F1RWRS 2014 - ROUND 5/16 - US GRAND PRIX - LONG BEACH
Weather Forecast: Dry all weekend
PRE-QUALIFYING (drivers in
bold go into qualifying)
1. Andrea Acuri (Acuri) -- 1.15.686
2. Daniel Melrose (Jones) -- 1.15.936 (+0.250)
3. Sammy Jones (Jones) -- 1.15.969 (+0.283)
4. Jean Luc Schiller (Prospec) -- 1.16.206 (+0.520)5. David Neuberg (Mitie) -- 1.16.411 (+0.725)
6. Ron Mignolet (Acuri) -- 1.16.448 (+0.762)
7. Gary Cameron (Prospec) -- 1.17.008 (+1.322)8. Saeed Al Faisal (Mecha) -- 1.17.288 (+1.602)
9. Tomislaw Tajner (Dofasco) -- 1.17.445 (+1.759)
10. Francois Albertini (Shonan) -- 1.17.478 (+1.792)
11. Fredo Mestolio (Trueba) -- 1.17.485 (+1.799)
12. Matthias Valsattis (Mitie) -- 1.17.561 (+1.875)
13. Giovanni Roda (Trueba) -- 1.17.651 (+1.965)
14. James Davies (Mecha) -- 1.18.121 (+2.435)
15. Sebastian Groves (Dofasco) -- 1.18.733 (+3.047)
16. Miko Fakkinen (Tropico) -- 1.18.857 (+3.171)
17. Jason Van Dycke (Shonan) -- 1.19.011 (+3.325)
18. Darren Older Jr (Tropico) -- 1.21.406 (+5.720)
* Jones will skip Pre-Qualifying at Round 6
QUALIFYING
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Q1.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Q2.jpg)
STARTING GRID
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Grid-1.jpg)
RACE
After 5 races, and some 1500 kms. of racing, it has become clear that, unless mayhem, it will be Mark Dagnall against any of the MRT drivers (most likely Nathanael Spencer) for the title this year. The DGN driver has found a strong position within his own team, and seems to have no rival inside the box whoever seats at car number 2. It became clear when he passed Fleet at lap 2 that he´s the number one and that he´ll receive that treatment for the rest of the year. The DGN couldn´t match the MRT at Long Beach, and that´s why Mark Dagnall followed a non-usual 2 stops strategy. It almost paid off thanks to a braking fault in Spencer´s car, which put him behind the DGN a couple of laps into the race. Spencer had to do his best to stay ahead of the DGN at his last pitstop, and while he managed to do so, it left a sensation that his insecurity (remember the accident at Bathurst) could lead him to trouble when it comes to win the championship. Nicolas was way unluckier, he could have won if his car didn´t break once again.
Further back the field, and looking at those able to win races, the two we´re expecting most to deliver (that is Sunshine and Gillet) failed miserably in California. Kay Lon did a decent first half of the race, but a loose wheel (blame on Sunshine mechanics) robbed him a podium place. Moll and de Bock´s Gillet failed once again. Moll was unable to pass Ben Fleet to attack Kay Lon, meaning he lost a precious time he wouldn´t have been able to recover.
On its part, Jones had a good weekend after their dreadful round in Mexico. Melrose fought in the group behind the leaders, and only Steele´s amazing pace meant he was out of the podium. The Jones team played a beautiful strategy play when he passed Fleet at the stops, but he lacked the pace to content the Kamaha driver, who suffered problems early on and had to pit, only to comeback stronger and pass practically the whole field to score his second podium finish of the season. Kamaha is not a surprise anymore and now they´ve turned into serious contenders to step into the elite of F1RWRS.
Arrowtech also scored points at this race, this time in hands of Bosevic, whose car didn´t fail this time and allowed him to score points after trying hard in the first few races. The rest of the finishers weren´t really much of a surprise, special kudos to Andrea Acuri for making it in his first outing. And basically, there were retirements here and there in this race. Most of the mid and back of the field didn´t make it, reminding us of the first races in 2013. ARC had another really bad weekend, with Jesus Plaza suffering a stupid accident when he was trying not to get in the way of the leaders, for that he earns the ROTR award. The other contenders were HRT, if they keep like that, they could well earn it in Monaco. The other driver suffering an accident was Jean Luc Schiller. His debut was really short lived, and it´s a pity, as he had made a great start only to clash with Douglas Mann.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Start1.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_SteelevsMelrose.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Mollout.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Nicolasout.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_L85.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_L92.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_L50.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Start2.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_DagnalltoLon.jpg)
Results
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Results1.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/Aerond/Gp2/F1RWRS2014/05_LongBeach/US_Results2.jpg)
ROTR: Jesús Plaza - Bad weekend ended with stupid accident.
Fastest lap: Nathanael Spencer - 1.15.579
STANDINGS (After 5 Rounds)
DRIVERS
1. Mark Dagnall - 28 pts
2. Nathanael Spencer - 20 pts
3. Thomas de Bock - 13 pts
4. Daniel Melrose - 11 pts
5. Phillippe Nicolas - 10 pts
6. Shinobu Katayama - 9 pts
7. Nicolas Steele - 8 pts
8. Barii Mori - 6 pts
9. Aurelien Moll - 4 pts
10. Frank Zimmer - 3 pts
=. Rhys Davies - 3 pts
=. Douglas Mann - 3 pts
=. Ron Mignolet - 3 pts
14. Ashley Watkinson - 2 pts
=. Sammy Jones - 2 pts
=. Mirko Bosevic - 2 pts
17. Jesus Plaza - 1 pt
=. Daniel Martins - 1 pt
=. Ben Fleet - 1 pt
CONSTRUCTORS
1. MRT - 30 pts
2. DGNgineering - 29 pts
3. Gillet - 17 pts
4. Kamaha - 14 pts
5. Jones - 13 pts
6. Sunshine - 9 pts
7. HRT - 5 pts
8. GRM - 3 pts
=. Acuri - 3 pts
=. Foxdale - 3 pts
=. Arrowtech - 3 pts
12. ARC - 1 pt