The 2008 Season of oneGP F1 World Series had a climactic finish to the team title this past weekend at South City Long Reversed. With a 15 point gap, and the tight streets of South City, Sonicrealms Racing (SR) had a chance to get the necessary points on Formula Racing Organization (FRO) to get the title. At the start, everyone made it safely through the narrow, bumpy run to turn 2 and through turn 2 safely, much to the surprise of all involved. The cleanliness did not last long, as into turn 4, AirAttack driver Matthew Beattie (AMB) rear-ended a sliding Andreas Eriksson (Hibex) of the FRO team, and caused a schemozzle in the blind exit of the turn. The incident involved several other drivers, and caused Pete Hopkins to flip and end up upside down on the left hand side of the course, which brought out the Safety Car.
On lap 3, under safety car, SR driver Taha El Alaoui ran into the rear of AMD Racing's James Roby, sending Roby into the armco and ending his race. The incident was deemed El Alaoui's fault, and he recieved a stop-go penalty for the incident. There were several other incidents under safety car, most of a minor nature with slides and wall bumps due to the tight nature of the course. On the Safety Car's inlap, as race leader Adam Wisnewski of SR coasted out of turn 12 before putting his foot to the floor, drivers behind had to slow down abruptly to avoid hitting each other. This lead to a spin from Eriksson, after some contact from Beattie. The race still went green, and Wisnewski held control for the race.
After the restart, the race continued on, with FRO still in safe position to take the team title. On lap 19, with the retirement of El Alaoui, the team title was clinched in FRO's hands. The remaining battle on course was for the win, with Wisnewski about 20 seconds ahead of Beattie before pitstops. Wisnewski pitted in on lap 27 to take on tyres and fuel to the finish. It was expected that Beattie was on a full tank of fuel, and was evidenced by his run to lap 34 before pitting. Beattie, in an attempt to gain as much time on Wisnewski, Beattie took on only fuel at his stop. However, Beattie's strategy did not work, and he came out of pits about 7 seconds behind Wisnewski. For the first few laps after the stop, Beattie was doing well to hang with Wisnewski, time-wise, but as the run went on, and Beattie's tyres wore further and further, he slipped back, to his eventual 12 second gap to the winner.
Henrizio Salminen finished third, one lap off the lead pace.
Final Driver's Points
Final Team Points
On lap 3, under safety car, SR driver Taha El Alaoui ran into the rear of AMD Racing's James Roby, sending Roby into the armco and ending his race. The incident was deemed El Alaoui's fault, and he recieved a stop-go penalty for the incident. There were several other incidents under safety car, most of a minor nature with slides and wall bumps due to the tight nature of the course. On the Safety Car's inlap, as race leader Adam Wisnewski of SR coasted out of turn 12 before putting his foot to the floor, drivers behind had to slow down abruptly to avoid hitting each other. This lead to a spin from Eriksson, after some contact from Beattie. The race still went green, and Wisnewski held control for the race.
After the restart, the race continued on, with FRO still in safe position to take the team title. On lap 19, with the retirement of El Alaoui, the team title was clinched in FRO's hands. The remaining battle on course was for the win, with Wisnewski about 20 seconds ahead of Beattie before pitstops. Wisnewski pitted in on lap 27 to take on tyres and fuel to the finish. It was expected that Beattie was on a full tank of fuel, and was evidenced by his run to lap 34 before pitting. Beattie, in an attempt to gain as much time on Wisnewski, Beattie took on only fuel at his stop. However, Beattie's strategy did not work, and he came out of pits about 7 seconds behind Wisnewski. For the first few laps after the stop, Beattie was doing well to hang with Wisnewski, time-wise, but as the run went on, and Beattie's tyres wore further and further, he slipped back, to his eventual 12 second gap to the winner.
Henrizio Salminen finished third, one lap off the lead pace.
Final Driver's Points
Final Team Points