Strong but no cigar at VIR

At the weekend, the V8 SCOPS Premier Series found its way to the VIRginia International Raceway for Round 8 of the championship. In the main split would be six drivers with Cooper and Simon returning to the championship.

Leading the points standings is James Scott, who has been very solid all season but was looking to return to the top step after winning the season opener in Montreal. The team would have a solid if not spectacular qualifying session. James & Sam would start inside the Top 10, Cooper, Brady and Simon in the Top 20 and Zac inside the Top 30 ahead of the 250km race.

The race got off to a strong start with five of our cars inside the Top 14 including 2 in the top 4, however the wheels started to fall off (the road literally) when Simon and Brady had issues that would drop them down the end of the order. However for James, Sam and Cooper the race was running very well indeed, getting through the first phase of pit stops in excellent shape with James eventually taking the effective race lead before the safety car was called.

This would prove to be a pivotal phase of the race, with all drivers with the exception of Brady Meyers, deciding it was too early pit for the second CPS (except for Simon who did attempt to pit, but advised by race control that the pit lane was closed just before entering, which would prove to be an instruction given in error). The decision to stay out would end up being the wrong call, and all of our cars and those others that didn’t pit suffering as a result.

It was a valiant drive by everyone to press on in what was ultimately a losing battle, however in the end a strong finish was gone and we will take the result as a learning exercise into the all important Enduro Cup starting next round.

The final classification for all of our drivers were:

7th – James Scott

9th – Cooper Webster

18th – Brady Meyers

22nd – Zachary Hanlin

25th – Simon Feigl

35th – Sam Blacklock (DNF)

The championship now moves to Phillip Island for the first round of the Enduros on 9th August – we’re excited to go back to the Island, and give this Endurance season a great run!