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Round 3 - Mugello Internazionale Autodromo
For the third date in the 2009 FLMS we headed over to Europe for the first time, and to the Italian hills.
LMP1 Results
snmf1 + M4D MU5T4N6 + LoneInquisitor
For the first time in qualifying for LMP1, 3 drivers participated. Once again, snmf1 was the pace setter and snatched a great pole position for the second race in a row. M4D MU5T4N6 put in an impressive performance to steal second spot away from LoneInquisitor, who lined up third. Ablougabla was unable to participate in either qualifying or the race with the same technical issues that plagued him throughout the championship.
Following a restart, everyone made a clean getaway second time round. snmf1 quickly opened up a gap between him and M4D, who was slow and immediately started to hold up LoneInquisitor in third. M4D made an error at the first Arrabbiata (Turn 8) on the first lap but managed to get away with it and keep his place. However, a few corners later, this time at Correntaio (Turn 12), he made another error allowing LoneInquisitor to sneak around the outside and into second place. He immediately opened up a gap between the two.
Things went from bad to worse for M4D when on lap 2 at the last corner (Bucine), he lost it and made heavy contact with the barriers. With serious internal and external damage, he immediately went into the pits for some repairs. However, the damage was too severe and he was forced to retire from the race a few laps later. This was a huge disappointment for him and was a serious blow to his hopes of winning the LMP1 Championship.
Meanwhile snmf1, with his typical cool head, was continuing to lead the race and the gap between him and LoneInqusitor continued to grow. The first round of pit stops passed without incident. However, on lap 21, snmf1 started lagging. This was looking serious but he continued. Next lap, he approached Jam 13UN to lap him. On the approach to the Biondetti chicane (Turns 13 and 14), there was contact between the two drivers. The stewards have investigated, and due to the lag it is unknown where exactly the crash even occurred.
Jam 13UN was left with serious damage and snmf1 lagged out of the race a few laps later. This left LoneInquisitor as the only remaining LMP1 driver. He picked up some damage later on in the race whenever he sportingly helped Jam 13UN back to the pits after he ran out of fuel. But the race passed without further major incident and LoneInquisitor crossed the line to take his first FLMS win, ending snmf1's run of wins.
LoneInquisitor's first win moved him up to second in the LMP1 drivers standings, but he was still 10 points behind snmf1. M4D MU5T4N6 sliped to third and ablougabla remained fourth. From the race LoneInquisitor emerged as the main rival to snmf1 to the LMP1 crown.
Following a restart, everyone made a clean getaway second time round. snmf1 quickly opened up a gap between him and M4D, who was slow and immediately started to hold up LoneInquisitor in third. M4D made an error at the first Arrabbiata (Turn 8) on the first lap but managed to get away with it and keep his place. However, a few corners later, this time at Correntaio (Turn 12), he made another error allowing LoneInquisitor to sneak around the outside and into second place. He immediately opened up a gap between the two.
Things went from bad to worse for M4D when on lap 2 at the last corner (Bucine), he lost it and made heavy contact with the barriers. With serious internal and external damage, he immediately went into the pits for some repairs. However, the damage was too severe and he was forced to retire from the race a few laps later. This was a huge disappointment for him and was a serious blow to his hopes of winning the LMP1 Championship.
Meanwhile snmf1, with his typical cool head, was continuing to lead the race and the gap between him and LoneInqusitor continued to grow. The first round of pit stops passed without incident. However, on lap 21, snmf1 started lagging. This was looking serious but he continued. Next lap, he approached Jam 13UN to lap him. On the approach to the Biondetti chicane (Turns 13 and 14), there was contact between the two drivers. The stewards have investigated, and due to the lag it is unknown where exactly the crash even occurred.
Jam 13UN was left with serious damage and snmf1 lagged out of the race a few laps later. This left LoneInquisitor as the only remaining LMP1 driver. He picked up some damage later on in the race whenever he sportingly helped Jam 13UN back to the pits after he ran out of fuel. But the race passed without further major incident and LoneInquisitor crossed the line to take his first FLMS win, ending snmf1's run of wins.
LoneInquisitor's first win moved him up to second in the LMP1 drivers standings, but he was still 10 points behind snmf1. M4D MU5T4N6 sliped to third and ablougabla remained fourth. From the race LoneInquisitor emerged as the main rival to snmf1 to the LMP1 crown.
