BMW Blitz - Blackwood GP

- Series » BMW Blitz
- Race Date » Wednesday, 27 February 2008
- Entries Open » Saturday, 16 February 2008
- Entries Close » Midnight Monday, 25 February 2008
- Time » Qual: 8.30pm, Race: 9pm (Syd/Melb)
- Track » Blackwood GP
- Car(s) » Formula BMW
- Duration » 75 Laps
Race Report
Well Round 3 of the BMW Blitz series will be remembered for so many different reasons particularly for how hotly contested the race was for the whole grueling 75 laps. The first 30 odd laps saw 5 drivers never more than 2 secs apart from the car they were chasing. The group contained a lot of the regular AAL front runners of latch, ReppohC, Neil Pearson, Wabbit along with delray and the newly returned thornz, with both the later 2 racers mixing it up close to or at the front of the race.
It became clear from early on that tyre management was the key to having a good result and it showed with only 5 cars staying on the lead lap but more importantly it probably decided the race. After leading for much of the race latch could not hold off a fast finishing thornz as he was unable to maximise the use of fresher tyres from a late pit-stop. Unfortunately for latch he inadvertently overcooked his new tyres while trying to hold the lead, this allowed thornz to make a pass down the back straight with only 3 laps left to run. It still went down to the wire with thornz holding on to emerge the victor by a mere 1.4 secs ahead of latch with delray only a further 14 secs back after the 75 laps were run.
Some of the other memorable highlights were:
- thornz first Div A victory after a lengthy hiatus away from the AAL & LFS in general.
- The performance of many of the so called "privateers" which included taking 1st (thornz) & 3rd (delray) places.
- i_MAXIBON's 7th place finish given the fact he did 75 laps of Blackwood under mouse control.
- wolfeman's 1st AAL race earning a top 10 finish, as well as also being a mouse steerer, well done!
- Quincy's spectacular exit on Lap 24 of the race after barrell rolling no less than 6 times after collecting the ripple strip on the exit of the first chicane. By the time he had finished rolling he was at least 200 mtrs down the Blackwood back straight & if it wasn't for landing on his head could of probably completed the rest of the race with very little damage from such a huge accident.
- Wabbit's running commentary to his MPR team mates of his saga with trying to find & retrieve his cigarette lighter so he could survive the distance while again also succeeding in doing a no-stopper, although this time it seems it was not the fastest strategy.
Results
Indicates a "Yellow Card" warning has been issued.
Indicates a "Red Card" 2 race ban has been issued.