F1RMGP presents: The 24 Hour V8 Bathurst Enduro 2014

[Salamander]

Hey! Easy-difficulty Melrose, are you attempting to do espionage against us? *shots Melrose with papaya-juice-and-milk-gun*

And Davieses, your time-travel keys are mine. :Next is to bathplug up Alasdair... Shift into overdrive, Ogawa-san!!

No, they're not.

[DemocalypseNow]

Next is to bathplug up Alasdair... Shift into overdrive, Ogawa-san!!

Dinna hink so Ai. Too busy having an existential crisis ken.

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Saturday, 13 December 2014 – 20:00

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   +1   22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  M. McFry           216   08:00:02.836
2   -1   1   Viking Racing / Holden                        Þ. Einarsson       215   08:00:41.456
3   NC   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         HWNSNBM            215   08:01:07.782
4   NC   27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      G. Tarquini        215   08:01:08.925
5   +2   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              H. Noda            214   08:00:50.500
6   -1   12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             J. Hamilton        214   08:01:00.016
7   +4   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          M. Asmer           213   08:01:42.222
8   +1   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   D. Simpson         212   08:00:04.056
9   -3   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        T. de Bock         212   08:00:11.226
10  NC   15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                      H. Tojo            212   08:00:41.136

Code: Select all

11  -3   36  Team Ultimate / Holden                        A. Beatriz         212   08:01:00.252
12  NC   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          K. Tsukakoshi      212   08:01:10.086
13  +1   20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             S. Wolff           211   08:00:15.842
14  -1   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               P. McAllister      211   08:00:55.019
15  +3   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             M. Macklin         211   08:01:44.971
16  NC   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           V. Reyna-Sanchez   210   08:00:37.768
17  -2   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   P. McCarthy        210   08:01:45.940
18  +1   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          F. Giovanardi      210   08:01:46.651
19  +1   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    J. Plaza           210   08:02:01.275
20  -3   34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                        H. Ogawa (H)       209   08:00:25.212

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21  NC   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   P. Brock (H)       203   08:01:29.819
22  NC   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies I        197   08:01:52.034
23  NC   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               S. Katayama        193   08:01:12.720
24  NC   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    V. Ickx            185   08:01:33.286
25  NC   8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                   Y. Ide             184   08:01:48.983
26  NC   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      E. Kimiläinen      176   08:01:11.311

As the sun slowly sets over Bathurst and is replaced by headlights and floodlights, that man McFry's done it again. Can anyone stop him? Erasing the deficit of ten seconds, the West Cliff DeLorean now leads by an entire lap – the only hope the others may have now involved Douglas Mann having a trouser accident during his next stint, a typical DeLorean mechanical problem, or the extra wind resistance caused because the car has pop-up headlights. Alarm bells are ringing in the Viking garage as Þorvaldur Einarsson was steadily dragged over the course of the two hours towards the clutches of HWNSNBM, charging in the F1RM Ford, and Gabriele Tarquini who had an exceptional stint for SAAC to get right back on terms with the Hungarian champion. These four at the top have been edging away from the rest, with Leyton Dome now on almost equal terms with the Red Bull Holden, with Hideki Noda having pulled an immense move on Jason Hamilton to take the place away. The Apollonia Ford is now the only car three laps back, Marko Asmer having hauled it up four places through the field at the expense of the Gulf Oils Ford, driven by Dave Simpson, the Gillet ENB Holden, which Thomas de Bock has been having handling trouble with, the Pac Racing Nissan in Hiroto Tojo's hands, and Ana Beatriz in the Team Ultimate Holden who's been going backwards. Autobacs are the last team four laps back, with a pack of three now five laps down – Susie Wolff in the Foxdale Holden, Phoenix McAllister in the Aeroracing Nissan, and Mitchell Macklin, who's dragged the Virgin MRT A-team back in front of the second-string squadron. Still the B-team hasn't lost a place, though, with Vidal Reyna-Sanchez finally getting himself in front of the cloud of blue smoke that Perry McCarthy's Trabant was throwing at him – now, right in the blast zone, is Fabrizio Giovanardi in the Trueba Nissan, less than a second behind the Trabant and who will surely need the windscreen thoroughly cleaned at the impending changeover time. This just leaves the Zombie Conglomerate Ford and the Psycho Soldiers Ford to bring up the rear of those cars who have not suffered any dramas – unless you count two hours of rejectful driving from Hitoshi Ogawa that has lost Psycho Soldiers a lap over their nearest rivals. Meanwhile, right at the back, it's as you were for the six cars that have been hauled in for running repairs, and the Holden Racing team have still got a chance of beating Psycho Soldiers if they can keep up the pace Peter Brock's been running at. Don't discount the three James Davieses, either.

[FMecha]

Scene 1
Setting: Pac Racing Club team garage

The machine is atleast keeping up its performance while staying reliable. I can push harder.

This is looking good, boys. Now I expect we can carry on the legacy of Giuliano here, Mackintosh. Go chase the ENB!

-----------

Scene 2
Setting: Psycho Soldiers team garage

Ai should not tell me to shift into overdrive! That was... ruinful.

