WRS - RACE 1 - BUMPER TAKES CHEQUERED IN RACE 1

Trent Streams
Nov 28, 2015
3 min read

Bumper took his place on the top step of the podium, winning Race 1 of the Whishy Racing Series at Dragonville Raceway in Alletroll.

Spine qualified fastest and therefore started from the very front of the grid for Race 1 - a 34 lap sprint with one mandatory pit. He endured bit of wheel spin off the line, however, which cost him his position. Sherbet enjoyed a fast start and managed to pull in front of the pole-sitter from the outside, before settling in the lead come turn 1.

Meanwhile, Bumper, starting from row 2 of the grid, out-started Disco and straight away made his presence felt on the back of Spine. He poked his nose into gaps, searching for a passing opportunity, and made the most of a little Spine wobble on lap 3, passing him at turn 7.

Twister showed early pace, gaining 3 spots in the first 5 laps into 6th. Sherbet enjoyed the clear air at the front of the track, recording the fastest lap of the first 10 on lap 6 - 1:14.02.

The Safety Car rolled onto the track for the first time in 2015, when Wisheroony tagged the inside wall leading out of the chicane at turns 1 and 2. The left wheel botched, he ricocheted across the track, and was lucky not to collect Flossie. He came to a rest out of harms way on the outside wall of the track, the Get 'Em Weapons entry's front left corner of the car mangled badly.

As soon as Race Control commanded the Safety Car onto the track, members of each pit crew scrambled and all of the 29 remaining cars headed to pit lane. Cars traded positions, and even a bit of paint as they all headed in and out of their pit booths. Needles was the only whishy to have trouble during his pit stop, his fueler bumping into the left tyre changer and dropping the fuel hose, spraying fuel everywhere. As a result, Needles was given a black flag pit lane drive through penalty and lost costly time.

Dorsy also found trouble in the lane, handed a pit lane drive through for accidentially spinning her wheels during the pit stop. With so many cars in the lane at once, Sketcher, once in 11th, was desperate and came out of his box, his back right corner collecting the front left side of Bubbles. He also received a black flag drive through penalty. Bubbles reported steering problems and was forced to pit later in the race as a result of the contact.

Back out on the circuit, the green flag waved once more and Bumper made the most of the newly compressed field, taking on Sherbet on the very first lap after the restart (lap 14) and getting by for the lead at turn 9. He wasn't given a chance to get away though, as Knighto ran wide at turn 5 and bogged himself in the sand a lap later.

Bumper led the pack to the second restart, and endured lots of pressure from the swarming pack behind him. He held them off with sheer speed, and managed to pull away 1.5 seconds before the third Safety Car was called. Tigar came through the chicane fast, but lost it over the kerbs and ran hard into the outside wall past turn 2. Medical crews were quickly to the scene, and they helped a winded and shocked Tigar back to the pit line.

Bumper restarted where he left off, putting a second on Sherbet in the first lap back racing. Without another Safety Car's interferance, this would be a final 7 lap sprint to the finish. Twister locked the brakes at turn 13, allowing Marshy past into 3rd place. She quickly caught up to Sherbet and applied maximum pressure throughout the dying laps, allowing Bumper time to escape the rest of the field. He did just that, putting almost 4 seconds on Sherbet by the end of the race.

Sherbet and Marshy battled it out until the end as Bumper soared across the finish line in first. Most people's focus remained on the two 'till the chequered flag, as Marshy tried several times in the last lap to get past. Coming around the final corner, turn 16, Marshy took the outside route and tried for a good exit to get past on the final front straightaway. The chequered flag waved in the distance as Sherbet and Marshy dragged to the line. The end margin between the pair was 0.12 seconds... with Sherbet holding his position. If the line was literally 5 metres further down the track, Marshy would have got him.

Meanwhile, Bumper celebrated his 3.8 second victory by burning some rubber! He enjoys a 6 point lead in the championship, with a larger 68 lap race tomorrow, in which the winner receives 200 championship points. For the full race results, click here.