RACE 1 REPORT AND RESULT - MELBOURNE

BANNBINO OFF TO A FLYER AS SHEEPIE UK ST ST ST STUTTERS................

Race 1 - Melbourne - Pole = Bannbino - RED BULL 1:30.362

With pre-season testing over it was now down to the real thing and kick off for season 2. With hardly any rain in season 1, the first qualy of the new season brought about a wet session unusually for Melbourne. What would the decision be Inters, Wets? Teams opted for a mixture but it seemed Inter's were the better option and Bannbino, who took most poles in season 1 put his Red Bull on the top spot with a 1:30 - the only driver to do so. Villa John's extra testing paid off with a fantastic 2nd place only second or so behind with Squeak83 and R0ckeye seperated by only 4000ths. Season 1 champion Sheepie UK could only manage 7th while EagleJay01 was the best of the rookies getting 8th.

Thankfully by race day the rain had cleared to make way for a dry race. Some went for options and others primes. At the start Bannbino made good use of his pole and set off and was clear of any clashes into turn one. From Sheepie UK's perspective, the two cars in 5th and 6rh respectively kept their lines so he saw a clear gap down the middle only to not brake in time for turn one and shunt the rear of Tempy303, luckily causing no damage to either car but quite rightly received a 10 second penalty. A few more laps round and Sheepie UK going into the last corner complex before the home straight was confronted by Adman11's McLaren sideways on and with nowhere to go promptly T-Boning him. Miracoulously neither car suffered any damage. Around two thirds of the race and Sheepie UK was coming onto the back of a trio of cars which were Tempy303, Villa John and EagleJay. Prophecising it could all end in tears it promptly did come true and sure enough looking like a move from the red arrows bar the red white and blue smoke all 3 seemed to tangle and peel off in all directions Sheepie UK promptly drove through the middle of them all and gained 6th place. After pitting he was on the tail of Cheeseman69Boi who was driving a great race on his debut, and lost it on the kerbs and smashed his front wing on the penultimate lap. Nursing the car back to the pits Sheepie UK came back out into 8th and but at some point in the race had incurred another 10 second penalty which was to cost the world champion dear. And so to the line Bannbino made it look easy taking the season's first win with Hypno85 who had a fantastic setup getting 2nd spot. Squeak83 started where he did last season with a podium place for 3rd closely followed by this season's tip for the top R0ckeye in 4th. Cheesman69Boi came in an impressive 5th with Bsheepie 6th and Villa John respectively in 7th. Tempy303 and Adman11, making his debut, benefited from Sheepie UK's 20 second penalties by finish 8th and 9th respectively and Sheepie UK had to settle for a poor 10th! Bringing up the rear were new boys Satak0 and EagleJay01 beset with damage for most of the race.

An interesting opening to the season, lots of overtaking with Bernie getting his wish for more wet weather this time around certainly mixed things up. Bannbino laying down the markers early to the challengers how would they fair in Malaysia and China?

RACE 1 RESULT IN FULL:

Great write up Sheepie. Here's my onboard...

You had an exciting race ! Lol good vid though the stewards are looking at this closely now as on lap 10 exiting the pits u crossed the white marker line

SHEEPIE UK wrote:You had an exciting race ! Lol good vid though the stewards are looking at this closely now as on lap 10 exiting the pits u crossed the white marker line

FFS! Next time I'll leave that bit out....