Well, pushing into overdrive was not a good idea. But when Yuka is on the car by night, we'll aiming to go away from the ailing Davies car. EAT THAT, DAVIES(ES)! HA~!

[Shadaza]

Oh Bathplug.

We went from being one lap down to four, dropping out the top 10 in the process! Bea, stop thinking about Seb Prost and pull your finger out!
We now need some hard fast slogs from Cave and hope to regain some of the lost ground!

Should of gone for Susie Wolff instead...

[dr-baker]

As the sun slowly sets over Bathurst and is replaced by headlights and floodlights, that man McFry's done it again. Can anyone stop him? Erasing the deficit of ten seconds, the West Cliff DeLorean now leads by an entire lap – the only hope the others may have now involved Douglas Mann having a trouser accident during his next stint, a typical DeLorean mechanical problem, or the extra wind resistance caused because the car has pop-up headlights.

Pop-up headlights? This is a DeLorean DMC-12, not a Mazda MX5 or a Toyota MR2 !!!

DeLorean DMC-12


Mazda MX5 Mk1


Toyota MR2 Mk1

A very good stint. But there is still a long way to go yet.

Please don't say that.

Susie had a good stint too, helping us move one place closer towards our aim of a top-10 finish, which I hope to continue to work towards.

[dinizintheoven]

As the sun slowly sets over Bathurst and is replaced by headlights and floodlights, that man McFry's done it again. Can anyone stop him? Erasing the deficit of ten seconds, the West Cliff DeLorean now leads by an entire lap – the only hope the others may have now involved Douglas Mann having a trouser accident during his next stint, a typical DeLorean mechanical problem, or the extra wind resistance caused because the car has pop-up headlights.

Pop-up headlights? This is a DeLorean DMC-12, not a Mazda MX5 or a Toyota MR2 !!!

...what was I thinking of? And I've just seen Wheeler Dealers restore a DeLorean barely a few days ago...

...that said, I've also seen them restore a BMW 8-series, which does have pop-up headlights, and an original MR2, and a Corvette C4...

...a trouser accident for Dougie it is, then!

[dr-baker]

As the sun slowly sets over Bathurst and is replaced by headlights and floodlights, that man McFry's done it again. Can anyone stop him? Erasing the deficit of ten seconds, the West Cliff DeLorean now leads by an entire lap – the only hope the others may have now involved Douglas Mann having a trouser accident during his next stint, a typical DeLorean mechanical problem, or the extra wind resistance caused because the car has pop-up headlights.

Pop-up headlights? This is a DeLorean DMC-12, not a Mazda MX5 or a Toyota MR2 !!!

...what was I thinking of? And I've just seen Wheeler Dealers restore a DeLorean barely a few days ago...

...that said, I've also seen them restore a BMW 8-series, which does have pop-up headlights, and an original MR2, and a Corvette C4...

...a trouser accident for Dougie it is, then!

Euuuggghhhh! Please no! For the sake of the lovely Alice Powell, who has to get in that car after Douglas!

[FMecha]

Yuka, brake test the Zombies.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Bathplug. That bathplugging hurts. *Leaves then returns with a sledgehammer*

[RonDenisDeletraz]

The car is fast, if I don't get taken out then a podium is possible.

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Saturday, 13 December 2014 – 22:00

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   NC   22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  D. Mann            268   10:00:25.086
2   NC   1   Viking Racing / Holden                        J. Magnussen       268   10:02:06.615
3   NC   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         J-D. Délétraz      267   10:00:29.840
4   +1   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              M. Apicella        267   10:02:08.098
5   -1   27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      E. Bertaggia       267   10:02:21.273
6   NC   12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             M. Paasonen        267   10:02:28.483
7   +2   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        A. Moll            266   10:01:02.132
8   NC   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   R. Simpson         265   10:00:35.567
9   +3   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          K. Oshima          265   10:01:39.003
10  -3   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          M. Bosevic         265   10:01:46.225

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11  -1   15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                      S. Mackintosh      265   10:02:14.865
12  +1   20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             P. Mann            264   10:00:30.162
13  -2   36  Team Ultimate / Holden                        C. Johnson         264   10:01:40.589
14  +2   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           J. Cavalcanti      263   10:00:34.205
15  -1   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               N. Bellic          263   10:00:49.830
16  +2   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          G. Roda            263   10:01:35.953
17  -2   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             D. O'Lauchlan      263   10:02:12.153
18  +1   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    D. Greenlaw        263   10:02:23.237
19  -2   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   P. Chaves          262   10:01:35.974

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20  NC   34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                        Y. Katayama        261   10:01:02.581
21  NC   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   M. Skaife          255   10:00:36.153
22  NC   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies II       251   10:02:23.418
23  NC   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               K. Lon             246   10:01:10.059
24  NC   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    S. de Silvestro    239   10:02:31.821
25  +1   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      N. Lindgren        228   10:00:44.159
RET RET  8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                   S. Nakano          185   08:05:37.547

