Wave Freem eSports ends the year of racing leading DPi and LMGTE standings, MR Motorsport gets the win in LMP2 and can now be considered a title contender
First time of eSport Endurance Series in Watkins Glen has been an intense one. High speed and close walls caused a lot of incidents and Race Direction was forced to neutralize four times the event calling a Full Course Yellow (in Suzuka it happened only once towards the end). Of course, crashes have not been the only interesting thing happened in New York State. While DPi did not deliver any surprises, LMP2 and LMGTE classes were full of drama until the chequered flag.
DPi: nobody could stop Wave Freem #1
Ground Effect #9 and JAESA #20 fighting through traffic
With the comeback of Ground Effect, 7 DPi entries raced in Watkins Glen. In qualifying, with Jean Alesi eSports Academy skipping the session, Lorenzo Arisi was fastest setting a 1.27.955. Quintaiè was close (1.28.070) but Pescara ATP-Autoteile had a 40 seconds Stop & Go penalty to serve after Suzuka. Similarly to what we saw in Japan, during the race it was #20 the most serious threat to Wave Freem dominance, but the good performance by the duo Caruso-Stoltze was not enough to keep up with #1. Third place for Pescara #4. Points for Los Piratas #7 and Ground Effect #9, taking the chequered flag in fourth and fifth respectively. The Acura driven by Rik van Aerle and George Whitehouse looked promising in the first part of the race. Whitehouse went very close to Arisi in the first stint, and van Aerle had an incredible fight with Kasper Stoltze. Unfortunately, an incident after 4 hours threw away any chances for #9 to get a better result.
LMP2: MR Motorsport wins, BHK extends the lead
Josh Purwien was the fastest LMP2 in qualifying but penalties and an accident held back his team
LMP2 has confirmed itself as the most unpredictable class. In qualifying Josh Purwien (Axle Sports #22) drove its Oreca to the limit to set a 1.30.580. Alex Beggi (Wave Freem eSports Junior #17) started on the grid just ahead of Naquib Azlan (Axle Sports #21), Alessandro Ottaviani (BHK #16) and Gianluca Scalvini (MR #71). The two Axle Sports had a lot of penalties after the Suzuka round and quickly fell down the order as they served them. This gave the chance to other cars to take the lead. Ottaviani and Scalvini immediately emerged as the best candidates to win the race. Comeback by Josh Purwien, who was trying an interesting strategy with the hard compound, was stopped by an incident during the third hour in which the white Oreca lost its rear wing.
BHK #16 and MR #71 fighting for the lead
As the sky above the track became more and more dark, only two cars were left fighting for the win, separated by less than 10 seconds: MR #71 and BHK #16. The latter, with one hour left on the clock and Emilio Longo driving, tried to not change the tyres to save some time in the pits, while Scalvini, back on track after the consistent stints delivered by Davide Ragni, fitted a new set of softs. #71 was way faster thanks to the fresh rubber and overtook #16 to get the win in Watkins Glen. Third place for Wave Freem #47, able to defend from ARMS Simracing close behind. It was P5 in the end for Axle Sports #21, just ahead of Rookie Monsters #37. Mantas Rekus kept Pitlane TV’s spectators awake with a “big balls” overtake on Mikko Nassi at the chicane in the final hour, but a splash and go pushed the Lithuanian back down in P6. Axle Sports #22, Wave Freem Junior #17 and Blue Steel Racing #23 round up the points-paying positions.
LMGTE: No luck for Blue Bolt, ELTA and Pescara
No luck for #92: an early contact with the barriers costed a lot of time for repairs
With two races gone, we have not seen a clean race for the LMGTE field yet. The majority of teams qualified in the front rows were hit by bad luck, either with incidents or hardware issues. Only 1 thousandth of a second separated the poleman Andrea Riccelli (Wave Freem Junior) from Davide Arduini (ELTA Customs). Gabriele Cossu was not so far behind with the gap below 1 tenth. Both Arduini and Cossu were taken out from the fight for the win very soon, unfortunately. ELTA #97 lost the connection to the server twice, while Blue Bolt #92 was involved in an accident with a DPi that caused heavy damage. A day to forget for Leo Racing Team and Pescara ADG as well. Alessandro Puoti and Alessandro Lo Manto were forced to retire, once again, for technical issues, while Eros Masciulli, seconds after sitting behind the wheel of his Ferrari, was hit by a prototype.
Outstanding performance for VeM #90: P2 at the chequered flag
Of course, it was not a race to forget for everybody in the LMGTE field. A lot of teams were able to stay away from troubles and got some big points. Best example is VeM #90: Mattia Crupi showed some pace in qualifying, placing his Ferrari in P4. Deiulis and Zampini did an outstanding job as well, being consistent throughout the entire race and finishing in P2. Behind them, the only solo-driver of the championship Alvaro Inchausti. #72 took advantage of a mistake made by Luca Pacini (#63) in the final stint, and managed to bring home a podium position, just ahead of 3DRap. 5th place for the other Blue Bolt (#93), ahead of ARPIEM Simracing #911, Pescara ADG #77, Tomelli #69, WJ Racing Bfom #53, which lost two positions due to a connection lost in the final minutes. 3DRap Endurance Wild #65 was the last car to get a point.
Watkins Glen was the last race of eSport Endurance Series in 2020. Championship will now return on the 30th of January in Wisconsin, for the 6 Hours of Road America. Standings tell us that, with just two rounds gone, every team can still fight for the final win. To all our readers, we would like to wish happy holidays, Merry Christmas and hopefully a better New Year. See you in 2021!
6 Hours of Watkins Glen on Pitlane TV (ITA/ENG)