This monday 30th evening, we were already back on a track, and this time, it was the return of the Fern Bay FE5Y WRX Layout made by LFS France who was hosting the second round of LFS France's 2024 Xmas Open. It was VladM's Le Rault Cinq Turbo that was choosen to be driven on this round, and what we can say : what a beast of a car! Despite it's light power of 162 bhp (which still was impressive back in the days the real car came on the market), the Cinq Turbo truly offered a challenge to the drivers on the pre-qualifications. And to this game, it's Team Winners' L.Rydh who showed how to tame the beast, and what's better to do it with manner by outclassifying the grid of a whole second? Indeed, GUM Garage's Derinus was 1.03 second away of the Swede at the second place. Meanwhile round 1 overall winner and 2024 League's champion KingOfIce was 1.26 seconds away of L.Rydh on 3rd place. Despite a certain theorical personal best worth a second place, FSR Team's boss, System, would only place his car on 4th, in front of Donald, and another FSR in the person of Cyandic. On 7th we would find our "minister of laps" Daf, with 874 qualifying laps, in front of a Belgium triplet : NFR's Proxima and Geraxi in front of CCRT's Nex. Nanex, Neron, Bizo, Gai-Luron, LeManchot, Pat De Lapin and King Junior would complete the grid of 17 qualified drivers. Infortunately, a hour before the race start, the paddock would hear that Gcomp and Lapper's founder, Gai-Luron, would miss the event due to a personnal event. With the 16 drivers on the grid, this mean we would have two 8 drivers semi finals in which the top 4 qualifies into the finals, meanwhile the rest would take part to the small final.
Semi 1 : KingOfIce tried, but L.Rydh didn't failed
So far for this first semi final, the grid was composed with L.Rydh on pole position in front of KingOfIce, Donald, Daf, Geraxi, Nanex, Bizo, and Pat de Lapin. At the start, KingOfIce tried to impress L.Rydh and took the best fly off the grid. But in the sector 2, the swede wasn't even impressed that he already attacked back at the end of the second sector where the joker lap's exit was placed. The 2 drivers were side by side in the thightest spot, meaning L.Rydh even scratch his left fender on the joker's exit, but still clinched his leading position back. Behind them, Geraxi and his NFR boss Nanex made a impressive twin dance after hitting the joker lap's exit rail. Infortunately, Bizo and then Daf couldn't avoid them... At the mid race, L.Rydh was leading in front of KingOfIce, Donald, Nanex, Geraxi, Bizo, Pat de Lap and Daf. At the last lap, the Top 3 took the joker lap. But KingOfIce failed his lap, allowing his team mate Donald to take the best of him on this joker lap. Fortunately for King, the gap ahead Nanex, 4th, was safe enough to not loose another position. On the back, Daf climbed 2 position while Bizo and Pat De Lapin did their joker lap. L.Rydh won this first semi with a impressive gap of 6,66 seconds in front of Donald and KingOfIce. The 4th place and last final qualifier of this first semi was scored by Nanex, who finished ahead of Geraxi, meaning the belgian would start on pole of the small final. Bizo and Pat De Lapin were completing the results.