Barely had the sun set, and the race had its first retirement. Everyone in the Super Aguri garage watched in horror as Shinji Nakano, somehow unprepared for the failing light, commmitted automotive seppuku barely one lap into his stint - he completely missed the exit of Quarry, smashed into the wall and totalled the car. Fortunately the mess was cleared up quickly, the race was barely delayed, and Jan Magnussen in the Viking Holden could set about the pressing business of demolishing West Cliff's lead, with Douglas Mann now at the wheel. However, the Manxman acquitted himself well, he may have lost a lap, but not the lead. Jean-Denis Délétraz carried F1RM through his two hours to stay third, but behind him and on the same lap, Marco Apicella put the Leyton Dome Nissan into fourth, dropping Enrico Bertaggia in the SAAC Holden to fifth and into the clutches of Red Bull World Race Team, expertly piloted by Mika Paasonen. But probably the true star of the show was Aurélien Moll, who pulled a blinder to get Gillet ENB back to two laps behind the lead – a further demonstration, as if West Cliff wasn't enough, that a small-budget team can put in a fine performance – and all this despite losing almost an entire lap after an unwanted altercation with Cave Johnson in the Team Ultimate Holden. Three laps back were Rick Simpson, holding the Gulf Oils Ford steady, Kazuya Oshima, dragging the Autobacs Nissan back up three places, Mirko Bosevic, who'd lost the same number of places for the Apollonia Ford team, and Steven Mackintosh for Pac Racing. Pippa Mann kept the Foxdale Holden running slowly but steadily in twelfth, on the same lap as Cave Johnson, who'd done himself no favours trying to bash the fellow Holden of Gillet ENB out of the race. Into the five-times lapped runners, a promotion of two places doesn't really do the drives of João Cavalcanti and Giovanni Roda justice; Roda was terrible during his first stint but had somehow found his mojo again, so the Virgin MRT B-team and Trueba Nissan both ascended the timesheets – slightly. This was at the expense of Aeroracing, Miko Bellic finding the rapidly-fading light almost as tough as Nakano had done, and also Virgin MRT's A-squadron, again losing time and places hand over fist with Dean O'Lauchlan driving. What must Daniel Melrose be thinking now? If it's any consolation, which it probably isn't, they're at least still ahead of the desperately slow stragglers at the back, the Zombie Conglomerate Ford which Dan Greenlaw can do very little to improve, the Cillit Bang! Trabant which was expected to be rubbish anyway (even though, briefly, it wasn't) and – cast adrift at the bottom of the untroubled runners – the Psycho Soldiers Ford, which the five walking wounded could well make a move on soon. Mark Skaife drove the wheels off his Holden and is eyeing them up keenly, but Team James Davies in turn is hunting him down, leaving the final three for dead. But nevertheless, Kay Lon, Simona de Silvestro and Nettan Lindgren have ploughed on, knowing that there will be more retirements to come, not just Shinji Nakano, as the cars continue to be thrashed hard through the night and will be very second-hand by daybreak.

[Salamander]

Guys? Just want to point something out here - we lost 21 laps in the pits with that broken transmission.

Which you broke.

Shut up. Anyway, what I was going to say is - we were 21 laps down. We're now 17 laps down. On the DeLorean.

What.

Surely that's gotta be a... no, no he's right, holy shite. We've gained 4 laps on everybody else, how the hell does that even happen?

Think it's safe to say if the transmission didn't break, we'd be winning. By quite a lot.

Of course we would be, we're the greatest driver ever. Ever. Now if you'll excuse me...

Should I try to stop him..?

Nah, let him have his fun. It's not like he's---

HEY, OTHER TEAMS! WHY DO YOU ALL SUCK SO MUCH!? SERIOUSLY, WE'VE GAINED 4 LAPS ON THE LEADERS WITH OUR SHITTY TRANSMISSION, HOW ARE YOU ALL NOT GOING FASTER? THAT'S A GENUINE QUESTION BY THE WAY, WE'RE STUMPED AS WELL.

... ummm... hmmm... carry the 5... hmmm.... Guys, at this pace, we're on for a top 10 finish.

YOU HEAR THAT? WE'RE ON FOR A TOP 10! HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?

[Nessafox]

Trabant still believes they're set to win the race. In fact, the DDR is likely to give Roberto Moreno a Medal of Honor for his contribution to spreading the Marxist spirit. It is not sure if Roberto would want that, though...

[DemocalypseNow]

Trabant still believes they're set to win the race. In fact, the DDR is likely to give Roberto Moreno a Medal of Honor for his contribution to spreading the Marxist spirit. It is not sure if Roberto would want that, though...

He might, he might not - Brazil has a large left-leaning sector of population. Marxist though...that might be something else entirely.

And SAAC would like to inform Trabant they are in dreamland, and need a slap in the face for a reality check.

[Nessafox]

And SAAC would like to inform Trabant they are in dreamland, and need a slap in the face for a reality check.

Trabant makes your dreams come true!

[DemocalypseNow]

And SAAC would like to inform Trabant they are in dreamland, and need a slap in the face for a reality check.

Trabant makes your dreams come true!

