F1RWRS 2015 -- ROUND 9 -- GERMAN GP -- Norisring
Weather condition:PreQ -- Dry
Qualifying -- Light Rain
Race -- Dry
PRE-QUALIFYING
1.Kay Lon (Prospec) -- 42.6542.Danny van Rijkens (Tropico) -- 42.656 (+0.002)3.Frank Zimmer (HRT) -- 42.698 (+0.044)
4.Hagane Shizuka (Revolution) -- 43.001 (+0.347)
5.Shinobu Katayama (Arrowtech) -- 43.002 (+0.348)
6.Mirko Bosevic (Arrowtech) -- 43.062 (+0.408)7.Nathan Scott (Tropico) -- 43.123 (+0.469)8.Marie Simon (Revolution) -- 43.195 (+0.541)
9.Dave Simpson (Simpson) -- 43.228 (+0.574)
10.Mitchell Macklin (Simpson) -- 43.266 (+0.612)
11.Fredo Mestolio (Prospec) -- 43.338 (+0.684)12.Damon Cannon (Autodynamics) -- 43.385 (+0.731)
13.John Zimmer (HRT) -- 43.532 (+0.878)
14.Alexey Buyvolov (Dofasco) -- 43.544 (+0.890)
15.Miko Fakkinen (Autodynamics) -- 43.569 (+0.915)
16.Steven Mackintosh (Mecha) -- 43.658 (+1.004)
17.Jean Luc Schiller (Mecha) -- 43.735 (+1.081)
18.Tomislaw Tajner (Dofasco) -- 43.917 (+1.263)
** Tropico will skip Pre-Qualifying at Round 10
QUALIFYING
** Alitalia will run in Pre-Qualifying at Round 10
RACE
There have been rumours and petitions from some team bosses to move the German date of the calendar to a more classic track like Hockenheim or Nurburgring, but after watching the race at Norisring one must ask... why? Norisring always provide one of the craziest and most exciting races of the calendar. 2015 was no exception, with Pippa Mann emerging as a serious title contender if things go her way. The Aeroracing has improved in the reliability side over the last few races and the effort has already paid off, even if The Stig continues his effort to earn the title for being the best driver at mounting massive repair bills for his team. This time he was not alone, Ron Mignolet joined in the 2nd start (after a massive pile-up at the first) to send out of the race David Neuberg, Phillippe Nicolas, Mark Dagnall, making Chris Dagnall not too happy about the 3rd double retirement in a row for his drivers. But, once again, Dagnall would be lucky enough to escape relatively unharmed in terms of championship standings, as Rhys Davies, who's commonly seen as his major opponent to take the title this year, failed once again. This time when he was comfortably leading the race, and lost the amazing ammount of 4 laps before being able to rejoin the track, ending any possible chance of a decent result, losing another golden opportunity to close on the championship. This opportunity was taken, however, by Pippa Mann, who just waited behind Rhys Davies to take the lead (Pippa would have won anyway, being on a better strategy than Davies), and also by Rosco Vantini. The Italian driver is not kicking ass in terms of overtaking but he seems to be always there, and that meant another podium and the 2nd position in the championship for now. Outstanding having in count that he still is in his debut season. Sammy Jones, on his hand, did an even better race: He lost one lap at the very beggining after being hit by Mignolet at turn 1, and then by Watkinson, but he drove steadily and overtaking non-stop to reach a final 7th, too short for points but the brit managed to turn heads during the race. Another one turning heads, but for the wrong reason, was Ashley Watkinson; not only he hit Sammy Jones and Jari Kekkonen later, but he also went off track and never looked very fast, a real reject performance, enough to earn ROTR. In some way, it reminded us of the good old classic performance by Zimmer last year at this same venue. The podium was completed by Barii Mori, who seems to improve at street tracks and made quite a decent performance. Shinobu Katayama came back on form for a short stint in the Arrowtech before she takes the seat at Revolution, Fredo Mestolio produced an amazing drive to score for Prospec (and for once he was lucky enough to finish the race), and Ben Fleet showed he's in good shape after scoring the last point in the Foxdale. Also, good showing from the debutant Danny van Rijkens, who was very fast and looking into a solid Top 10 result before his Tropico left him at the side.
All in all, a more than decent race which will make the wait for the Belgian GP a little bit long!!!
DOTR -- Fredo Mestolio // Sammy Jones
The 2nd start melée. The Stig and Mignolet decided to start everything at the same place at the same time and it quickly snowballed from there...
It was not to be the only incident at Turn 1; James Davies collided with Kekkonen before he was hit by Watkinson
... and Pippa Mann won for the 2nd time this season
Tread lightly in ARWS. Every decision might be your last.