Semi 2 : Derinus peacefully driving into final
And for the other semi final, the grid of the qualified even numbers was set with Derinus on pole in front of System, Cyandic, Proxima, Neron, LeManchot and KingJr. The grid took a peaceful start, but things started to change in first corner, as Proxima took the best of Cyandic, Neron did the same a corner later, meanwhile Nex jumped in the joker lap ASAP. Cyandic passed back Neron on the next corner and was pressuring Proxima meanwhile Nex left the joker lap in front of LeManchot and KingJr. Cyandic then tried a opportunistic pass on Proxima, but infortunately they touched, meaning the Portuguese FSR driver touched the inside wall causing him to spin to the last place. Meanwhile Derinus was peacefully leading in front of System, the things started to spice up on the pack on the second lap, and even before as Neron and Proxima touched at the last corner of the first lap, causing Proxima to spin and loose positions to the last place. And then positions changed quite a lot. LeManchot spun on the first corner exit, and it was his turn to drop on the last position. Nex climbed 3rd, meanwhile KingJr then spun at the sector 3's entry, at that left corner, offering Cyandic, despite his joker lap where he passed Neron, the 4th position. At mid race, Derinus was still leading in front of System, Nex, Cyandic, Neron, Proxima KingJr and LeManchot. The pair Derinus-System then took their joker lap on the last lap. The GUM's driver took it perfectly, same for the FSR's boss, but after leaving the joker and entering the 3rd sector, System lost his gears for a split second, revving into the neutral and loosing a couple of seconds. Fortunately for him, the gap on Nex was safe enough to keep the second place. And then Derinus won in front of System, Nex and Cyandic who made it into the final. Behind them, Proxima clinched the small final's front row on the ultimate meters of the race, passing Neron on the line by having a better grip at the last corner's exit. KingJr and LeManchot completed the semi's results.
Small final : Proxima's show!
For this small final, offered to the drivers who don't qualify into the final, the first row would be 100% NFR, 100% Belgium and... 100% family, as it was Geraxi in front of his brother Proxima. The minister of laps, Daf was 3rd in front of Neron, Bizo, KingJr, Pat De Lapin, and Neron. At the start, Proxima took the best of Geraxi, leading the field into the first corner. But Geraxi didnt gave up and passed his brother back before the second corner. This last one then decided to jump in the joker lap instead of staying on the bumper of the other Belgian NFR car. Bizo and Pat De Lapin also decided to do so. Proxima was leaving the joker lap on 4th but was side by side with Daf, 3rd, but then on the 3rd sector's entry, they infortunately touched on the left corner, meaning Daf went on spinning. Even more drama just a corner later, Proxima made the hold up of the race by claiming the race's lead, as Neron and Geraxi collided. So far Proxima was leading into the second lap in front Neron, KingJr, LeManchot, Bizo, Geraxi, Pat De Lapin, and Daf. On the first corner, LeManchot went a bit too wide, and then spun out of it, meaning he would drop last. KingJunior was taking the joker lap, promoting Bizo in 3rd. After the second lap, Geraxi took the best on KingOfIce's son, and was continuing his remontada after his first lap drama collision, and a lap later he was taking the 3rd position off Bizo's hand. On the back, KingJr infortunately lost all his good race start by making small mistakes and dropping to last position. Proxima then took a dominant win after a eventfull first lap. Neron finished on his back, meanwhile the polesitter Geraxi was taking the last step on the podium of the small final. Bizo, Daf, LeManchot, Pat de Lapin and KingJr were completing the results.
Final : The L.Rydh's demonstration!
The final's first row was occupied by L.Rydh in front of Derinus. Donald was following with System at his side of the second row. Meanwhile KingOfIce was only 5th, with Nex on his side. Nanex and Cyandic were completing the grid. L.Rydh took a great start and led the pack with style. Then on his back, the drivers were all packed up, while Donald took the best on his team mate Derinus. Nex and Cyandic were following, meanwhile System, KingOfIce and Nanex decided to do a early jump into the joker. While L.Rydh was leading all alone, a good fight was put on for the second lap with Donald, Derinus, Nex, Cyandic. Meanwhile Nex jumped in the joker lap, System and KingOfIce joined the fight for the second place! But Nex would then leave the joker between these 2. Cyandic took his joker on the 3rd lap, leaving System the opportunity of closing on the 2nd place's fight with the GUM pair Donald-Derinus. But the red FSR's car driver attacked way too aggressively and cooked his tire, offering KingOfIce the opportunity to climb into 4th on the 4th lap. And when it came for the 2nd place fighter's time to jump in the joker lap, KingOfIce took the best of Derinus. And then after a demonstration of pace, L.Rydh won the final, 9.77 seconds in front of Donald! KingOfIce took the last spot on the podium in front of Derinus. System, Nex, Cyandic and Nanex completed the results.
Bonus race : Proxima make it 2 in front of L.Rydh.
