The legendary Circuit de Spa Francorchamps challenged drivers through all 19 of its technical and flowing curves.
Simulator Paradise
Circuit de Spa Francorchamps was the most requested track of this calendar season with 25 Driver votes. This picturesque hillside track, nestled into the Ardennes mountains, hosted their first Grand Prix over 100 years ago in 1925. It's remained a staple of Sim Racing from its very conception and excites all drivers - new and old. Needless to say, it made for a perfect playground in Week 2 of our BFBS Pro League season.
In-focus: Week 2 - Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
Standings
With just one week's points tallied up, uncertainty clouded expectations of what was to come. Proven54 entered the race as the "one to watch", having dominated Silverstone in a down-to-the-wire battle with EdwardGFleming. Two new drivers registered for this week's race, including the formidable Phoenix, a two-time interservice F1 champion, and newcomer Smudge.
Qualifying
Qualifying remained dry, with overcast conditions undoubtedly heightening nerves across the grid. Just 7 minutes into the session, F1 veteran Phoenix completed a poll-worthy lap to top our timing charts, before beating himself by a further 4 tenths. Proven54 solidified his position as "one to watch" in the Championship with a front row grid slot to continue his remarkable form. Unsurprisingly, EdwardGFleming, who was hungry for redemption after Silverstone's last lap drama, closely chased behind in P3. Notably, Smudge thrilled with a P9 grid placement on his first maiden UKAF F1 outing. All eyes were to the skies - as after all - Spa loves a bit of rain!
Lap 1
Turn 1 of Spa offers a daunting right-hand hairpin. All cars escaped unscathed with the exception of Baconing Pancakes, who was forced to take to the sand, after attempting to hold the outside line whilst 4-cars wide. Here, Roones18 made a crucial move down the inside on Adam Thompson to move up to P4. Fortunately for all, no drivers were brave enough to go 2 wide into the Eau Rouge / Raidillon complex, as drivers settled into their positions.
Adam Thompson vs. Roones18 vs. EdwardGFleming
Adam Thompson (P4) nailed an exit from T1 to start his third lap, leaving him with a comfortable move after Raidillon, to knock Roones18 (P3) back down. This certainly didn't last long, as Roones18 produced a carbon copy of this move, just one lap later. Already, the pair had changed positions 3 times... a trend which would unfold into an immense battle for P3, P4 and P5 for the remainder of the race.
Laps 7-9
Proven54 in P2 came into the pits for a fresh set of hard tyres at the end of Lap 7, no doubt in an attempt to undercut Phoenix out in front. EdwardGFleming and Phoenix chose to stay out until Lap 9 before pitting, marking important strategy differences across the top of the pack.
Lap 10
Proven54's undercut paid off... for now! Phoenix exited the pits too closely for comfort and was overtaken during his outlap, after Raidillon, forcing the leader down to P2. In a tensely building battle for a podium, Roones18 made a move past a freshly penalized EdwardGFleming, to pour salt in the wound and move up to P3. Adam Thompson was moving at a speed of knots and closed the gap to mere tenths to these two drivers ahead.
Lap 12
EdwardGFleming retakes his position for P3. Roones18 drops to P4. Phoenix (P2) takes the lead after deploying all his battery and DRS into Les Combes, forcing Proven54 to play catch-up once more.
Laps 17-18
Adam Thompson nails a switchback on the final turn of Lap 17, leading to a sweeping move around the outside of T1, to trade positions with Roones18 for P4. Roones, keen to cling on to the pair ahead, soon gains a 3 second penalty for track limit violations.
Penultimate Lap
Chewie (P7) deploys his battery to overtake BR8115 (P8) moments before the braking zone into Les Combes. Contact! BR8115 goes later on the brakes and collides with Chewie's rear, unsettling both cars. Not even seconds later, a dramatic move into Turn 6 of Les Combes goes horribly wrong for BR8115. BR8115 interlocks his front right tyre with Chewie's rear left, as he is catapulted into the barrier with harsh damage and a P8 position to desperately cling onto.
Final Lap
Adam Thompson (P4) uses all of his battery to overtake EdwardGFleming (P3) into Les Combes. EdwardGFleming stamps on the brakes and locks up his fronts, but survives the first of Les Combes in front of Adam Thompson unscathed. This brave, but clean, hard racing between the pair would continue to the very end. Courtesy of Edward's penalty on Lap 10, Adam Thompson reclaims the podium at the finish line, with EdwardGFleming finishing P4 and Roones18, P5. Phoenix (P1) opens up a gap of 4 seconds on Proven54 (P2) to round out a spectacular debut outing in the BFBS Pro League for Phoenix, who also claimed the fastest lap.
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