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Race Report - Pioneer Legends

Everyone stayed for the Legends pairs race, giving us ten cars and two qualifying heats of five. The three first-timers would continue their digital training, George sharing Terry's spare car with Isaac F, Simon sharing with Mike Mc and Isaac B sharing Andy's Perrier Dodge with Steve...

   

A very strong pairing of Mike D & John - driving the Red McDonalds Chevy -  went in the first eight-minute heat. With a driver change at half way, Mike & John won the heat, scoring 28 laps - probably enough to be amongst the four automatic qualifiers for the Feature race. Daniel & Stephen were just a lap behind, having battled with Isaac B & Steve before the latter pair dropped to the back with pit stop woes. George & Isaac F finished third and Matthew & Kev fourth - they'd almost certainly need to go again in the Semi to battle for a place in the Feature...

   

Heat 2 saw a quicker race and higher scores. Pete & Jerome's Gulf Chevy was very rapid, finishing 31 laps and clocking the fastest lap of the heats - 12:049 seconds. Both Oliver & Terry and Dean & Ryan managed 29 laps, which meant the Heat 1 winners only snuck into the Feature in the final automatic qualifying spot. Just missing out were Rob & Ollie, but they'd have another change in the Semi - as would Mike Mc & Simon B, who'd had car issues to qualify last...

   

The six-car Semi was all set for lots of excitement - the top two would go through to the Feature. Andy replaced Stephen in the McCann Brothers' Ford and they were in the mix for the step-up until a slipping crown gear slowed their progress and ultimately retired with a couple of minutes to go. 

   

That left Rob & Ollie fighting Matthew & Kev for the win. They finished in that order on 29 and 28 laps respectively - a country mile ahead of the others...

   

Mike Mc & Simon recovered well from the car issues to finish third, Steve & Isaac B were fourth and Isaac F & George fifth.

   

The Feature race started with some excellently clean and rapid racing. Jerome took the pole-sitting #9 Gulf Chevy into an early lead and pretty much left everyone else in his wake. Ollie had a big off after two minutes, the green McDonalds car needing repairs until just before the driver change. That gave fifth place to Kev.

   

Up front, Jerome was followed into the driver change by a trio of cars - Ryan, Terry and John - all on the same lap. Pete took over the lead car and would be chased to the line by Oliver, Dean and Mike, with Matthew ready to pick up any pieces and Rob just aiming to finish in one piece. Pete didn't have the best pit stop, putting all four leading cars together. The lead changed on track and in the pits, but Pete has the advantage going into the final minute...

   

Then it was carnage. These cars are not the easiest to drive and not at all forgiving if you get it all wrong! An error from Pete put Mike in the lead, Oliver second and Dean third. Then Mike went sideways through the line and probably lost a lap - frustrating, but that's racing... Dean found himself in the lead with twenty seconds to go, Oliver second and Pete charging hard to make up lost time - he passed Oliver in the dying seconds to grab the runner-up spot. However, Dean defended his lead and took a famous win...

   

   

Here are all the stats from the heats, semi and feature...

   
Click on the image to make it bigger

Congrats to the winners - Ryan, Matthew, Rob & Simon in the team race, plus Dean & Ryan in the pairs race. A very big thank you to everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable August evening at the Barn. Special thanks goes to the set-up and race control teams and to all those who stayed behind to pack away - we couldn't do it without you.

There is still some data to crunch - results from June and July, plus GT and Legends championship tables. These will follow soon-ish, together with a video of last night's action.