And then came the bonus race, where everyone met with a reversed grid from the pre-qualifying order. And to this game, it was KingJr who inherited the pole position, Pat De Lapin was following him on the first row. LeManchot and Bizo on the second row, Neron and Nanex on the 3rd row. Would then follow the belgian triplet, Nex in front of NFR's brother Geraxi and Proxima, meanwhile Daf was on the side of the latter. Cyandic and Donald would set the 6th row, meanwhile the two strong mens of the 2024 league, System and KingOfIce were on the 7th row. And finally, Derinus and L.Rydh on the last row. KingJr took a amazing start and led the pack into the first corner where the firsts dramas happened, as Neron smacked Bizo's rear bumper on the braking. KingJr entered into the second sector as the race leader, but infortunately, it looked like the League 2024 champion's son didnt held the pressure and made a costing mistake by going wide. Geraxi was set to take the lead, but he decided to jump in the joker, while KingJr, recovering his mistake on the dirt wall jumped back to the joker lap's tarmac just in front of him! A fraction of seconds and Geraxi's joker lap strategy would be ruined! Proxima was then leading the pack in front of Nex, menawhile Geraxi left 3rd in front of Donald. But behind them, Daf faulted all alone, touching the rail of the joker lap's exit, and spinning into the barrier. King could pass without any issues, but behind, Derinus couldn't avoid his team mate swirling green car. Behind them, Neron collided with Nanex while the NFR's boss was leaving the joker lap, and the ex Antiaris driver crashed into Derinus and Daf. After a first lap packed of all sorts of action, Proxima was leading in front of Nex, Geraxi, Donald, KingOfIce, Cyandic, System, KingJunior, L.Rydh, Derinus, Pat De Lapin, Neron, Bizo, Daf, Nanex and LeManchot. Proxima then decided to jump in the joker lap followed by his countrymate Nex. The NFR driver left in the lead, with a small gap in front of DOnald, meanwhile Nex left it 3rd in front of KingOfIce, and System, meanwhile L.Rydh was making his way to his remontada in 7th. And on the 3rd lap, a triplet composed of Nex, KingOfIce and Cyandic was fighting into the 3rd position 3 wide before the first corner, but both KingOfIce and Cyandic went wide on the corner, allowing Nex, System and L.Rydh to escape. System decided then to jump in the joker lap, meanwhilke KingOfIce, Cyandic and Derinus did the same. At mid race, Proxima was still leading in front of Donald, Nex, L.Rydh. System was on 5th in front of KingOfIce, Cyandic, Derinus, Geraxi and Nanex. The positions looked like to start to freeze, except L.Rydh continuing his remontada's way and climbing 3rd out of Nex's hands. At the end of the 4th lap, KingOfIce was pressuring System, but the FSR's driver was helding it strong, causing his league rival to make a mistake. Funily enough, it allowed another FSR driver to climb into King's 6th place. And then a couple of seconds later, L.Rydh added another driver to his hunting trophy, taking the best of Donald while the Lituanian driver took his joker lap, meanwhile more far on the grid, Bizo also passed Nanex for 10th. L.Rydh seemed to not stop on his hunting party as he closed drastically the gap on Proxima. But the belgian driver didn't failed at it and was the last missing trophy on the Swede's collection, as the NFR driver won this small final, 0.3 seconds in front of the final winner. Donald took the last step on the podium. A little further, Nex finished 4th, in front of a FSR twin, System ahead of Cyandic, meanwhile KingOfIce couldn't do better than 7th, same for Derinus with 8th. Geraxi and Bizo were completing the top 10, in front of Nanex and Neron. Bad evening for Daf who couldn't met a peacefull race, the Minister of Laps ending in 13th in front of Pat De Lapin. LeManchot and KingJr were completing the results, but a lap behind the whole top 14.
