27.02.2018   Category: Event publications

Oliver Meunier dominates the final in 1:8 Nitro GT3 Spec at Lloret de Mar

Lloret de Mar was the venue for the third round of the first ever VRC PRO 1:8 Nitro GT3 Spec Series. The simple layout, combined with the limited set-up options of the 1:8 Nitro GT3 Spec chassis, provided for extremely close racing.

PRO LEVEL

The 10-minute qualifying round was extremely tight in the Pro Level. Qualifying saw 9 of the top 10 racers complete 41 laps; separated by only 8 seconds. In fact, the top three qualifiers were separated by less than half a second. Kevin Bacon (US) took the top qualifying position with 41 laps in 10:00.252, just .3 seconds ahead of fellow American Joshua Berman, who was less than .2 seconds ahead of Oliver Meunier (DE). Graham Raistrick (UK) qualified just 2 seconds off the leader’s pace; Dana Bailes (US) was 4 seconds back; Gary Crowell (US) was 5; Nuno Lourenco (PT) and Carson Yeung (HK) were 6; and Tommaso Andreuccetti (IT) was 8 seconds behind with 41 laps in 10:08.436. In other words, the top 9 racers were separated by only about half a lap after 10 minutes. Massimiliano Tanturri (IT) rounded out the top 10 with 40 laps in 10:03.234.

The tight qualifying set the stage for an exciting final round. Bacon took the pole position and led the pack from the starting grid, but Meuiner took the lead on lap one and never trailed again. Meunier focused and practiced between rounds and found another gear in the final round. Meunier ran a near flawless 20-minute final, committing only one mistake on lap 63. (Unfortunately, Meunier’s replay did not upload so the reason behind his 16.434 second lap is unknown) Regardless, Meunier ran away from the field throughout the final and was the only racer to turn 83 laps. Meunier finished with 83 laps in 20:10.368; his fastest lap was 14.132 and an amazing average lap (without pit stops) of 14.370. Congratulations Oliver on a great run and victory!

The final two podium positions featured a battle between three racers; Berman, Raistrick and Bacon. The three racers were all over one another for the first 5 laps when Berman stuttered and fell behind. Raistrick and Bacon continued to battle until lap 11 when Raistrick began to fall off the pace. Bacon pulled away until lap 16 when Berman started to real him in. The two were very close until lap 39 when Bacon clipped one of the infield hairpins and spun. Berman passed Bacon, took the second position for good, and never looked back. Bacon’s mistake cost him about a second and put Raistrick back in striking distance. Bacon began to extend his lead over Raistrick, but Bacon struggled in the pits and the one second lead he had gained was nearly completely lost when the racers came into the pits on laps 47 and 48. Bacon and Raistrick remained within .2 seconds of each other between lap 48 and lap 64; trading positions three times. With time winding down, Bacon came in early for his final pit stop, a 20.4 second stop; Raistick came in a few laps later on lap 72 in with a 19.6 second stop which put him 1.3 seconds ahead of Bacon with time running out. Raistrick held on as Bacon faded and claimed the final podium position behind Meunier and Berman. Raistrick finished with 82 laps in 20:03.398.


Raistrick (Orange) and Bacon (Green) battled side by side most of the final

A-MAIN RESULT – PRO LEVEL

Comments

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(Total posts: 6)

Manuel W	04.03.2018 [05:16] Thanks for doing the report. love it. congrats to Olivier, Joshua and Graham. Thanks again to Kevin for a great report.
Pieter B Founder	01.03.2018 [13:40] Great report Kevin, thanks!!!
Kevin B. MULTIPLE WORLD CHAMPION	28.02.2018 [14:36] Thanks guys. We were overdue for a new race report. There hadn't been one since the world's. This was a fun and close race, and deserved a report. Great run Oliver!
Olivier M. VRC World Champion	28.02.2018 [00:19] Great report, thanks!
michael Zappa	27.02.2018 [17:38] Well done all nice racing great report man
Carson Y	27.02.2018 [04:10] Nice report and exciting tight race!