Series is closing to it's culmination,meaning that action on track is getting even more hot,but still - no protests,no penalties!
However,even if there was no official protest posted,post-race discussion draw attention to connection problems between most drivers from Finland and event server. Since these problems included just 3 drivers,it has been decided,that race results will stand as they were,but with addition that's normally isn't practiced (usually we use the unwritten rule "longest run counts") - drivers with undoubtable connection problems in race of round 4 will get their laps counted together through out the race between time-outs. This is considered as the most fair action,as it would be unfair to drivers without technical problems to cancel and/or reschedule the race due technical problems of others.
Round 4 official results /
Championship standings
Despite qualifying just 4th and seeing the finnish trio pulling away early in race,Matiss saw 2 of the early leaders losing connection and catched the 3rd driver to make an overtake for win with 5 laps to go. This became the 1st round of this season with other podium finishers - Matiss took the top step for 2nd time,while other steps were taken by new podium visiters - the finnish new entrant Zupi finished 2nd and canadian driver Falcon took 3rd.
This had to be the very big jump towards the main title for S.Jurvansuu,as he took the pole position and pulled away from the rest in early phase,but connection problems stroke and he lost this race. But still he was dedicated to keep himself in race by rejoining after every time-out,at the end of race collecting a total of 25 laps,which gave him 7th position in this race,while taking both bonus points. And with these results AWS 2014 has reached it's culmination before final round - both championship contenders now are tied in points standings! Despite Matiss being rated as 1st due having more 2nd place finishes (both drivers have 2 wins),championship outcome is very simple - if no bonus points involved (or equally spread between the two),then the champion is the driver who finishes higher then his rival,if both drivers score same amount of points,Matiss wins the championship in any scenario.
Due C.Kistner's retirement,S.Jurvansuu has secured the AWS Rookie of the Year title. By winning both RB4 rounds,Matiss has clinched the AWS RB4 Master title and with win in 2nd rallycross round - also the Cross Challenge award. In opposite to last year's 2 point thriller in last round,this year Race Green Autosports wins the AWS Teams Championship after 4 of 5 rounds.
Last round will decide the outcome of 3 titles:
AWS Drivers Champion (and also the money prizes) - Matiss vs S.Jurvansuu,while C.Kistner has to defend his 3rd place from possible threats.
AWS FXR Master - S.Jurvansuu needs to finish in top6 to secure the title.
AWS Nations Cup - 2time defending champions Latvia has the toughest year in this league,still having solid 19 points lead over closest rivals Finland with 27 points possible in single round.
The final round is less then a week away,so here is also the info:
All-wheel-drive Winter Series 2014
Round 5
Sunday, 2nd March
19:00 UTC / 20:00 CET / 21:00 EET
As usually the AWS season ends with the fastest round - the 200 kilometers long race around the Kyoto Oval. It has always been a race where teamwork plays big role as single car is slower then cooperating 2 or more cars. As the teamwork,the Nascar like tandem bumpdrafting has been used mostly,but it always includes more risk then the slingshot slipstream drafting seen in other events. That's why it's needed to post a reminder - bumpdrafting is not forbidden,but in case of any protests about crashes,it will be treated as intentional contact,so it's advised to take care about your partners.
Also this round will feature single driver hotlap qualifying. The qualifying order will be main championship standings run in reversed order - the lowest position will start the qualifying with championship leader running last. Every driver will have 1 outlap and 2 timed hotlaps,after which he should spectate.
Round info:
Track: Kyoto Oval (KY1)
Laps: 67 (201km)
Car: FXR
Previous winners: S M.Kapal (2013), spdoReno (2012)
Server info and password will be PM'ed friday evening european time to all entrants,until then server remains publically accessible:
AWS 2014