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Round 2 - Sebring International Raceway
Round 2 of the FLMS was once again held in the USA, this time the action moved across the country to Florida and Sebring!
LMP1 Results
ablougabla
Only 2 drivers from LMP1 made it to qualifying; snmf1 and M4D MU5T4N6. With a 1:42.2, snm took pole position with M4D taking second place. However, due to snmf1's penalty (which he received following Laguna Seca) he had to start the race from the pit-lane, leaving MU5T4N6 to lead away from the start. ablougabla started in 4th, behind the GT2s of Jam 13UN and TCR Polaris JS, as he did not appear at qualifying.
But ablougabla didn't stay there for long. By the first corner he was already past the two GT2 cars and was soon in the lead after pulling a move on MU5T4N6. snmf1, after starting from the pits, quickly negotiated the GT2 machines to take him into 3rd overall. He then quickly caught MU5T4N6. There was an incident between them in which they both picked up minor damage. However, just a few laps later, snmf1 took second place.
For the next 15 laps, the positions didn't change. ablougabla seemed to have the pace to keep the lead, with snmf1 growing frustrated at his lack of pace (mainly because of damage to his front wing making him understeer) and MU5T4N6 (also struggling with damage) further behind. Unfortunately for ablougabla, problems (which now appear to be due to his Forza disc) meant that he lagged out of the game. This was very unlucky, as it looked like he could have won the race. This left snmf1 in the lead and MU5T4N6 second.
For the rest of the race, snmf1 seemed untroubled out in the lead of the race. His experience shone through again, and he kept a cool head, even under two safety car situations. MU5T4N6 had a major accident going under the bridge through Gurney (Turn 6) which left him with severe damage and no chance of catching snmf1.
So in the end snmf1 took the win. This made it 2 from 2 and meant that he had a commanding 10 point lead in the LMP1 class. These were the only LMP1 drivers to have participated in both races. With LoneInquisitor missing this race, and M4D MU5T4N6 missing the first, they have a lot of work to do if they want to have any say in this battle.
But ablougabla didn't stay there for long. By the first corner he was already past the two GT2 cars and was soon in the lead after pulling a move on MU5T4N6. snmf1, after starting from the pits, quickly negotiated the GT2 machines to take him into 3rd overall. He then quickly caught MU5T4N6. There was an incident between them in which they both picked up minor damage. However, just a few laps later, snmf1 took second place.
For the next 15 laps, the positions didn't change. ablougabla seemed to have the pace to keep the lead, with snmf1 growing frustrated at his lack of pace (mainly because of damage to his front wing making him understeer) and MU5T4N6 (also struggling with damage) further behind. Unfortunately for ablougabla, problems (which now appear to be due to his Forza disc) meant that he lagged out of the game. This was very unlucky, as it looked like he could have won the race. This left snmf1 in the lead and MU5T4N6 second.
For the rest of the race, snmf1 seemed untroubled out in the lead of the race. His experience shone through again, and he kept a cool head, even under two safety car situations. MU5T4N6 had a major accident going under the bridge through Gurney (Turn 6) which left him with severe damage and no chance of catching snmf1.
So in the end snmf1 took the win. This made it 2 from 2 and meant that he had a commanding 10 point lead in the LMP1 class. These were the only LMP1 drivers to have participated in both races. With LoneInquisitor missing this race, and M4D MU5T4N6 missing the first, they have a lot of work to do if they want to have any say in this battle.
GT2 Results
Jam 13UN
Like LMP1, only 2 drivers from GT2 turned up to qualifying. Jam 13UN took pole position (and started the race second on the grid) with a great lap, and TCR Polaris JS took second (and lined up third). Polaris immediately made up for his poor qualifying performance by taking the lead of the race. However, it was instantly clear that he lacked pace and would struggle to stay there for long. Jam put him under real and consistant pressure, particularly in the final sector of the lap, coming out of the Le Mans Curve, down the Ulmann Straight and into the Sunset Curve.
On one occasion, the pair were side by side coming into the final corner and the whole way along the start finish straight. Polaris had the inside line and greater straight line speed so managed to live to fight again on this occasion. But his efforts were in vain. He did his very best to defend, but the F430GT was just too quick. A few laps before the first round of pit-stops, the Porsche driver made a mistake at Turn 13 (Tower) and ran slightly wide. Jam immediately capitalised. From then on there was no going back.
Jam quickly opened a 10 second lead over Polaris who pitted early in an attempt to leap-frog Jam back again in the pits. This failed, and things got worse for him. Whilst trying to push, he got caught out by first M4D MU5T4N6 and then snmf1 lapping him. He then started to lag. First, Xavey9K's Carsport Holland Viper lagged into the side of him at Turn 14 (Bishop) and a few laps later snmf1's LMP1 car lagged into the back of him at Gendebien (the next turn), wrecking his car completely. He tried to continue, but to top things off, he lagged out a few laps later.
Jam would have been forgiven for just easing off now there was no other competition in terms of GT2 cars remaining. However he didn't do this, instead setting his sights on the badly damaged LMP1 car of M4D MU5T4N6. Jam set some absolutely blistering laps in trying to catch him, even making himself the 98th fastest lap on the LBs. He was helped by a safety car situation about 15 laps from the end. This set up a brilliant showdown at the end of the race. M4D MU5T4N6 decided not to pit in and although his car turned out to be faster, his tyres did not last and he was soon really struggling. Jam meanwhile had taken his pit-stop and had no such problems. On the very last lap, Jam caught and passed him easily. This made him second overall.
Jam drove superbly throughout the race and thoroughly deserved his win. After this win, Jam led the GT2 championship by 3 points from Slappia. Jam also managed to make himself firm favourite for this particular title, and if he continued his blistering pace then he was expected to be almost impossible to beat.
On one occasion, the pair were side by side coming into the final corner and the whole way along the start finish straight. Polaris had the inside line and greater straight line speed so managed to live to fight again on this occasion. But his efforts were in vain. He did his very best to defend, but the F430GT was just too quick. A few laps before the first round of pit-stops, the Porsche driver made a mistake at Turn 13 (Tower) and ran slightly wide. Jam immediately capitalised. From then on there was no going back.
Jam quickly opened a 10 second lead over Polaris who pitted early in an attempt to leap-frog Jam back again in the pits. This failed, and things got worse for him. Whilst trying to push, he got caught out by first M4D MU5T4N6 and then snmf1 lapping him. He then started to lag. First, Xavey9K's Carsport Holland Viper lagged into the side of him at Turn 14 (Bishop) and a few laps later snmf1's LMP1 car lagged into the back of him at Gendebien (the next turn), wrecking his car completely. He tried to continue, but to top things off, he lagged out a few laps later.
Jam would have been forgiven for just easing off now there was no other competition in terms of GT2 cars remaining. However he didn't do this, instead setting his sights on the badly damaged LMP1 car of M4D MU5T4N6. Jam set some absolutely blistering laps in trying to catch him, even making himself the 98th fastest lap on the LBs. He was helped by a safety car situation about 15 laps from the end. This set up a brilliant showdown at the end of the race. M4D MU5T4N6 decided not to pit in and although his car turned out to be faster, his tyres did not last and he was soon really struggling. Jam meanwhile had taken his pit-stop and had no such problems. On the very last lap, Jam caught and passed him easily. This made him second overall.
Jam drove superbly throughout the race and thoroughly deserved his win. After this win, Jam led the GT2 championship by 3 points from Slappia. Jam also managed to make himself firm favourite for this particular title, and if he continued his blistering pace then he was expected to be almost impossible to beat.
