Category Archives: Race Previews

Magny-Cours Preview

Posted on May 1, 2025 | Leave a comment

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.

Magny-Cours

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:

  1. Parker Lacroix (SB)+
  2. Magnus Rasksen (SB)
  3. Mai “Cashew” Maghur (FP)*
  4. Max (SM)*
  5. Felix (SM)
  6. Liu S. Amil X (FP)
  7. Ramen Acuna Jr (MnS)
  8. Orzo Albies (MnS)
  9. Stoot van Vaart (RM)
  10. Pieter Pieperpoes (RM)

Pit selection will be in order of team standings.

  1. Regency Motors
  2. Mac ‘N Speed
  3. Fir Splays
  4. Switch Motorsports
  5. 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.

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Austria Preview

Posted on March 14, 2025 | Leave a comment

Zeltweg, Austria is home of the Red Bull Ring. Originally built in 1969 and known as the Österreichring, it was a purpose built track that replaced and airfield circuit. A renovation in the 1990’s resulted in it being renamed the A1-ring, but when the Formula 1 contract for an Austrian Grand Prix was terminated in the early 2000’s, it was bought by Red Bull. Eventually, they rebuilt it and Formula 1 returned.

The SBMRL has never raced in Austria, so this will be a new experience for all of the teams on the grid.

Zeltweg

Zeltweg is characterized by a combination of long straights and very short straights with very little in terms of medium lengths. The first sector consists of just the pit straight, Castrol Kurve, now called the Nikki Lauda Turn, and the straight that follows. The starting grid is set a fair amount back from the first turn, so there isn’t much of a grid advantage starting at the front. Expect a lot of congestion trying to get through that first bend.

The Remus Kurve at the end of the straight will slow down a field eager to maintain speed. This one will definitely benefit from slow in-fast out, but it really all comes down to getting the timing just right in order to slough off as little speed as possible.

The longest straight of the circuit leads into the Rauch Kurve that can catch you out if you’re not careful. This where the short, technical portion of the track begins, as the next corner comes soon after and is even tighter to get through. It’s possibly a good place to abuse the tires a bit. The large Lauda Kurve that follows won’t be much of an issue at already reduced speeds, and that will wrap up the second sector.

The first part of the third sector doesn’t look much different than what was just experience in the second. A left-right combination that shouldn’t trouble the field much. The one medium length straight on the circuit then leads to the final two corners. This is a place that will catch people out. The final two corners lead into the pit straight, which can be taken at speed if those corners work out right. Get off rhythm and others will be flying by.

Starting Grid

As always, the starting grid for Austria will be the reverse order of the driver standings. A number of ties in the standings were broken in Argentina, so no need for any tie breakers this time out:

  1. Parker Lacroix (SB)
  2. Max (SM)
  3. Magnus Rasksen (SB)*
  4. Ramen Acuna Jr (MnS)*
  5. Felix (SM)
  6. Mai “Cashew” Maghur (FP)
  7. Orzo Albies (MnS)*+
  8. Liu S. Amil X (FP)*+
  9. Stoot van Vaart (RM)
  10. Pieter Pieperpoes (RM)

Pit selection will be in order of team standings.

  1. Regency Motors
  2. Fir Splays
  3. Mac ‘N Speed
  4. Switch Motorsports
  5. Scandinavian Blitz

* Magnus starts ahead of Ramen, and Orzo ahead of Liu due to the tie breaker of reverse of last race finish.
+ Orzo and Liu have Zeltweg as their home race, providing them each with a slight advantage.

Race Outlook

With 3 races to go, we’re into the final third of the season. Pieter is looking like he’s going to be hard to catch. Not just because he’s got 14 point and 28 point leads over 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, but because he hasn’t finished lower than 6th yet. Since the strong start to the year from Pieter and Stoot, the remainder of the field has traded strong races, resulting in a tight group of 4 drivers, just 4 points between them. That group consists of Orzo, Liu, Mai, and Felix, any of whom could move into second place with a win and a poor showing from Stoot.

