kheireddine gained 4th place and the battle continued between these 2 drivers for the next 2 laps.
Up until lap 18 drivers had kept a consistent lap time and D. Kheireddine was starting to gain time on D.Jahnig and at the straight before the last corner of Blackwood both D.Jahnig and D.Kheireddine found themselves both struggling for space on the road with such close knit racing.
D.Kheireddine was able to hold this lead coming into the 19th lap while D.Adelin was 0:1:77 seconds ahead of the battling duo. In lap 22 D. Kheireddine had gained 0:01.03 seconds from D.Adelin who holds still held 1st place. In lap 25 D. Kheireddine decided to make a pit stop and meant that he would drop to 5th place while D.Jahnig and A O'Brien took the consecutive positions.
At this stage it could have been anyones race as A O'Brien pulled ahead at the end of lap 25. As promising at it looked D.Keireddine pulled ahead to 3rd place and gains a very impressive lead only to do so in a Yellow Flag. Once formation was in place D. Keireddine would drop back to his previous position
This was to be a very close finish as the 3 drivers tryed to gained their positions. At lap 26 at the end of the straight the safety car came out and drivers sit in formation. For some reason 46 D. Kheireddine was told to get behind #12 and drivers are left to wait while the Safety Car gives drivers a moment to catch their breathe. This have been anyones race as at last the safety car left the track and with 1 lap to go it was sure to be a race to remember. S. Mathei battled hard behind D. Adelin while the gap was closed from the formation laps of the safety car previous to laps.
S. Mathei stuck close behind D. Adelin and put the pressure on as they came up to the last corners. S. Mathei tried hard in the S corner to hold position and gained it. S. mathei held first place while D. Adelin and D.Jahnig followed close behind to gain their 2nd and 3rd place.
A. O'Brien came 4th wihle N.Demec finished in 5th