On the overall rankings, L.Rydh of course scored the most of points with 199 units. With their consistency, Donald and System are completing the podium, in front of a 190 points trio : Derinus, KingOfIce and Nex. Proxima ended up 7th in front of Cyandic, Nanex and Geraxi. On the championship standings, KingOfIce is still standing at the lead. But he's seeing Donald closing drastically the gap to 2 pointsn, meanwhile Derinus is just a point behind the Lituanian. System follow in 4th with Nex as they both have 382 points. On the team side, it's still a status quo on the top 3 : GUM in front of FSR and NFR. CCRT hold it up in 4th, meanwhile Team Winners enters in 5th in front of Antiaris who had no drivers this round. Texas Drivers Club also make his appaerence just behind the latter.
Next and final round will be held in a week, Monday 6th January. The drivers are awaited at Blackwood, with Stuchlo's official Skoda Felicia Kit Car. Until then, LFS France's staff wish to whole LFS community a good new year's eve. Enjoy and take care of your loved ones, and most importantly : drink responsibly, and don't take the road if you are drunk.
Semi 1 : KingOfIce tried, but L.Rydh didn't failed
So far for this first semi final, the grid was composed with L.Rydh on pole position in front of KingOfIce, Donald, Daf, Geraxi, Nanex, Bizo, and Pat de Lapin. At the start, KingOfIce tried to impress L.Rydh and took the best fly off the grid. But in the sector 2, the swede wasn't even impressed that he already attacked back at the end of the second sector where the joker lap's exit was placed. The 2 drivers were side by side in the thightest spot, meaning L.Rydh even scratch his left fender on the joker's exit, but still clinched his leading position back. Behind them, Geraxi and his NFR boss Nanex made a impressive twin dance after hitting the joker lap's exit rail. Infortunately, Bizo and then Daf couldn't avoid them... At the mid race, L.Rydh was leading in front of KingOfIce, Donald, Nanex, Geraxi, Bizo, Pat de Lap and Daf. At the last lap, the Top 3 took the joker lap. But KingOfIce failed his lap, allowing his team mate Donald to take the best of him on this joker lap. Fortunately for King, the gap ahead Nanex, 4th, was safe enough to not loose another position. On the back, Daf climbed 2 position while Bizo and Pat De Lapin did their joker lap. L.Rydh won this first semi with a impressive gap of 6,66 seconds in front of Donald and KingOfIce. The 4th place and last final qualifier of this first semi was scored by Nanex, who finished ahead of Geraxi, meaning the belgian would start on pole of the small final. Bizo and Pat De Lapin were completing the results.
Semi 2 : Derinus peacefully driving into final
And for the other semi final, the grid of the qualified even numbers was set with Derinus on pole in front of System, Cyandic, Proxima, Neron, LeManchot and KingJr. The grid took a peaceful start, but things started to change in first corner, as Proxima took the best of Cyandic, Neron did the same a corner later, meanwhile Nex jumped in the joker lap ASAP. Cyandic passed back Neron on the next corner and was pressuring Proxima meanwhile Nex left the joker lap in front of LeManchot and KingJr. Cyandic then tried a opportunistic pass on Proxima, but infortunately they touched, meaning the Portuguese FSR driver touched the inside wall causing him to spin to the last place. Meanwhile Derinus was peacefully leading in front of System, the things started to spice up on the pack on the second lap, and even before as Neron and Proxima touched at the last corner of the first lap, causing Proxima to spin and loose positions to the last place. And then positions changed quite a lot. LeManchot spun on the first corner exit, and it was his turn to drop on the last position. Nex climbed 3rd, meanwhile KingJr then spun at the sector 3's entry, at that left corner, offering Cyandic, despite his joker lap where he passed Neron, the 4th position. At mid race, Derinus was still leading in front of System, Nex, Cyandic, Neron, Proxima KingJr and LeManchot. The pair Derinus-System then took their joker lap on the last lap. The GUM's driver took it perfectly, same for the FSR's boss, but after leaving the joker and entering the 3rd sector, System lost his gears for a split second, revving into the neutral and loosing a couple of seconds. Fortunately for him, the gap on Nex was safe enough to keep the second place. And then Derinus won in front of System, Nex and Cyandic who made it into the final. Behind them, Proxima clinched the small final's front row on the ultimate meters of the race, passing Neron on the line by having a better grip at the last corner's exit. KingJr and LeManchot completed the semi's results.