The last four drivers on the grid, Magnus, Ramen, Max, and Parker aren’t that far behind. Parker’s only 20 points behind Orzo and Liu, which seems like a lot but is something that can be made up. Less than 10 points separate these four drivers. If any of them can translate their grid position to a high finish, they’ll be right back in the thick of things.

The team standings have opened up a bit. Regency Motors maintains a healthy lead at the top and are looking hard to catch. The remainder of the field was once within 10 points top to bottom, and now have about 10 points between each of the teams. Even that slight increase in spread makes it harder for a team to make a big move, but there’s still plenty of time. Scandinavian Blitz, with two drivers in the top three grid positions, will be looking for a big result in Austria.

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Buddh Preview

Posted on February 19, 2025 | Leave a comment

It’s been seven years since the SBMRL went to India to race Buddh International Circuit, but that’s exactly where we’re headed this February. Originally hosting its first Grand Prix in 2011, Formula 1 raced there for only three seasons before tax disputes caused them to end. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won all three races. This year’s SBMRL race will be the third time we’ve visited, albeit spread out across a number of years.

Buddh

Buddh’s pit straight is one of the shortest you’ll typically see. The starting line is set back just enough to push the back of the grid right up to the exit of the final corner. At the front, the ideal spot may actually be the second row rather than the first due to the sharp right hander that is Turn 1.

Coming out of Turn 2 with speed for the long straight is extremely helpful. Expect a bit more speed through here on lap 2 from those who don’t pit. On lap 1 the field will largely still be building up to their top gears.

Turn 3 will see a lot of braking and tire abuse, as it’s a terrible place to get things wrong. The lead into Turn 4 requires a good run in the previous corner, and it’s much better to downshift agressively at the latter of the two corners.

The second sector isn’t too complicated, with Turn 5 keeping speeds down but otherwise unlikely to cause anyone much trouble. Turn 6 is equally forgiving. The only thing there is that while it may not be a challenging corner, there are chances for passing through it that drivers will be looking to take advantage of.

The final sector is deceptive in its simplicity, its opportunity for high speeds, and its potential for gut wrenching mistakes. It’s really all about rhythm, and those who get it right will be a big advantage. Just don’t overshoot the final corner if you need to enter the pits, as the entrance to pit lane comes immediately out of the final bend.

Starting Grid

As always, the starting grid for Road Atlanta will be the reverse order of the driver standings. A number of ties in the standings were broken in Argentina, so no need for any tie breakers this time out:

  1. Mai “Cashew” Maghur (FP)*
  2. Felix (SM)~
  3. Parker Lacroix (SB)~
  4. Max (SM)
  5. Ramen Acuna Jr (MnS)*
  6. Liu S. Amil X (FP)
  7. Magnus Rasksen (SB)
  8. Orzo Albies (MnS)
  9. Stoot van Vaart (RM)
  10. Pieter Pieperpoes (RM)

Pit selection will be in order of team standings.

  1. Regency Motors
  2. Mac ‘N Speed
  3. Scandinavian Blitz
  4. Fir Splays+
  5. Switch Motorsports+

* Buddh is the home race for Mai and Ramen. As such, each driver will have a slight advantage in car setup.
~ Parker lines up behind Felix due to the tie breaker of reverse of last race finish.
+ Fir Splays selects pit ahead of Swith Motorsports due to having a lower average grid position.

Race Outlook

Parker’s last second victory in Atlanta didn’t move him that much higher in the standings, although he is certainly in a much more competitive position now. Will the tie breaker pushing him down a grid slot actually work in his favor given the track layout? Another victory could see him as high as the top 3 in the standings now.

With Felix on the front row and Max behind him, Switch Motorsports will be looking to cash in on those positions and have a strong team showing. The driver with the most to prove is perhaps Magnus, who’s Atlanta race was disastrous but still leaves him 4th in the standings.

Aside from Switch Motorsports, Fir Splays will be hoping for big things from pole sitter Mai. If Liu can make a few passes from 6th on the grid, they’ve got a good shot at moving up the standings, too. Everyone is still chasing Regency Motors, with Mac ‘N Speed still a full race worth of points behind. The orange liveried cars didn’t fare too well in Atlanta, and if that continues in Buddh things will start to get rather intriguing at the top.

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