[dr-baker]

Trabant still believes they're set to win the race. In fact, the DDR is likely to give Roberto Moreno a Medal of Honor for his contribution to spreading the Marxist spirit. It is not sure if Roberto would want that, though...

The winner is more likely to be spreading Manxist spirit than Marxist spirit, methinks. And James Davies, did you use that time machine of yours as you threatened before your last stint? Because gaining 4 laps in 2 hours seems highly suspicious to me, even with Douglas's medical problems...

[Salamander]

Trabant still believes they're set to win the race. In fact, the DDR is likely to give Roberto Moreno a Medal of Honor for his contribution to spreading the Marxist spirit. It is not sure if Roberto would want that, though...

The winner is more likely to be spreading Manxist spirit than Marxist spirit, methinks. And James Davies, did you use that time machine of yours as you threatened before your last stint? Because gaining 4 laps in 2 hours seems highly suspicious to me, even with Douglas's medical problems...

Nope, that's not it. It was 4 hours ago that 14 broke the transmission anyway.

I didn't break it!

Shut up. Plus, as was previously mentioned, the keys to our time machine are in 1985. So yeah, we can't actually use it.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

flarxgnbph(passes out)

[TomWazzleshaw]

Bathplug off, you little sod! *Passes out as well*

[DemocalypseNow]

flarxgnbph(passes out)

Bathplug off, you little sod! *Passes out as well*

Amateurs...

Is it just me, or did the drinking culture in the Rejects virtual universe only kick in when Scuderia Alitalia showed up? Hmmm....

[TomWazzleshaw]

flarxgnbph(passes out)

Bathplug off, you little sod! *Passes out as well*

Amateurs...

Is it just me, or did the drinking culture in the Rejects virtual universe only kick in when Scuderia Alitalia showed up? Hmmm....

I think you're right. Damn Glaswegians

[RonDenisDeletraz]

flarxgnbph(passes out)

Bathplug off, you little sod! *Passes out as well*

Amateurs...

Is it just me, or did the drinking culture in the Rejects virtual universe only kick in when Scuderia Alitalia showed up? Hmmm....

It's because Scuderia Alitalia supply most of the alcohol.

[dr-baker]

Trabant still believes they're set to win the race. In fact, the DDR is likely to give Roberto Moreno a Medal of Honor for his contribution to spreading the Marxist spirit. It is not sure if Roberto would want that, though...

The winner is more likely to be spreading Manxist spirit than Marxist spirit, methinks. And James Davies, did you use that time machine of yours as you threatened before your last stint? Because gaining 4 laps in 2 hours seems highly suspicious to me, even with Douglas's medical problems...

Nope, that's not it. It was 4 hours ago that 14 broke the transmission anyway.

I didn't break it!

Shut up. Plus, as was previously mentioned, the keys to our time machine are in 1985. So yeah, we can't actually use it.

Martin McFry and I have been discussing this, as we are bound to, and we don't believe that the keys really are in 1985. Martin knows about time travel, you see, and he is still sure that one of you (he can't be sure which one yet of you though) is cheating by using your flux capacitor/TARDIS/whatever it is. The 'keys in 1985' is just a ruse...

[Salamander]

Martin McFry and I have been discussing this, as we are bound to, and we don't believe that the keys really are in 1985. Martin knows about time travel, you see, and he is still sure that one of you (he can't be sure which one yet of you though) is cheating by using your flux capacitor/TARDIS/whatever it is. The 'keys in 1985' is just a ruse...

Believe me, I'd love it if you were right. We could take our rightful 21 laps back. But Captain Killjoy over here--

Hey!

-- doesn't want to cheat.

And as I've already said, once this race is over, we can just time travel forward another year and enter next year's event. And another year, and another year, for as long as it takes for us to finally win.

Not exactly my preference, but I'm not in a position to argue. And neither is 03, in case you were wondering

Busy driving!

That he is.

[dr-baker]

Oh I can't be bothered with this any more. I'm off to my close, dear friend, Mr Armitage Shanks, again then getting some sleep. See ya...

[dinizintheoven]

Is it just me, or did the drinking culture in the Rejects virtual universe only kick in when Scuderia Alitalia showed up?

Not even slightly, me old mucker. I remind you James Hunt was on the grid that season. And now, if you'll give me a minute while I write it, it's time for a race update...

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Sunday, 14 December 2014 – midnight

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   +1   1   Viking Racing / Holden                        S. Johansson       320   12:00:00.609
2   +1   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         C. Dagnall         320   12:00:24.455
3   +1   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              B. Giacomelli      320   12:01:40.917
4   +2   12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             D. Hallenstein     319   12:01:03.645
5   +2   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        L. Seron           318   12:00:33.000
6   -1   27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      T. D'Alberto       318   12:00:53.682
7   +1   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   A. Yoong           318   12:01:14.663
8   +4   20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             B. Fleet           317   12:00:40.382
9   +6   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               R. McAllister      317   12:01:43.183
10  -1   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          J. Cochet          317   12:02:12.660

