The ‘V8 Supercars iRacing championship presented by BigPond’ runs across a twelve week format which roughly ends up as four seasons in a year. Although we are now in a new calendar year, the final season of 2011 still has two races left to run and it couldn’t be much closer between rivals Madison Down, Mitchell McLeod and Rens Broekman.
Down currently leads the championship on 1898 points, only 77 points ahead of McLeod as the two share race wins from one week to another. Broekman although behind by just under 100 points, the dropping worst round rule could easily make up that difference.
The previous few races saw the top three contenders all fighting for their fair share of points, Madison Down grabbing a few more than McLeod and Broekman.
Brands Hatch was McLeod’s turn to grab a win and sharing the front row with Broekman having the exact same qualifying time of 1:26.122, McLeod’s iRating gave him pole. Down started in 3rd but was able to get passed Broekman to finish 2nd.
McLeod said “So pumped to get another win for Tatts.com Racing! This is what I need to have any chance to win the Championship back again.”
Okayama was also Down’s chance to shine and although starting in 3rd, Down was able to take a win while Broekman finished 2nd. McLeod not having great pace found himself getting knocked around by other competitors, fondly referred to as the ‘fast bulldozer’, McLeod taking 6th.
Down said “Probably the most surprising victory of the season. Considering I wasn’t going to race and I drove with my new CSP pedals, which I was pretty nervous about, I was amazed to win.”
“I did have some luck to do it, but I took a risk with the 0 stopper and thankfully it paid off!”
Virginia International Raceway was a championship reflection, Down taking the win over McLeod then Broekman. Broekman initially in 2nd place ahead of McLeod but a small mistake flat spotted a tyre and gave McLeod the opportunity to grab 2nd.
Down said “Great round of racing tonight, the fight in race 2 for the lead was close. Although there wasn’t much door to door battling, the pressure being applied and the concentration needed was top notch.”
“Championship definitely hotting up in the final rounds. I pretty much can’t gain anymore but Mitch and Rens certainly can if they win the races. The winners of the next few races will decide the championship. Pressure is on!”
Last night saw race 10 in the series at Sebring, which this season is a night race just to make the already tricky circuit slight more difficult to steer around. Down had pole taking two tenths off his personal best time in the final qualifying session minutes before race start. Rens Broekman sat beside him while McLeod was right behind Down on row 2 beside Richard Hamstead.
Down led the field into the dark through turn 1, Broekman not close enough to challenge, while McLeod put the pressure on Broekman early but it wasn’t until lap 4 that he was able to make a pass and get into position to chase Down.
Richard Hamstead made a pass on Broekman in the early stages of the race and although Rens tried to get the position back, his race went downhill from there. In the later stages of the race Broekman simply spun trying to catch Hamstead and then was passed by Scott U’Ren and Stuart Wood after his car refused to do what he asked of it. Broekman’s tyres now as slippery as a 3am kebab, Rens went wide through turn one defending another position from Cal Whatmore where the two touched as Whatmore used all the road on the exit, Broekman ending up in the fence and then although rejoining, retired the exhausted car after coming off again a few corners later.
Up front McLeod was unable to catch Down who went on to take his third straight win.
Down said “Absolutely ecstatic with the win. My aim in these final rounds has obviously been to finish 1st as often as possible to try and clinch a 3rd championship.”
“Since we’re in to drop weeks and I don’t have any bad rounds anymore and Mitch still has some he could massively improve on I need to keep finishing as high up the order as possible. Going to be close at the finish though, that’s for sure!”
McLeod not happy with his setup said “I was hoping set up changes would help me keep up at the start, which I think worked, but after getting passed Rens my setup seemed to fall apart, understeer in, oversteer out, one small change had messed up the entire balance of the car, so I played with the anti roll bars for a few laps and got a feeling I was half happy with, but still wasn’t enough to close the gap. Madison was just too good.”
Split two was won by Richard Hunter and split 3 Jon Latham.
The final two rounds are at Mid-Ohio and the final at Road Atlanta.
The Teams Championship is also tight with Tatts.com Racing on 401 currently having the edge over Trans Tasman Racing on 393.
Related posts:
- Madison Down steals win from van Gisbergen
- Madison Down Goes Back to Back in V8SC Online Series!
- Madison wins as title fight hots up!
- Down Clean Sweeps Suzuka
- Down continues championship charge
