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Race Report Part 2 - Pioneer Legends Pairs Race

   

Kevin and Isaac departed after the team race, leaving us seventeen racers and lots of cars to choose from. Alex had scrutineered the Pioneer Legends during the Nascar race and - after a little horse-trading - we came up with eight pairs, Simon filling the spare seat in both Dean and Mike McCann's cars. The first qualifying group saw both Ryan & Oliver and Andy & Ash set scores of 27 laps in five minutes, Dean and Simon managing 25. Pete and Jerome's car lost a rear wheel and was retired - they'd use Terry's spare for the semi-final. The second group was headed by Mike & Jeremy on 27 laps, then Terry & Matthew on 26 - the other three pairs all scored 25 laps. That meant the three teams scoring 27 laps had qualified directly for the Feature Race and everyone else would fight it out in the semi for the final three places...

A five-minute semi-final proved as high-pressured as ever. Mike & Simon's car dropped a braid on the hairpin - and that was game over before it had even started. Things were exceptionally tight at the front and at the back Jerome & Pete were getting used to a new car and Ed & Alex had intermittent power issues - which turned out to be a loose braid. Dean & Simon and Jean & Oli battled for the win, Terry & Matthew not far behind - and Alex drove like a man possessed to claw back lost time and make the cut. In the end, he just failed to catch Pete & Jerome, but set easily the fastest lap time of the night in the process. Jean & Oli grabbed the win, Dean & Simon were second - and Terry & Matthew took that all-important final place in the Feature Race.

   

The Feature was extended to ten minutes, plus some weather - a damp, but drying track. The race was a classic - a slow-burner to begin with and then a superb two-way battle at the end. Andy led the first half of the race, handing over to Ash with a one-lap lead over Jeremy & Mike. Jean & Oli had car problems, dropping them back seven laps from the lead - but otherwise, the top four were covered by just under three laps. A couple of offs for Ash allowed Mike and then Dean onto the same lap and then get past. Mike was the first of the leaders to stop for his final fuel and tyre stop - he came out just behind Ash. Dean was next, pitting from the lead of the race - and he'd re-join nearly a lap behind Mike. An uncharacteristically long pit stop for Ash dropped him nearly two laps behind the leading pair and only a lap ahead of Oliver in fourth.

Two minutes to go and Dean was pushing hard, Mike defending. The excitement in the room ramped up as the seconds counted down. Dean was putting in some great lap times, but Mike was holding firm - teammate Jeremy keeping half an eye on fuel levels to avoid a last-gasp splash & dash than could hand victory to Dean & Simon. With much relief, they made it through to the end, finishing about half a lap ahead of Dean & Simon, who weren't too disappointed with the runners-up spot after qualifying sixth. Ash & Andy were third, Oliver & Ryan a lap behind in fourth. Terry & Matthew rolled in two laps ahead of Jean & Oli.

   

Huge congratulations to Mike and Jeremy on their first Pioneer Legends win - which consolidates their lead in the championship, with just one more round to go.

Here are all the Legends race stats (click to enlarge)...

   

Massive thanks to everyone who came along to race - especially all those who came early to set up and stayed late to pack away. We had an empty hall by 10 o'clock, which is pretty impressive for a Digital Wednesday. Part of that was down to a slick evening on Race Control - a big thanks to Ash for his hard work with RCS64, Alex's scrutineering and Oliver programming and lining up the cars. There is one more Digital Wednesday this year - on August 17 - and then we have a Digital Saturday each month from September through to the end of the year.

A highlights video of Wednesday night, plus updated championship tables will follow...