Code: Select all

11  +6   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             D. Besnard         316   12:01:23.626
12  -11  22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  A. Powell          316   12:01:31.455
13  -3   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          P. Kralev          315   12:00:00.938
14  NC   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           A. Reyna-Sanchez   315   12:00:32.709
15  +1   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          G. Amati           315   12:00:32.939
16  +2   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    P. Senerson        315   12:01:36.396
17  +2   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   R. Moreno          314   12:01:38.156
18  +2   34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                        Y. Mitsui          313   12:01:57.378
19  +2   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   N. Percat          307   12:01:31.538
20  +2   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies III      304   12:01:17.336
21  +2   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               F. Barbazza        299   12:01:17.027
22  +2   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    M. Mouton          291   12:00:39.071
23  +2   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      R. Karlsson        281   12:01:13.208

Code: Select all

RETIREMENTS
-----------
RET      36  Team Ultimate / Holden                        S. Prost           284   10:47:35.370
RET      15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                      T. Glock           269   10:12:29.074
RET      8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                                      185   08:05:37.547

Midnight – not at the Oasis, or in Parliament Square, but at Bathurst – marking the halfway point of the inaugural F1RMGP 24 Hour V8 Enduro, so named despite a third of the field not using V8 engines. And in the dark, the sound of those not-all-V8 engines drowned out the panicked shrieks of Alice Powell as the West Cliff DeLorean started to slow with the engine temperature rising. But, semi-fortunately, the 33-year-old time machine hadn't given up the ghost, even in the dark the West Cliff mechanics took a look and found the fan belt missing, and presumably strewn in pieces all over the track somewhere. The fix may have been relatively quick, but it lost the team their valuable lead and put them four laps off the front, now held by Stefan Johansson in the Viking Holden, who crossed the line to complete 320 laps barely over the stroke of midnight. Damn near perfect timing, I'd say. He was joined by two of the other F1RMGP in-house teams in the form of F1RM and Leyton Dome, with Chris Dagnall and Bruno Giacomelli at the helm. Dieter Hallenstein hadn't given up the fight for the Red Bull World Race Team, only one lap adrift, and both he and Laurent Seron in the Gillet ENB Holden had managed to pass the SAAC Holden, now driven by Tony D'Alberto to not as much effect as his team-mates. And while Alex Yoong had done well to keep the Gulf Oils Ford in touch with the leading pack, Ben Fleet, Rory McAllister and David Besnard had all driven utterly superbly to drag Foxdale, Aeroracing and Virgin MRT right back into the hunt for glory. Jonathan Cochet in the Autobacs Nissan had been one of the fall guys in that pack, as had Plamen Kralev, back-pedalling the Apollonia Ford to massively rejectful levels – but, of course, it was Alice Powell in the West Cliff DeLorean who had suffered most. Still, with the amazing Martin McFry about to get back in the car, the fightback would start here. Virgin MRT's B-team were wedged in 14th place, with Trueba just behind them having gained a place, but due to two more retirements, effectively they were going backwards, and both Antonio Reyna-Sanchez and Giovanna Amati should have woken up a bit more. Right at the back of the standings, Peter Senerson hung onto the Trueba Nissan – just – in the Zombie Conglomerate Ford, while Roberto Moreno could do little to alleviate the Cillit Bang! Traban't position a lap further back. And a lap behind them, trundled the Psycho Soldiers Ford, Yuri Mitsui making no forward progress, irrespective of the dastardly plans of Ai in their garage. And while it continues to be as-you-were amongst the cars who have had to stop for lengthy periods of time, Team James Davies are now only three laps behind Holden Racing Team and are catching fast; equally, Ramona Karlsson in the Valkyrie Holden has made up a lap on Michèle Mouton in the Scuderia Minardivas Ford, though given the gap, it may be too little, too late, even now. As for the retirements, Super Aguri have been joined on the sidelines by Pac Racing and Team Ultimate, Timo Glock binning the Pac Racing Nissan barely four laps into his stint – see what happens when you spend too long at a reject F1 team? - and Sebastian Prost made a similar terminal error 16 laps later. The field is down to 23 at the halfway point – who will survive to the end?

[FMecha]

Ah crap! I was well in the last stint, but why now I have to retire the car? WHY?

...

Sad to see we failed to make it this year after Glock crashed the machine. I can understand that Glock seems to pull the Marrusian performance because this is now midnight, and Glock seems unable to lost control because he's not ready to race in the midnight.

But, from the bright side, Tojo and Mackintosh did well, so does Glock. We would appreciate both drivers. Thank you!

-----

Meanwhile...

HAHAHAHA~!

I'm hoping that the attrition will retire more cars - but not ours!

[Salamander]

That's another lap back, dude, only 16 down now. 12 behind the DeLorean with their problems.

Sweet.

Come on guys - bet both of you a pint we can beat the DeLorean if we make it to the end.

[dr-baker]

At least our sister team of Foxdale has moved up into the top-10 that they wanted. An come on Martin! You can do it! Before that horriblely ill Douglas Mann gets back in the car and looses more than a little time.

