The 2024-25 SBMRL season is down to the final two races as we head into April and on to May. Scheduling conflicts meant that the April race wouldn’t be run until early May, but that doesn’t diminish the stakes or the resolve from the drivers to perform well.
Built in 1960 and used as the base for a racing school, the Magny-Cours Circuit looked quite a bit different in its early years than it does now. At that time, most of what is now the first sector didn’t exist. Formula 1 raced there from 1991 to 2008, with the major redisign occuring in the middle of that period, in 2003.
This will be the 3rd time the SBMRL visits. Regency Motors won the first time out, but 5 different teams have stood on the podium over the course of those two races.
The circuit is notable for having a particularly short pit straight, with the last grid place actually sitting in the circuit’s final corner. The first corner, the Grande Courbe will pose little to no problem for most of the drivers. Those near the back of the grid may need to slow down slightly to ensure they don’t slide out, but it shouldn’t slow down anyone at the front half the grid too much. It’s follow quickly by the Estoril bend, which is almost a full throttle corner. Drivers at the front of the starting grid should be able to progressively shift up throughout their entire gear box en route to enjoying one of the longest straights on the season’s calendar. The Golf corner is a complete non-entity for modern cars.
The second sector begins at the end of that long straight at the Adelaide corner. Adelaide marks the sharpest corner on the track and a huge slowdown for the field. Expect a lot of grinding of the gearboxes as cars try to reduce speed enough to handle it. A moderate straight feeds into the Nurburgring chicane, which has the possibility of being taken at fairly high speeds if drivers hit it correctly. The aptly named 180° corner follows and is a good passing spot if drivers can manage taking the inside line here. Hitting this corner for the straight that follows is essential for a good lap time.
The track’s final sector begins with the Imola chicane followed closely by Chateaux d’Eau. These two corners are a near mirror image of the final two corners in the 2nd sector, with the difference being that they’re much closer together. Whether that makes them easier or harder to navigate remains to be seen on race day. The final straight is of moderate length, with the circuits final corners being the Complexe du Lycee. It’s another part of the track, like Adelaide, that will require the use of some lower gears, but cars won’t be coming in quite as hot.
The last thing to say about the circuit is that due to the short nature of the pit straight, the pit entrance is immediately after the final corner’s exit. Taking too much speed out of there could prevent a car from getting fresh tires if needed.
Starting Grid
The standings dictate the starting grid, with drivers lining up in reverse order of how they’re currently performing:
- Parker Lacroix (SB)+
- Magnus Rasksen (SB)
- Mai “Cashew” Maghur (FP)*
- Max (SM)*
- Felix (SM)
- Liu S. Amil X (FP)
- Ramen Acuna Jr (MnS)
- Orzo Albies (MnS)
- Stoot van Vaart (RM)
- Pieter Pieperpoes (RM)
Pit selection will be in order of team standings.
- Regency Motors
- Mac ‘N Speed
- Fir Splays
- Switch Motorsports
- Scandinavian Blitz
* Mai starts ahead of Max due to the tie breaker of reverse of last race finish.
+ Parker gets the home race advantage at Magny-Cours this time out.
Race Outlook
The top of the driver standings have tightened up to the point where it’s anyone’s guess between Pieter and Stoot. There is an outside chance of someone else taking the title if the both the Regency Motors drivers struggle mightily in the final two races. It would almost certainly also require that whoever is attempting that jump win both races.
That said, there is a ton to play for in the midfield. Only 13 points separate Orzo in 3rd place from Magnus in 9th. Parker has a bit more ground to make up, but with the home race advantage this time out and pole position to boot, he couldn’t be better positioned to go for it.
At a team level, the story is somewhat similar. Regency Motors has a commanding lead, but behind them, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out where when all is said and done.
Given how close everything is in both the driver and team standings, it seems likely that France will play a big part in the set up for our final race. In all likelihood, though, we won’t really know anything for certain until all is said and done at the end of the season.