Category Archives: Race Previews

India Preview

Posted on February 13, 2018 | Leave a comment

February takes the SBMRL to India to race Buddh International Circuit.  Buddh was inaugurated in 2011 and held Formula 1 Grand Prix races from 2011 through 2013.  The SBMRL makes a return here after a hiatus last season, having previously raced here in 2015.

Buddh

Buddh’s pit straight is quite short, and the run up into the first corner is a bit of an in-between distance for those on the front row.  The key consideration here is the need to come out of turn 2 with speed for the circuit’s notable long straight.  Those at the back of the grid will have to deal with congestion through these corners that may add to the challenge.

The circuit’s heaviest braking spot is the approach to turn 3, where cars will hope not to lose too much speed heading into the second sector.  Turns 4 and 5 slow the field down considerably, meaning that car setup will require a balance between the long open straight and the congestion that follows.

The third sector is easily overlooked as the most boring part of the track, with each corner looking simple in isolation.  However, the rhythm of this part of the track is what will trip drivers up, making it likely the hardest sector to get just right.

Starting Grid

Captain Slow has started in the top 3 every race this season, but has yet to record a podium, thus testing team management’s patience.  Stevie will start alongside him on the front row.  Jaap continues to slide in the standings after winning the season opener in Portland, moving his grid position into the top 3 for India.

Whiplash and Bubba, who are currently tied in the standings, have their tie broken in reverse order of finish at Interlagos, which gives the edge to Bubba.  The Stig’s consecutive victories have vaulted him all the way to the top of the driver standings and his first start at the back of the grid since the SBMRL’s inaugural race at Austin in 2015.

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

Pit selection will be in order of team standings, and for the second time this year we have a tie atop the standings.  The tiebreaker is the team with the worse average starting position, and that is leaves the following:

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

No driver has India as their home race this season.

Track History

While the Formula 1 races produced the same winner each of the three years it was held there, that will not be possible in the SBMRL as Danger Wheel won our race two years ago.  Launch finished 2nd that year with none of the other current drivers managing a podium.  It’s worth pointing out that our previous race produced no retirements.

SBMRL @ Buddh

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Interlagos Preview

Posted on January 20, 2018 | Leave a comment

Race five of the SBMRL season means a return trip to Brazil to race Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.  The track, commonly known as Interlagos, first hosted the SBMRL last year and resulted in a wild race with a surprise victor.

Interlagos

Interlagos features some of the fastest racing of the season and will really tax each car’s engine and brakes.  A decent run up the the Senna ‘S’ means cars at the back of the grid will have some leeway to play catch up right out of the gate, but it could also mean some bumping and scraping along the way.

The long straight that marks the first sector leads into Descida do Lago, a sharp left-hander that is followed by another long stretch.  There’s plenty of opportunity to get his wrong.

The infield section has a series of relatively unremarkable corners before the Juncao corner spits the cars onto the extremely long pit straight.  Yes, there’s some curvature to this part of the track, but it can be taken full out so there will be little expectation of caution here.

Starting Grid

Officially, the SBMRL lines up the grid in reverse order of driver standings, but we currently have 4 drivers all tied for 3rd place on 49 points.  Whiplash, Launch, Jaap, and the Stig all can make that claim.  Historically, the league has used the order of finish in the previous race as the tiebreaker, with the car finishing the farthest back getting the highest grid slot.  That leaves the following for Brazil:

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

Pit selection is order of the team standings:

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

Track History

With only one race in the books at Interlagos, there isn’t a ton of history to go on, but what a race it was.  Osito Racing Company’s Jaronimus and Jamonito finished 1-2, respectively, after lapping in 7th and 9th place.  Launch Bornado, who started 8th, was in 1st after a lap and rounded out the podium.  Launch is also the only car in this year’s field to finish higher than 7th last year.

Three cars failed to finish (including both Scandinavian Blitz drivers) thanks to engine failure and debris scattered all over the track.  Jaap had a blazing first lap but was the last of the finishers to cross the line.

Scandinavian Blitz will be hoping to carry their Monaco momentum over to Brazil to earn some redemption for last year, while the drivers who are all currently tied know that a solid finish here can give them a strong leg up in the standings.

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Monaco Preview

Posted on January 20, 2018 | Leave a comment

The famed street course in Monaco is one of two circuits that the SBMRL has had on the calendar every year of the league.  December marks this season’s return, and it is always an enjoyable time.

Monaco (D)

Monaco is a track that is quite familiar to the league, but we have a decent number of rookie drivers this season.  Fortunately, they’ll get eased into the track with a relatively straightforward first sector.  The starting grid takes up most of the pit straight.  With a short run up to Sainte Devote those starting higher up the grid will have a slight advantage, if for no other reason than the corner can get quite cramped at times.

The second sector of the track is most notable for the Loews hairpin and the tunnel straight, which is the longest straight of the circuit.  The chicane at the end of the straight is prime passing opportunity.

Sector three features the S de la Piscine, Rascasse, and Anthony Noghes turns, which will occasionally catch a driver out but for the most part are navigated easily.  The exit of Anthony Noghes is probably the most notable spot in this sector, as position battles are often won or lost on the second lap approach to the finish line.

Starting Grid

After their double DNF in Japan, the Scandinavian Blitz team starts on the front row.  Jaap’s struggles this season put him up in 4th on the grid, alongside Stevie.  Sheila’s consistency gets her to the front of the standings and the back of the grid.

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

Pit selection will be in order of team standings, and with a tie at the top and an identical average grid position, a coin flip gives Force Ravenswood first choice.  Here then is the order:

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

No driver has Monaco as their home race this season.

Track History

As this is our third trip to the Pincipality, there is a decent amount of history at Monaco for the SBMRL.  Both previous race winners, The Stig and Jaap are in this year’s lineup.  The Stig won in a race in which he started on pole position, so that certainly has to be encouraging for this year’s race.  Launch Bornado has done well here, too, finishing 2nd and 4th.

Last year’s race produced the notable double DNF for Scandinavian Blitz, a fate that they are now coming out of after Japan.  That experience will likely be on their mind as well.

SBMRL @ Monaco

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