Category Archives: Race Previews

Suzuka Preview

Posted on November 17, 2017 | Leave a comment

The SBMRL heads to Japan to race Suzuka International Racing Course for leg 3 of the 2017-18 season.  This will be the first time that we race at Suzuka, so it’s anyone’s guess how the drivers will take to unique track configuration.  Originally designed in the early 1960’s as a test track for Honda, it first hosted an official Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1987.

Suzuka

The first thing anyone notices about Suzuka is the unique figure eight track arrangement.  None of the other tracks the SBMRL has ever raced at is like it.  The pit straight isn’t particularly long but the starting grid is pushed to the back of it.  This means that even those on the front row will have to get up to a minimum of 3rd gear before they will reach the first corner.  It’s a long, forgiving right hander that will allow the back of the grid to approach it aggressively.

This is followed by the famous “S” Curves, which wouldn’t be too much trouble to navigate without traffic.  However, with the field all bunched together this will likely be a prime location for potential collisions.  The Dunlop Curve can be taken flat out before the Degner Curve closes out the first sector.

The second sector is fairly short, with the Hairpin Curve coming shortly after passing under the overpass.  There’s then a moderately long straight before the Spoon Curve.  Hitting Spoon just right will be key to posting a fast lap, as the exit of Spoon takes cars onto the extremely long straight containing 130R and the bridge.

130R marks the start of sector three, and can be taken flat out.  Any slowness coming out of Spoon will kill a good lap time.  The lap finishes with the chicane at Casio Triangle, another slow point on the track.  The chicane does make taking the pit straight at speed a bit more challenging, which will make the option to pit slightly more appealing if anyone is uncertain.

Starting Grid

After a second consecutive 2nd place finish Sheila Dinkum is the current leader in the driver standings and will therefore start at the back of the grid.  At the front of the grid, Stevie Wondertyres will line up on pole with Bubba McQueen alongside him.

  1. Stevie Wondertyres (SR)
  2. Bubba McQueen (FR)
  3. Captain Slow (SB)
  4. The Stig (SB)
  5. Whiplash (SR)
  6. Launch Bornado (FR)
  7. Jaap Snellrijder (RM)
  8. Sheila Dinkum (RM)

Pit selection will be in order of team standings, which leaves us with the following:

  1. Regency Motors
  2. Force Ravenswood
  3. Sprite Racing
  4. Scandinavian Blitz

No driver has Japan as their home race this season.

 

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Austin Preview

Posted on October 11, 2017 | Leave a comment

Our second race of the 2017-18 season takes us to Austin, Texas to race Circuit of the Americas.  It’s the third time in as many seasons that we’ll race COTA, and coincides with the 2017 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix weekend.

Austin

Circuit of the Americas is a tricky, counter-clockwise circuit that isn’t easy to get right.  The uphill slope of Turn 1 makes for a bit of a blind approach at speed followed by a moderate bend for Turn 2.

Turns 3 and 4 will compress the field and provide for passing opportunities.  The exit of Turn 4 is key to a fast lap as it sets up Turn 5 and the track’s long back straight.  Infamously, Turn 4 was the spot where the Stig was cut off by Ice in last year’s race, effectively ending any hopes he had of scoring decent points.

The long back straight will tempt the speed demons to floor it through Turn 6, but there isn’t much room for error with Turn 7 following closely.  The saving grace here is that Turn 7 is much more forgiving than it first appears, so carrying a little speed into it isn’t terrible.

The remainder of the 3rd sector of the track is the part where drivers can become complacent.  The trio of short corners that finish the track aren’t particularly intimidating, but they are spaced in such a way as to catch drivers between gear choices.  Can you shift up to fly through the straights and slow down enough for the corners?  Or is it better to try to get maximum effort out of a lower gear?  Those choices can be complicated by any driver who has been hard on their tires through the rest of the lap.  For evidence, one need only look at Nero’s race last year, where he came into the third sector in 2nd place and finished in 7th.

Starting Grid

With one race in the books, the starting grid for Austin will simply be the reverse order of finish last time out in Portland.

  1. Launch Bornado (FR)
  2. Stevie Wondertyres (SR)
  3. Captain Slow (SB)
  4. Whiplash (SR)
  5. The Stig (SB)
  6. Bubba McQueen (FR)
  7. Sheila Dinkum (RM)
  8. Jaap Snellrijder (RM)

As is league policy, pit selection will be in order of team standings, with ties broken by reverse order of average starting position.  That leaves the following:

  1. Regency Motors
  2. Scandinavian Blitz
  3. Force Ravenswood
  4. Sprite Racing

Austin will be Bubba McQueen’s home race.

Track History

Among current drivers, only Jaap has finished higher than 6th at Austin.  He won in 2015 and finished 5th last year.  Mater holds the record for points at Austin after winning last year’s race and finished 2nd the year before.  It has never been a good track for Scandinavian Blitz, with Captain Slow and The Stig having the fewest point totals of all SBMRL drivers.

Perhaps most notably from last year’s race, Osito Racing Company proved that they would not be a pushover in their rookie season.  They scored a double podium finish that bodes well for Sprite Racing, who now have a race under their belts and will be looking to emulate ORC’s Austin success.

SBMRL @ Circuit of the Americas

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Portland Preview

Posted on September 14, 2017 | Leave a comment

The 2017-18 SBMRL season is finally upon us!  The memories of Launch Bornado’s rise to win last year’s driver championship after consecutive victories are now just that, memories.  With a new season comes new opportunities for each driver to make a name for themself.  We’ll kick things off in the United States by racing Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon.

Portland

Portland International Raceway, or PIR, was built over the city streets of Vanport, OR, which was destroyed by a flood in the late 1940’s.  While racing occurred prior to it, the track wasn’t properly established until the 1970’s.  Its most recent renovation occurring in 2007, with an opening ceremony held in February 2008.

The SBMRL will race with the pit straight chicane in play as the first corner.  The chicane breaks up an otherwise extremely long straight, helping to keep speed in check.  Turn 2 is a slow right hander that is trickier than it looks.

The second sector of the track, featuring three consecutive quick corners is the key to a fast lap time.  Getting the rhythm right in this section is required in order to build up the momentum needed for the long back straight that opens the third sector.

The back straight is where cars will be able to fully air it out.  Expect a lot of brake dust and a grinding of gears towards the end of it, where the lap closes with a long, winding corner.  Drivers will want to maximize their speed out of it heading onto the pit straight, and those who need to make a stop will be at a bit of a disadvantage to those who don’t.

This is the first SBMRL race at PIR, so it’s anybody’s guess as to who will be able to take advantage of the ciruit’s long straights.  However, it is Captain Slow’s home race, so he’ll be at a slight advantage to the rest of the field.

STARTING GRID

With no season standings to go off of, the starting grid will be determined prior to the start of the race.

Season Outlook

There are a number of notable changes in the paddock for 2017-18.  Perhaps most notably, the dominant pairing of Jaap Snellrijder and Launch Bornado at Regency Motors has broken up.  While Jaap will continue to race for Regency Motors, Launch’s success and apparent dissatisfaction at being regarded as the team’s Number 2 driver has led to a departure.  Instead, Launch will race for a new team this season and have an entirely new teammate.  The open position at Regency Motors will now be filled by Australian Sheila Dinkum.

Among other teams returning, Scandinavian Blitz returns for a third season with their pairing of The Stig and Captain Slow still intact.  Both drivers struggled last year and will be looking to bounce back.

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