[Shadaza]

It's South City all over again for Prost. Sad times

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Sunday, 14 December 2014 – 02:00

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   +1   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         HWNSNBM            375   14:02:07.278
2   -1   1   Viking Racing / Holden                        Þ. Einarsson       375   14:03:11.559
3   NC   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              H. Noda            374   14:03:38.874
4   +3   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   D. Simpson         373   14:03:14.687
5   +1   27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      G. Tarquini        373   14:03:20.683
6   -2   12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             J. Hamilton        373   14:02:24.143
7   +2   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               P. McAllister      372   14:04:12.028
8   -3   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        T. de Bock         371   14:02:13.659
9   +3   22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  M. McFry           371   14:02:37.319
10  +3   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          M. Asmer           370   14:02:30.002

Code: Select all

11  -1   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          K. Tsukakoshi      370   14:02:36.042
12  +3   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          F. Giovanardi      369   14:02:37.655
13  -2   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             M. Macklin         369   14:03:25.327
14  +2   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    J. Plaza           369   14:03:59.729
15  -1   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           V. Reyna-Sanchez   368   14:02:55.895
16  +1   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   P. McCarthy        368   14:04:00.852
17  +2   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   P. Brock (H)       362   14:03:11.130
18  +2   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies I        360   14:03:45.448
19  +2   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               S. Katayama        352   14:02:28.932
20  +2   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    V. Ickx            345   14:04:02.918
21  +2   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      E. Kimiläinen      335   14:02:09.469
22  -14  20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             S. Wolff           327   14:02:59.796

Code: Select all

RETIREMENTS
-----------
RET      34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                        H. Ogawa (H)       352   13:32:22.856
RET      36  Team Ultimate / Holden                                           284   10:47:35.370
RET      15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                                         269   10:12:29.074
RET      8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                                      185   08:05:37.547

Through the night they drive, and it's all change at the front, if not by much, as HWNSNBM and Þorvaldur Einarsson duked it out the way they might have done in the 2014 F1RMGP season, had the Hungarian legend not hung up his helmet. And it was HWNSNBM and F1RM who came out on top, turning a 24-second deficit into a lead of over a minute. That's why he's a double champion, after all. Both the champs left Hideki Noda in the Leyton Dome Nissan a lap behind, as he in turn kept the pack behind him. Dave Simpson in the Gulf Oils Ford was a huge beneficiary, making up three places in a heroic drive, while Gabriele Tarquini picked up one place for SAAC, and Phoenix McAllister hauled the Aeroracing Nissan a couple of places forward. Those to lose out were Jason Hamilton in the Red Bull Holden, and Thomas de Bock for Gillet ENB. Behind him, Martin McFry made huge amends for the DeLorean's mechanical gremlins, also picking up three places, if not any laps, on the leaders – as did Marko Asmer in the Apollonia Ford, who he dragged with him, and let's also have a shout for Fabrizio Giovanardi, using all his Touring Car experience to haul Trueba up three places, undoing some of the damage his co-drivers had inflicted. Koudai Tsukakoshi unexpectedly cost Autobacs a race place, and both Virgin MRT cars also slid backwards – Vidal Reyna-Sanchez by one place and Mitchell Macklin by two, to everyone's surprise. With a couple more problems down the field, effectively they'd been relegated by three and four places. Bizarre. Zombie Conglomerate continuted to struggle round, Jesus Plaza at least keeping in touch with the cars ahead, and the Cillit Bang! Trabant clung onto last place of the untroubled runners, now the prime target for Holden Racing Team and Team James Davies – either could catch the Trabant, especially with James Davies I having made up an entire lap on Peter Brock. The other troubled teams only made progress due to a drop-back ahead of them – the words "Foxdale" and "retirement" go together like beer and pork scratchings, and Susie Wolff had barely crawled out of the pits when the transmission in the Foxdale Holden failed, and the job to change it was both oily and expensive in terms of time – the team lost a massive 45 laps, but decided to continue regardless. And, in a terrifying repeat of 22 years ago, a Japanese commentator was heard to scream "AAAAAAAHHHHH! OGAWA HITOSHI CRASHUUUUUUU!" as the hologrammatic driver flung the Psycho Soldiers Ford straight into a barrier exiting The Chase, and wrecked it beyond repair. But hard-light holograms are indestructible, and Ogawa walked away as if he'd had a minor parking shunt. Not that this would have been much consolation for Ai and the team.

[Nuppiz]

It's South City all over again for Prost. Sad times

Well, given that it's already been so long from that race and nothing will be affected (as it's too late to accuse anyone), I can reveal that your team's bad performance in South City was caused by sabotage. Of course, I won't tell you by whom. Although Prost was still running 2nd by lap 5, when a certain Belgian driver on his way to his only points that season punted Prost into the wall, which nearly dropped him last.

[dr-baker]

I am disappointed that the second of my entries has hit mechanical problems, but glad to see Martin McFry drag the DeLorean back into the top-10. We've always had one-or-other entry there, just a shame that it won't be both (save for a large spate of crashes/attrition!). Still hoping for a podium from the West Cliff team and a finish from us, the Foxdale team...

[FMecha]

Bathplug, bathplug, bathplug, bathplug, bathplug, bathplug, bathplug...

