Round 9 of the Lionheart Retro series in iRacing was the Next Level Racing GP of Hungaroring. Here we have the full race report.
The Lionheart Retro Series in iRacing moves on to round 9 for the Next Level Racing GP of Hungaroring. Written by Darren B of Simrace247.com.
Top 5 On The Grid
- #45 O’Brien
- #8 Taylor
- #19 Ragan
- #23 Valiokas
- #99 Sirois
We gear up for another great race in the Lionheart Retro series as 28 drivers are ready to race for 46 laps. Greenlight here we go! A clean start by everyone as O’Brien gets the hammer down early and starts to open a gap. Hungaroring is a top track where you need to pick your passing places wisely. Sirois gets the jump on Valiokas and moves up to P4. The opening lap remains clean as the drivers get into the groove and up to speed.
D.Rodriguez has a moment into turn 1 on lap three and drops several positions and seems to have a slight issue as he runs wide again further into the lap. O’Brien continues to lead out front with the top four in formation, a relatively calm race so far with O’Brien commanding the race by 1.5 seconds over Ragan.
Lap 5 Top 10
- O’Brien
- Taylor
- Ragan
- Sirois
- Valiokas
- Otis
- Rasimas
- G. Wood
- Fowler
- Graaf
Rodriguez is getting back up to speed and currently sitting in P16, his recovery is coming back to him with good pace. Lap 7 has clicked by rather rapidly as the drivers are keeping everything clean and clinical. You get the feeling that this is going to be one of those races that will be a patient one, Guyon enters the pits. Rodriguez has reeled his way up to the back of Frazier in P14 who has a bunch of cars ahead of him. Back out front, O’Brien is stretching out his lead slightly over Taylor, the gap is now 1.9 seconds.
Sirois starts to apply pressure on Ragan who is in P3 at the end of lap 9, he may be testing some moves and keeping an eye on weak points from Ragan. He goes for the send down the start finish straight and moves up, Sirois up to P3. The top 6 are starting to bunch up on lap 12, will they battle or work as a team to reel in Taylor who is 7 seconds up the road in P2. O’Brien out front has extended his lead over Taylor, the gap now is 2.7 seconds.
Lap 15 Top 10
- O’Brien
- Taylor
- Sirois
- Ragan
- Valiokas
- Otis
- Rasimas
- Wood
- Fowler
- Graaf
Fowler gets the move done on Wood for P8, and Ragan puts the move of the season in Lionheart as he goes around the outside at T4, what a move. Rasimas pits in at the end of lap 18, and Valiokas pinches the position back from Ragan for P4. O’Brien pits in at the end of lap 20, and Taylor follows him in. we start to see other drivers coming in lap after lap, and the pit stop shuffle begins.
Valiokas had the shortest of stops with the front running cars, Calisto loses control of the car on lap 23 and puts it into a spin. O’Brien remains out front with a gap of 5.8 seconds over Taylor. We have now passed the halfway point and the toP P10 is covered by 36 seconds with a large spread. Valiokas has entered the pits again, as he has damage to his car, what a shame as he was having such a great race, he had ridden the curb at T4 and put his car into a spin and slammed the wall.
Lap 31 Top 10
- O’Brien
- Taylor
- Rasimas
- Sirois
- Otis
- Ragan
- Graaf
- Rodriguez
- Staples
- Valenzuela
Some drivers are coming into the pits again as they top off the fuel to get to the end of the race. O’Brien is working his way through lapped traffic as he continues to extend his lead over Taylor. Sirois and Otis are in close proximity to each other as they battle for third, and 14 seconds behind Taylor, Otis pits in at the end of lap 33. The front runners are coming into the pit’s lap after lap, these could be tense times as the shuffle up happens once again. Lap 36 and the final stints are now coming into effect, has anyone played it cool up until now and is ready to drop the hammer with some blisteringly fast laps? Taylor and Sirois continue to stay out on track, and Ragan pits on lap 37.
Taylor out front is bleeding time, as he has stayed out for longer. Sirois is catching him and Taylor comes into the pits at the end of lap 39, it’s going to be a splash and dash. Sirois is now leading, can he get the hammer down on this lap as he needs to pit himself? Net race leader O’Brien is in P2, evidence shows Taylor had an incident where he had lost control, he was lucky to not stack it into the wall, and Sirois pits in. He exits in P3, and a great battle for the final podium position is up for grabs between Sirois, Rasimas and Otis.
All eyes are on these three, its as close as you like, lapped cars are coming up and they cleanly get past, Otis looks for a move into T1 on lap 43 but pulls out of it. Sirois and Rasimas look like they have a slightly faster speed, but never say never, Otis could get the jump at any point. Can you believe it, the trademark T4 around the outside move from Otis has been done again, he passes Rasimas for P4, well committed. Sirois is pulling away, he just needs to keep his cool and stay focused for P3. Otis is trying to bridge a gap over Rasimas, slowly but surely he is doing it, O’Brien starts his final lap.
Victory In The Next Level Racing GP of Hungaroring
After a controlled race, Michael O’Brien has won the Next Level Racing GP of Hungaroring. He had the pace and strategy to do it and claimed victory by 14 seconds. Speaking in HyperX victory lane ” Its finally happened, I’ve now got that monkey off my back and it feels great”.
