Round 1, Season 14 Australian GPThe GPGSL kicks off its 14th season, with the Australian GP in Melbourne. Drama has quickly developed in Melbourne, with Covid 19 lockdowns looming. A few outbreaks in suburbs, and a local government bungling quarantine hotels means the GPGSL want to get this race done, and get out of town ASAP!
As so often in Melbourne, perfect weather greets us all....
Our drivers have formed up on the grid, to get the season underway. 26 laps ahead, let's get into it......Former series champ, Marcus De Bruyker sits on pole, with Sean O'Neill alongside him on the front row.
Defending series champ Tobias Kederer starts his title defence from 6th on the grid, with Gareth McCarthy in the newly powered DMR Porsche, in 5th ahead of him...
The run to Turn 1, and heavy braking almost sees Pedersen slam into De Bruyker....
The Tyrant driver leads the field through Turn 1, as in the background, everyone appears to be on their best behaviour....
The full field has safely navigated Turn 1, lap 1....
SCR rookie Parachki brings up the rear of the field...
McCarthy has lept into 3rd spot, with Pedersen ahead of him, and De Bruyker already out of shot in the lead...
McClure in 21st as a big cloud of brake dust appears deep in the pack....
Hinz right up behind Buitenhuis as they head into the heavy braking....
They touch, and Buitenhuis looks like he will take a trip through the sand...
He rejoins and is back up to speed in 21st...
Further into the lap, more craziness.... Greidanus appears to have locked up, as has McClure....
Sakata became the loser of the lock ups, and is now last, after being punted off by Greidanus...
The end of Lap 1, and De Bruyker has a nice lead over Pedersen, who also has a nice gap back to McCarthy....
The lead is growing back to Pedersen. De Bruyker going flat out early here today....
Kederer down to 8th, with a line of cars behind him....
Positions 6 - 10 on display...
Positions 11 - 15 on display....
Positions 16 - 20 on display, with the movers and drifters so far in the top 10...
And the final 2 runners on display...
Full standings on display,
The new Porsche engine in the DMR has powered McCarthy away from the chasing Alpha Renault, of Sean O'Neill....
So far, a super impressive weekend on debut for Atlantic, with Karda currently in 5th...
Yellow flags out again, down at Turn 13, with the DMR of Vilela turned around. Cameras missed the cause, but going on past history, fair to say he would have been tagged from behind - not to name names, but Christopher Hinz the likely culprit, having checked the timing screens.....
Kederer has lost another place, and now has cars all the way down to 17th, on his tail...
The speed of the Alpha should hold Kederer in good shape though...
Along Aughtie Drive, between the lake and golf course, the view remains the same behind Kederer, with Hinz in pursuit...
Kederer arrives at Turn 13, to see another car turned around!
Replays show more of the same as what we have seen already : lock up of brakes, collision with another car....
Karda the victim this time....
The Czech's day ruined, now down in 22nd...
With plenty of action so far, a full view of the standings for all to see....
Debutant in the big time, Majumdar runs in 8th, with a long queue following him...
Last season's surprise packet, Luke Russell currently holds the final point, running in 12th....
Porsche power for Vilela will need to be on maximum output, to boost the Brazilian back to the points positions...
Karda will be hoping for miracles, to improve his day after his incident...
Race leader Marcus De Bruyker enjoying a 3 second lead, on lap 6....
McCarthy in 3rd, with Pedersen in 2nd, just disappearing out of shot in the left lower corner of screen...
Carlos Rodriguez in the new look MTP out brakes himself, and runs into the grass....
The Uruguayan rejoins in 21st....
Pedersen in 2nd, with the chasing McCarthy and O'Neill in the background...
Sean O'Neill running strong in 4th....
Jack Elleker in 5th for Aston Martin Racing....
Huge lock up heading into Turn 1 for Gustavo, as he battles with Russell behind him...
Gustavo held on in Turn 1, and leads the chasing pack through Turn 3....
Full standings on display as the field enters Lap 8....
Majumdar holding off a two-time series champion....
Gilson right on the back of the Tyrant rookie....
Pedersen coming around Turn 16...
The up/downs in the top 10, as we keep ticking off the laps, and move towards the pit window....
Parachki the latest victim to let ambition being greater than reality, with a big lockup going into Turn 1....
A bumpy drift across the sand for the SCR rookie racer....
Yellows out at the Turn 1 section, as the SCR recovers....
But wait, what's this? Buitenhuis is parked on the inside of the track, on the exit of Turn 2....
Suspension failure for the Dutchman, on his debut with Atlantic....
Replays suggest the suspension was already broken on the approach to Turn 1, by the angle of the wheels, compared to steering wheel....
We now take our first ad break. Back shortly...
Race Director: Ernie B. Ecclescake
GPGTV Youtube ChannelEdited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2020 12:12PM by GPGTV.org/farked.