...Oh, enough. Looks that I should be careful what I wish for. We will try again, next year!

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Sunday, 14 December 2014 – 04:00

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   NC   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         J-D. Délétraz      428   16:01:26.780
2   +1   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              M. Apicella        427   16:02:26.549
3   +2   27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      E. Bertaggia       426   16:02:47.407
4   +2   12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             M. Paasonen        426   16:03:13.706
5   -1   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   R. Simpson         426   16:03:29.321
6   +2   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        A. Moll            425   16:02:37.440
7   NC   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               N. Bellic          424   16:02:14.717
8   +3   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          K. Oshima          424   16:03:06.505
9   +1   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          M. Bosevic         424   16:03:16.795
10  -1   22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  D. Mann            423   16:02:14.505

Code: Select all

11  +4   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           J. Cavalcanti      421   16:02:58.464
12  NC   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          G. Roda            420   16:02:04.667
13  +3   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   P. Chaves          420   16:02:38.517
14  -1   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             D. O'Lauchlan      420   16:03:15.482
15  -1   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    D. Greenlaw        420   16:03:22.197
16  +1   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   M. Skaife          414   16:02:36.114
17  +1   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies II       413   16:02:00.851
18  +1   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               K. Lon             404   16:01:54.843
19  +1   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    S. de Silvestro    397   16:02:40.242
20  +1   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      N. Lindgren        388   16:03:09.263
21  +1   20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             P. Mann            379   16:02:10.564

Code: Select all

RETIREMENTS
-----------
RET      1   Viking Racing / Holden                        J. Magnussen       425   15:57:27.721
RET      34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                                           352   13:32:22.856
RET      36  Team Ultimate / Holden                                           284   10:47:35.370
RET      15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                                         269   10:12:29.074
RET      8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                                      185   08:05:37.547

What is Délétraz doing? Leading the race, that's what. Not that he had for most of his stint – he was being soundly thrashed by Jan Magnussen for most of it, to the surprise of very few people. But those who were unsurprised could not have prepared for the surprise Magnussen was about to deliver, within sight of handing over the Viking Holden (and having completed more laps than sixteen of the current runners), the car suddenly slewed right in the middle of the Conrod Straight and splattered into the wall. Stunned silence descended over the Viking garage, as if a longboat had spring a leak in the middle of the North Sea, while they waited for the reply over the radio. Some naughty words in Danish were all they heard. Still running and barely believing their luck behind the stricken Scandinavians are the Leyton Dome team, Marco Apicella piloting the Nissan into second, if a lap down, and in turn a lap ahead of a developing battle for the final podium position between the SAAC and Red Bull Holdens, and the Gulf Oils Ford, with Enrico Bertaggia, Mika Paasonen and Rick Simpson behind the respective wheels; Simpson had dropped back despite the Vikings' demise and Aurélien Moll, yet again undoing the effects of Thomas de Bock's dodgy driving in the Gillet ENB Holden, could smell blood by the end of his stint. Two Nissans and a Ford are in contention for seventh, four laps adrift, the three As of Aeroracing, Autobacs and Apollonia, the unfancied Japanese team still punching above their weight in particular at the hands of Kazuya Oshima, who made up three places. With the West Cliff DeLorean rounding out the top ten, Douglas Mann still valiantly battling his poor state of health, there is now a clear two-lap gap to the rest behind them. This "second pack" is now led by Virgin MRT's B-squad after João Cavalcanti drove superbly to make up four places, even if one was by default; four teams are now on the same lap – the Trueba Nissan, Trabant, Virgin MRT's A-squad and Zombie Conglomerate. Cavalcanti has put Virgin MRT B a lap ahead, but with just over a lap covering those five, it's still all to play for for "best of the rest". And in the "best of the hindered runners" battle, Holden Racing Team had better watch out; after another semi-rejectful drive from Mark Skaife, Team James Davies are now another lap closer to overtaking them! Behind those two, though, there is little chance of any change in the order bar retirements, so Team Sunshine Infiniti, Scuderia Minardivas, Valkyrie Racing and Foxdale will all just be hoping to finish. For the Valkyries' "big brother" team, who had hoped to win, even that is no longer a possibility.

[FMecha]

Why the cars retire very slowly?

It's South City all over again for Prost. Sad times

Well, given that it's already been so long from that race and nothing will be affected (as it's too late to accuse anyone), I can reveal that your team's bad performance in South City was caused by sabotage. Of course, I won't tell you by whom. Although Prost was still running 2nd by lap 5, when a certain Belgian driver on his way to his only points that season punted Prost into the wall, which nearly dropped him last.

Were the Takagi cars sabotaged too?

