The iRacing V8 Supercars series headed to Suzuka for race 6, mid point of the season and the field is once again out to catch Madison Down.
Down took pole with a 2:03.511, Rens Broekman along side while Mitchell McLeod sat behind Down in 3rd.
Down got a great start and led the field easily into turn one followed by Broekman, while Richard Hamstead got a good start from 4th and looked on the inside of Broekman for turn one, Broekman defended heavily forcing Hamstead out of the move but was in a good position to at least grab third from McLeod.
Simon Madden and Joshua Muggleton were also close off the start and after almost hitting doors on the straight, Madden took the outside line into turn one but carried too much speed into the tightening turn 2. Tapping the rear quarter of Muggleton who then carried a spin into the back of McLeod, although McLeod was very lucky to keep the car from spinning after a huge full lock slide, Tatts.com team mate Scott U’Ren pulling in behind him putting them in 5th and 6th.
“Having so many cars behind me full lock on lap 1 wasn’t ideal, but worked out not too bad.” McLeod said.
McLeod was then on the attack to get some position back, Madden the first in line and lap 4 he took Madden on the inside of the hairpin to grab back 4th. By this stage the next car was almost the full length of the main straight off in the distance so McLeod had his work cut out for him.
Hamstead hung on the back of Broekman determined to get 2nd, while Down just kept pulling away lap after lap. McLeod made up the huge gap to catch-up to the Hamstead, Broekman battle and was able to get back into the podium position after Hamstead rang wide and spun through the high speed 5th gear turn 15. Hamstead recovered from the spin to stay in 5th but was straigh away under fire from Madden.
Four laps later and U’Ren had caught up to Madden who was still battling hard with Hamstead, Madden than attempt to pass into the hairpin resulting in Hamstead spinning and U’Ren capitalizing driving passed the two stationary cars to grab 4th after starting in 8th.
Up front McLeod was on a charge, Broekman finally buckling under the pressure running wide into turn 1, McLeod took 2nd and was now out to catch Down.
Behind Hamstead’s luck hadn’t changed and was now in a fearsome exchange of damage with Corey Slade, both drivers trading blows, Slade later admitting that some of the exchange was deliberate retaliation, the situation now possibly under review.
After passing Broekman, McLeod was unable to reduce the gap and Madison Down went on to take another convincing win finishing just over 8 seconds ahead, Broekman finishing 3rd followed by U’Ren and Madden.
McLeod: “Had some really close hard racing tonight with a few different guys, managed to work my way back up to 2nd again so was pretty happy with that!”
Down: “Great to pick up another win at suzuka, love the track, suits my driving style very well.”
Madison leads the championship on 1426 points, Broekman 85 points back while U’Ren now in 3rd and McLeod some 250 points behind the championship leader.
Next race heads to Brands Hatch as we head into the second half of the final 2011 season.
Watch the full race at http://www.v8sonline.com.au
12:56 AM Tue 13 December, 2011Source: BigPond Sport
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- Madison Down Owning Season 4 With 3rd Straight Win
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- Down continues championship charge
- Down Strikes Back