GT2 Results
Jam 13UN + TCR Polaris JS
TCR Polaris JS was unable to attend qualifying for Mugello and so Jam 13UN took his second pole position of the season completely untroubled. Polaris was able to arrive back in time for the race and started second behind Jam.
The majority opening stint of the race was uneventful. Following the restart, both drivers got away cleanly. Polaris got into Jam's slipstream coming up to turn 1 (San Donato) but was unable (or unwilling?) to make a move. For the next few laps, the order remained the same, with the gap between the pair remaining almost exactly the same as well. However, towards the end of the stint, Jam made a mistake coming out of the second Biondetti running wide and letting Slappia go through into the lead. But, 2 laps later, Slappia ran wide at Bucine to give the lead back to Jam. By now, Jam was struggling with his tyres, whilst Polaris was coping better. On lap 12, coming through Bucine, Polaris was able to sneak past a struggling Jam and go straight into the pits. Jam decided to brave it for another lap.
This was a risk that didn't pay off for Jam. He got caught out whilst being lapped by LoneInquisitor and he was really struggling on his tyres. The result was that whenever the pit stops were completed and everything had shaken out, polaris was a long way ahead. But Jam's problems didn't end here. On lap 22 at the Biondetti chicane, snmf1 lagged into him whilst trying to lap him. This wrecked his car and any remaining chance of winning the race. A further 10 laps later, Jam ran out of fuel on the second of the two Arrabbiatas. This forced a safety car situation, with him stranded in the middle of a high speed corner. He would have been forced to retire if LoneInquisitor hadn't sportingly helped him back to the pits.
With Jam involved in lots of incidents, Polaris had a quiet race out in front of the GT2 Class. He was consistently quick and made very few errors. He also set about trying to be the first driver to win the race overall in a GT2 car, although ultimately failed, despite being between 2 and 3 seconds per lap faster than LoneInquisitor with his damaged car. But the win in his class was the most important thing, and he crossed the line without any dramas to take his second of the season.
Despite having 2 wins in comparison to Jams 1, Jam was still leading the championship after this race, but the margin was just 2 points. This obviously was not a comfortable lead, and Polaris will be hoped to take his winning momentum to Road America in July.
The majority opening stint of the race was uneventful. Following the restart, both drivers got away cleanly. Polaris got into Jam's slipstream coming up to turn 1 (San Donato) but was unable (or unwilling?) to make a move. For the next few laps, the order remained the same, with the gap between the pair remaining almost exactly the same as well. However, towards the end of the stint, Jam made a mistake coming out of the second Biondetti running wide and letting Slappia go through into the lead. But, 2 laps later, Slappia ran wide at Bucine to give the lead back to Jam. By now, Jam was struggling with his tyres, whilst Polaris was coping better. On lap 12, coming through Bucine, Polaris was able to sneak past a struggling Jam and go straight into the pits. Jam decided to brave it for another lap.
This was a risk that didn't pay off for Jam. He got caught out whilst being lapped by LoneInquisitor and he was really struggling on his tyres. The result was that whenever the pit stops were completed and everything had shaken out, polaris was a long way ahead. But Jam's problems didn't end here. On lap 22 at the Biondetti chicane, snmf1 lagged into him whilst trying to lap him. This wrecked his car and any remaining chance of winning the race. A further 10 laps later, Jam ran out of fuel on the second of the two Arrabbiatas. This forced a safety car situation, with him stranded in the middle of a high speed corner. He would have been forced to retire if LoneInquisitor hadn't sportingly helped him back to the pits.
With Jam involved in lots of incidents, Polaris had a quiet race out in front of the GT2 Class. He was consistently quick and made very few errors. He also set about trying to be the first driver to win the race overall in a GT2 car, although ultimately failed, despite being between 2 and 3 seconds per lap faster than LoneInquisitor with his damaged car. But the win in his class was the most important thing, and he crossed the line without any dramas to take his second of the season.
Despite having 2 wins in comparison to Jams 1, Jam was still leading the championship after this race, but the margin was just 2 points. This obviously was not a comfortable lead, and Polaris will be hoped to take his winning momentum to Road America in July.
