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Formula Sprint 2
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Tuesday 2nd of April 2024 19:00:00
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March 02, 2016

 

Midnight Motorsports team owner Nick Rowland reflects on the teams build up to their 2016 Superleague season, where the team took a commanding win at the opening race in Melbourne.

There is no denying that 2015 was not our most spectacular season. Difficulties for our drivers with the mod and also the infamous sim-racing 'fatigue' set in.

Our entry was questioned prior to the start of the 2016. We entered the car but admittedly we were not even sure what we were going to do. The inception of rFactor 2 was a huge plus and also of huge intrigue to see what could be done on a new simulator. It created a new stimulus for us and after much deliberation decided we would continue our endeavor on a scaled down capacity.

While we had a 'pool' of drivers to choose from, the desire, time and enthusiasm had dropped which meant we were looking for new drivers. Parker was an obvious choice as he is exceptionally talented but hasn't had a fair crack of the whip (I think everyone would agree that he deserves it after 2014 Hungary also).

We were left then searching for another driver. Others had gone on to pastures new and I was left head scratching until I saw a name I had not seen a good while pop-up; Rudy van Buren. This guy I had known since FSR days and I knew how quick he was. I immediately got in contact with him, had a very open conversation on what both of us wanted to achieve and quickly started to put him in place to sign for the team.

A few weeks later, Melbourne creeps up on us like a thief in the night. Four, grueling, tests past in that time and even I was feeling the boredom of testing kick-in.

Practice comes about and I complete my laps and switch servers ready for Qualifying which, quite honestly, I really had no idea on how this one would go. I knew how quick both drivers were and how they performed but really no benchmark on times. I have never been so nervous for a final lap in my life. Watching Lewis post two sectors both sub one tenth of a second had my heart absolutely racing. I have never felt anything like it as a team manager. Everything so close at the front.

GUAPA! Pole position on debut for the eager Dutchman. What an absolute blinder of a lap it was as well. All three laps, all good enough for pole. Outstanding performance.

As the final red light went out I was, again, nervous to see how the launch off the line would go. It was superb. It was worked perfectly for a run down in to turn one and allowed Rudy to escape the ensuing pack.

Once Lewis had got himself in to second position I saw the lap times start to tumble and it turned in to squeaky bum time but kept the faith. Sure enough come the first pit stop we could breathe just a touch easier. Lewis was dealt are really bad hand with the traffic when he came out in, compromising his second stint leaving us to guesstimate what the next move was.

Pit-stops again seem to fall our way and it allowed Rudy to see the car home in quite emphatic style. So perfectly controlled I could not have hoped or wished for a better start to the 2016 campaign. Upgrades loom now though. Let the fun begin!