Spa-Francorchamps Exhibition Race
Stavelot, Belgium, December 11, 2020: In anticipation of the 2021 season, a race was held at Spa-Francorchamps where the teams got a chance to test their new cars and get some experience for their drivers.
Qualification Round – December 9, 2020
The Queenscape and Majeaux cars dominated the first half of the qualification, however, crashes for Simernino, Biskup and Jochen would relegate them to start at the end of the grid, with Casalini taking the pole position and giving a chance to both Epona Nitro drivers to start behind at positions #2 and #3.
The Hatena and Slashware cars had a distinctive lower performance compared to the pole-takers, but in the end, the Japanese team prevailed, with the debutant Colombian team sticking to positions #6 and #7, only in front of the crashed cars. An interesting setup in the back, how much will they be able to contain the powerful Queenscapes? will the German team have the patience to chase the slower cars into the front positions?
Overall a bad day for the favorites Queenscape. Hopefully, they can make a good show during the race.
Exhibition Race Day – December 10, 2020
The race started with Kisielewicz #2 charging directly at Casalini, only to hit a wall at La Source and be taken out of the race far too quick, leaving Casalini free to fly away from the slower Hatena driven by Geckinho and stay in that position for the rest of the race.
Both Queenscape cars, as well as Simernino chasing from the back, were stopped in their tracks by the slower Slashware racer of Gaburi. Simernino pushed on, only to crash near the Raidilon while trying to overtake Jochen.
A gap developed between Geckinho (#2) and Wichman (#3) who was, in turn, being chased aggressively by Zapata, whose slower car would end up being surpassed by Denzi’s Hatena on his way to meet his teammate. Meanwhile, both Queenscape cars still couldn’t manage to pass thru Gaburi, who was doing great contention work while her teammate rode far in the chase for #4.
The Queenscape cars finally managed to go past Gaburi by the end of lap 1 and after the first corner. Then Wichman, who had had a great race so far, crashed near Raidilon (which had already caused Simernino his race) allowing both Hatenas to get positions #2 and #3.
With Gaburi out of the way, the Queenscape rode to attack Zapata’s SWR01. But Zapata didn’t yield and Biskup had to give out many overtaking efforts including one at Blanchimont which almost costs him the race. However, he took the risk at La Source (where Kisielewicz crashed at lap 1) and finally passed thru Zapata, putting his engine on fire he quickly passed Denzi’s Hatena, while Jochen would still be kept away by Zapata for some corners until he was finally overtaken in the double gauche.
The struggle for #3 was tense during the last lap, as Denzi recovered his position and finally surpassed his teammate Geckinho, for the Hatena to finish #2 and #3, followed by Queenscape’s Biskup and Jochen, and the Slashware’s Zapata and Gaburi closing the list of finishing cars.
Casalini dominated the race at spot #1 from start to end, making us wonder what would have happened if the Queenscapes (and his teammate) have had better luck during the qualifiers. The worst part of the race went for Kisielewicz, for which we had great hopes after what we saw in the qualifiers (and the Epona racers seem to be in great shape, based on the performance we saw from Wichman).
And that’s it for this exhibition race! we can’t help but wonder what amazing things the 2021 tournament will bring! We’ll see you soon at the Bahrain Formula Proc Grand Prix!