Small final : Proxima's show!
For this small final, offered to the drivers who don't qualify into the final, the first row would be 100% NFR, 100% Belgium and... 100% family, as it was Geraxi in front of his brother Proxima. The minister of laps, Daf was 3rd in front of Neron, Bizo, KingJr, Pat De Lapin, and Neron. At the start, Proxima took the best of Geraxi, leading the field into the first corner. But Geraxi didnt gave up and passed his brother back before the second corner. This last one then decided to jump in the joker lap instead of staying on the bumper of the other Belgian NFR car. Bizo and Pat De Lapin also decided to do so. Proxima was leaving the joker lap on 4th but was side by side with Daf, 3rd, but then on the 3rd sector's entry, they infortunately touched on the left corner, meaning Daf went on spinning. Even more drama just a corner later, Proxima made the hold up of the race by claiming the race's lead, as Neron and Geraxi collided. So far Proxima was leading into the second lap in front Neron, KingJr, LeManchot, Bizo, Geraxi, Pat De Lapin, and Daf. On the first corner, LeManchot went a bit too wide, and then spun out of it, meaning he would drop last. KingJunior was taking the joker lap, promoting Bizo in 3rd. After the second lap, Geraxi took the best on KingOfIce's son, and was continuing his remontada after his first lap drama collision, and a lap later he was taking the 3rd position off Bizo's hand. On the back, KingJr infortunately lost all his good race start by making small mistakes and dropping to last position. Proxima then took a dominant win after a eventfull first lap. Neron finished on his back, meanwhile the polesitter Geraxi was taking the last step on the podium of the small final. Bizo, Daf, LeManchot, Pat de Lapin and KingJr were completing the results.
Final : The L.Rydh's demonstration!
The final's first row was occupied by L.Rydh in front of Derinus. Donald was following with System at his side of the second row. Meanwhile KingOfIce was only 5th, with Nex on his side. Nanex and Cyandic were completing the grid. L.Rydh took a great start and led the pack with style. Then on his back, the drivers were all packed up, while Donald took the best on his team mate Derinus. Nex and Cyandic were following, meanwhile System, KingOfIce and Nanex decided to do a early jump into the joker. While L.Rydh was leading all alone, a good fight was put on for the second lap with Donald, Derinus, Nex, Cyandic. Meanwhile Nex jumped in the joker lap, System and KingOfIce joined the fight for the second place! But Nex would then leave the joker between these 2. Cyandic took his joker on the 3rd lap, leaving System the opportunity of closing on the 2nd place's fight with the GUM pair Donald-Derinus. But the red FSR's car driver attacked way too aggressively and cooked his tire, offering KingOfIce the opportunity to climb into 4th on the 4th lap. And when it came for the 2nd place fighter's time to jump in the joker lap, KingOfIce took the best of Derinus. And then after a demonstration of pace, L.Rydh won the final, 9.77 seconds in front of Donald! KingOfIce took the last spot on the podium in front of Derinus. System, Nex, Cyandic and Nanex completed the results.
Bonus race : Proxima make it 2 in front of L.Rydh.
