ONLINE RACING FIND THEIR SPEED
1-2 FOR TEAM AS SERIES SEES TWO NEW FACES, PLUS A NEW TEAM AND ENGINE
1st. Ben Utzer
2nd. Omer Said +31.695
3rd. Sig Man +34.746
The natives of Istanbul wanted only to see Omer Said. While they were a bit sad that he didn't win, they couldn't help but join in the festivities as Said and teammate Ben Utzer completed a dominant 1-2 to finish the weekend. Utzer took full control early, running away with a strong victory. Said had it harder, running in a group with the two McLaren's, a fact that ultimately benefitted him more. With McLaren trying to split the strategies fairly, the OR racer was far enough behind Utzer to pit on time and get out in front, a lead he wouldn't lose to the team leading the Constructors. Sig Man took 3rd, ahead of Florin Diaconescu, who pitted earlier but lost tyre grip at the end and thus the podium too. Old Wolf was consistent, and came home strong for a well earned 5th place, his fourth in a row, while James Chant cursed his luck as he could only get 6th. Herbert, Macdonald, Saidy and Jednak finished off the top 10.
Meanwhile, two new rookies to the category got their first starts of their careers. Schifty031 and Jimmy Laad both took to the Istanbul track, Laad in the second Renault while Schifty was here with the new Viper Racing Team car, powered by Dodge. Both finished, which was good, although the first race in the main game was slightly disappointing no doubt for them. Their trial by fire continues next race, their first feature race. But there is no doubt that this will provide a very strong base to next season for both of them.
Big Points
- Online Racing take a full 45 points, enough to well and truly overhaul Jordan for 3rd in the standings
- Ben Utzer's win see's him 1 point behind 3rd place in the Drivers too.
- Renault are no longer a 1 car team, therefore the battle of the 1 car teams is really only Red Bull, Ferrari, Viper Racing and technically we're also going to count Honk.
- Renault, the engine maker, now have a full 3 drivers for the Manufacturers too, though the recent form of Ferrari probably means it is too late.
- Dodge enter the championship with a single entry.
- OR's 1-2 is only the second time we've seen that this season, it also extends their podium streak to 5 races.
- Old Wolf loves 5th place, 4 in a row for him now. He lies 3rd in the standings thanks to a very consistent season.
Results
1st. B. Utzer (Online Racing-Ferrari)
2nd. O. Said (Online Racing-Ferrari) +31.695
3rd. S. Man (McLaren-Honda) +34.746
4th. F. Diaconescu (McLaren-Honda) +36.228
5th. O. Wolf (Jordan-Honda) +37.394
6th. J. Chant (Honda) +37.559
7th. B. Herbert (Red Bull Racing-Renault) +42.775
8th. A. Macdonald (Honda) +44.550
9th. R. Saidy (Jordan-Honda) +45.222
10th. S. Jednak (Ferrari) +45.534
11th. Schifty031 (Viper Racing-Dodge) +54.225
12th. F. Owen (Renault) +1 lap
13th. J. Laad (Renault) +3 laps
14th. T. Hackel (Honk-Ferrari) +5 laps
DNF G. Ludlum (Honk-Ferrari)
Standings
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