[dinizintheoven]

RACE POSITIONS
Sunday, 14 December 2014 – 06:00

Code: Select all

POS +/-  NUM TEAM / CAR                                    DRIVER             LAPS  TIME
--- ---  --- ----------                                    ------             ----  ----
1   NC   9   Formula One Rejects Motorsport / Ford         C. Dagnall         482   18:01:46.534
2   NC   16  Leyton Dome Engineering / Nissan              B. Giacomelli      479   18:02:23.163
3   +3   25  Gillet Ecurie Nationale Belge / Holden        L. Seron           479   18:03:51.884
4   +1   6   Gulf Oils Ford Australia Racing Team / Ford   A. Yoong           478   18:02:39.388
5   +2   17  Aeroracing Engineering / Nissan               R. McAllister      478   18:03:08.993
6   +2   4   Autobacs Nippon Racing Team / Nissan          J. Cochet          477   18:02:39.039
7   +3   22  West Cliff Racing / DeLorean                  A. Powell          476   18:01:58.841
8   +1   32  Apollonia GT Racing by Hydook / Ford          P. Kralev          476   18:03:40.670
9   +2   29  Virgin Melrose Racing Team B / Ford           A. Reyna-Sanchez   474   18:03:17.099
10  +3   13  Cillit Bang! Trabant Factory Team / Trabant   R. Moreno          473   18:03:03.573

Code: Select all

11  +4   21  Zombie Conglomerate / Ford                    P. Senerson        473   18:03:12.580
12  NC   31  Telecom Italia Trueba Corse / Nissan          G. Amati           473   18:03:12.657
13  +1   19  Virgin Melrose Racing Team / Ford             D. Besnard         472   18:02:00.632
14  +3   7   Team James Davies / Nissan                    J. Davies III      466   18:02:36.706
15  +1   2   Holden Racing Team / Holden                   N. Percat          465   18:01:57.558
16  +2   33  Team Sunshine Infiniti / Nissan               F. Barbazza        458   18:03:52.141
17  +2   23  Scuderia Minardivas / Ford                    M. Mouton          450   18:02:27.453
18  +2   11  Valkyrie Racing / Holden                      R. Karlsson        441   18:02:56.628
19  +2   20  Foxdale Auto Racing Team / Holden             B. Fleet           432   18:03:01.213

Code: Select all

RETIREMENTS
-----------
RET      27  Scuderia Alitalia Andrea Coloni / Holden      T. D'Alberto       463   17:25:01.061
RET      12  Red Bull World Race Team / Holden             D. Hallenstein     462   17:22:56.430
RET      1   Viking Racing / Holden                                           425   15:57:27.721
RET      34  Psycho Soldiers / Ford                                           352   13:32:22.856
RET      36  Team Ultimate / Holden                                           284   10:47:35.370
RET      15  Pac Racing Team / Nissan                                         269   10:12:29.074
RET      8   Super Aguri Enduro / Nissan                                      185   08:05:37.547

The morning sun rises over the Mount Panorama Circuit, and shines on 2013 F1RMGP champion Chris Dagnall – some may also now believe the sun shines from a certain part of his anatomy after two hours of absolute demolition of the rest of the field, so that Formula One Rejects Motorsport lead by three clear laps. And remember... HWNSNBM will drive the next two hours. Bruno Giacomelli, now with one and a half eyes on retirement, will hand the Leyton Dome car over to Hideki Noda, having driven rejectfully enough that it wasn't all Daggers' effort to open up that yawning chasm to the lead. Laurent Seron, on the other hand, drove magnificently to put the Gillet ENB Holden on the same lap as Leyton Dome, and into a podium place, overtaking the Gulf Oils Ford along the way, but was no doubt helped by two significant retirements. As the first rays of sun broke over the horizon at 5:38 am, almost on cue, the suspension of the Red Bull Holden shattered into a million fragments, and Dieter Hallenstein had to use every inch of his skill to avoid a major accident – but that team's race was run. As, too, was SAAC's, barely two minutes later, and Tony D'Alberto had nobody to blame but himself, wrecking the car at The Dipper. These two had retired from third and fourth, but little was changing behind these positions; Aeroracing and Autobacs are effectively holding station, while Alice Powell's reputation continues to grow in the West Cliff DeLorean, making up a whole lap on the Apollonia Ford and dispatching it with consummate ease. That it was driven in this stint by Plamen Kralev is no coincidence. At least the Bulgarian kept a handy two-lap cushion to the more rejectful teams behind him; Antonio Reyna-Sanchez clung onto the lead of that pack, with the Cillit Bang! Trabant almost a lap behind him, and in close contact, the Zombie Conglomerate Ford and the Trueba Nissan. That Trueba have stayed in the same place is an effective loss of two positions with the two retirements, and if the Fire King thought he'd struggled, he should have tried being Giovanna Amati who was all over the place for most of her two hours behind the wheel. Peter Senerson's drive for Zombie Conglomerate deserves particular praise, though, as the handling of that Ford is... rather wayward, let us say. Virgin MRT's A-team are once again bringing up the rear of the trouble-free runners, David Besnard finding himself monstered by the flying Senerson. Behind him, and into the compromised bunch, we all knew it – the 2014-vintage James Davies has propelled his eponymous team in front of the Holden Racing Team, with even Team Sunshine Infiniti wondering if there was any way they could make up the seven laps that they are now behind the alleged Aussie superstars. Minardivas, Valkyrie and Foxdale round out the standings as they were before, still walking wounded but still unbowed and still determined to make the finish line as a matter of pride.