And then came the bonus race, where everyone met with a reversed grid from the pre-qualifying order. And to this game, it was KingJr who inherited the pole position, Pat De Lapin was following him on the first row. LeManchot and Bizo on the second row, Neron and Nanex on the 3rd row. Would then follow the belgian triplet, Nex in front of NFR's brother Geraxi and Proxima, meanwhile Daf was on the side of the latter. Cyandic and Donald would set the 6th row, meanwhile the two strong mens of the 2024 league, System and KingOfIce were on the 7th row. And finally, Derinus and L.Rydh on the last row. KingJr took a amazing start and led the pack into the first corner where the firsts dramas happened, as Neron smacked Bizo's rear bumper on the braking. KingJr entered into the second sector as the race leader, but infortunately, it looked like the League 2024 champion's son didnt held the pressure and made a costing mistake by going wide. Geraxi was set to take the lead, but he decided to jump in the joker, while KingJr, recovering his mistake on the dirt wall jumped back to the joker lap's tarmac just in front of him! A fraction of seconds and Geraxi's joker lap strategy would be ruined! Proxima was then leading the pack in front of Nex, menawhile Geraxi left 3rd in front of Donald. But behind them, Daf faulted all alone, touching the rail of the joker lap's exit, and spinning into the barrier. King could pass without any issues, but behind, Derinus couldn't avoid his team mate swirling green car. Behind them, Neron collided with Nanex while the NFR's boss was leaving the joker lap, and the ex Antiaris driver crashed into Derinus and Daf. After a first lap packed of all sorts of action, Proxima was leading in front of Nex, Geraxi, Donald, KingOfIce, Cyandic, System, KingJunior, L.Rydh, Derinus, Pat De Lapin, Neron, Bizo, Daf, Nanex and LeManchot. Proxima then decided to jump in the joker lap followed by his countrymate Nex. The NFR driver left in the lead, with a small gap in front of DOnald, meanwhile Nex left it 3rd in front of KingOfIce, and System, meanwhile L.Rydh was making his way to his remontada in 7th. And on the 3rd lap, a triplet composed of Nex, KingOfIce and Cyandic was fighting into the 3rd position 3 wide before the first corner, but both KingOfIce and Cyandic went wide on the corner, allowing Nex, System and L.Rydh to escape. System decided then to jump in the joker lap, meanwhilke KingOfIce, Cyandic and Derinus did the same. At mid race, Proxima was still leading in front of Donald, Nex, L.Rydh. System was on 5th in front of KingOfIce, Cyandic, Derinus, Geraxi and Nanex. The positions looked like to start to freeze, except L.Rydh continuing his remontada's way and climbing 3rd out of Nex's hands. At the end of the 4th lap, KingOfIce was pressuring System, but the FSR's driver was helding it strong, causing his league rival to make a mistake. Funily enough, it allowed another FSR driver to climb into King's 6th place. And then a couple of seconds later, L.Rydh added another driver to his hunting trophy, taking the best of Donald while the Lituanian driver took his joker lap, meanwhile more far on the grid, Bizo also passed Nanex for 10th. L.Rydh seemed to not stop on his hunting party as he closed drastically the gap on Proxima. But the belgian driver didn't failed at it and was the last missing trophy on the Swede's collection, as the NFR driver won this small final, 0.3 seconds in front of the final winner. Donald took the last step on the podium. A little further, Nex finished 4th, in front of a FSR twin, System ahead of Cyandic, meanwhile KingOfIce couldn't do better than 7th, same for Derinus with 8th. Geraxi and Bizo were completing the top 10, in front of Nanex and Neron. Bad evening for Daf who couldn't met a peacefull race, the Minister of Laps ending in 13th in front of Pat De Lapin. LeManchot and KingJr were completing the results, but a lap behind the whole top 14.
On the overall rankings, L.Rydh of course scored the most of points with 199 units. With their consistency, Donald and System are completing the podium, in front of a 190 points trio : Derinus, KingOfIce and Nex. Proxima ended up 7th in front of Cyandic, Nanex and Geraxi. On the championship standings, KingOfIce is still standing at the lead. But he's seeing Donald closing drastically the gap to 2 pointsn, meanwhile Derinus is just a point behind the Lituanian. System follow in 4th with Nex as they both have 382 points. On the team side, it's still a status quo on the top 3 : GUM in front of FSR and NFR. CCRT hold it up in 4th, meanwhile Team Winners enters in 5th in front of Antiaris who had no drivers this round. Texas Drivers Club also make his appaerence just behind the latter.
Next and final round will be held in a week, Monday 6th January. The drivers are awaited at Blackwood, with Stuchlo's official Skoda Felicia Kit Car. Until then, LFS France's staff wish to whole LFS community a good new year's eve. Enjoy and take care of your loved ones, and most importantly : drink responsibly, and don't take the road if you are drunk.