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March 12, 2025
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The 2025 GPVWC Superlights season kicked off in Melbourne, Australia, with an incredibly dramatic first race; it had everything - intense battles, strategic pit stops, and a nail-biting fight for victory.
Qualifying: Puschke Snatches Pole in Last-Second Thriller
The first qualifying session of the year saw an exhilarating battle for pole position. Philipp Puschke (Draig) took P1 at the death, setting a 1:17.443 to edge out Joseph Hurlock (Optiminal) by just 0.003s. Harry Smith (Netrex) was only 0.033s behind in third, highlighting just how competitive this season is going to be.
Behind them, Tom Satherley (Brehm) and Jose Soriano (Netrex) rounded out the top five, both within two-tenths of pole. With the top 10 separated by less than half a second, it was clear that no driver had a significant edge - setting the stage for a fiercely contested race.
Strategy, Overtakes, and a Tense Final Lap
As the race got underway, Hurlock made a fantastic getaway and immediately moved past Puschke into the lead. His early pace was strong, but behind him, the battle was intense. Smith, Satherley, and Soriano were all in the mix, while Norbert Jakab (True North) and Moritz Kropp (Kings Racing) made strong starts to establish themselves in the top 10.
Satherley, in particular, looked aggressive early on, moving past Smith and Soriano to set himself up for a shot at the lead, whilst Kropp went backwards at the final corner, having been run wide by Norbert Jakab.
As tyre wear began to take its toll, the race became one of strategy. The majority of drivers opted for a two-stop strategy, with soft-to-medium-to-medium being the preferred choice. However, there was the option to run the hards and attempt the one-stop strategy; and this was to pay off for certain drivers later on.
At the front, Hurlock and Puschke stayed out longer than their rivals, trying to maintain track position. But Satherley's earlier pit stop undercut strategy worked beautifully, and by the time the final round of pit stops was completed, he had emerged in the net race lead.
Soriano, meanwhile, was having a fantastic drive for Netrex, keeping himself in podium contention and matching the pace of the front runners.
The Strategies Converge
With 10 laps to go, Puschke was all over the back of Satherley, the Draig driver looking for a way to reclaim P1. Netrex's Soriano was also closing in, sensing an opportunity if the leaders tangled; the top 3 all on a one-stop strategy.
But Satherley was flawless under pressure. He covered off every attack from Puschke, forcing him to settle for second place by just 0.250s at the finish line.
Soriano secured third, delivering a brilliant debut for Netrex, while Jakab and Smith rounded out the top five after consistent and measured performances. Jakab in particular was coming through the pack with his two-stop strategy, and might have felt a few more laps could have had him compete for first.
Kropp and Moelling made contact a few laps from the end, but Moritz held on for sixth place ahead of his fellow countryman.
One of the standout drives of the race came from Dominik Khoroshavin (Alfa Sierra), who gained 12 places to finish eighth, showing fantastic racecraft and strategy execution.
For Joseph Hurlock, it was a disappointing end to a race that started so promisingly. Having started second, he eventually dropped to ninth, struggling to match the leaders' pace in the final stint.
James Knox, Alexsander Rogoza, Federico Russo, Daniel Hurlock, Maxime Beaulieu, and Michal Galka were the final finishers inside the points.
Will There Be Turkish Delight (yes, we'll use this joke again)
With Melbourne setting the tone for the season, all eyes now turn to Round 2 at Istanbul Park. The returning Turkish Grand Prix circuit will be a fresh challenge for the field, featuring fast corners and significant tire wear.
Can Satherley continue his momentum? Will Puschke go one better and take a win? And which teams will bring early upgrades to gain an edge?
The Superlights season has only just begun, but if Round 1 was any indication, we're in for a thrilling year ahead!
The first qualifying session of the year saw an exhilarating battle for pole position. Philipp Puschke (Draig) took P1 at the death, setting a 1:17.443 to edge out Joseph Hurlock (Optiminal) by just 0.003s. Harry Smith (Netrex) was only 0.033s behind in third, highlighting just how competitive this season is going to be.
Behind them, Tom Satherley (Brehm) and Jose Soriano (Netrex) rounded out the top five, both within two-tenths of pole. With the top 10 separated by less than half a second, it was clear that no driver had a significant edge - setting the stage for a fiercely contested race.
Strategy, Overtakes, and a Tense Final Lap
As the race got underway, Hurlock made a fantastic getaway and immediately moved past Puschke into the lead. His early pace was strong, but behind him, the battle was intense. Smith, Satherley, and Soriano were all in the mix, while Norbert Jakab (True North) and Moritz Kropp (Kings Racing) made strong starts to establish themselves in the top 10.
Satherley, in particular, looked aggressive early on, moving past Smith and Soriano to set himself up for a shot at the lead, whilst Kropp went backwards at the final corner, having been run wide by Norbert Jakab.
As tyre wear began to take its toll, the race became one of strategy. The majority of drivers opted for a two-stop strategy, with soft-to-medium-to-medium being the preferred choice. However, there was the option to run the hards and attempt the one-stop strategy; and this was to pay off for certain drivers later on.
At the front, Hurlock and Puschke stayed out longer than their rivals, trying to maintain track position. But Satherley's earlier pit stop undercut strategy worked beautifully, and by the time the final round of pit stops was completed, he had emerged in the net race lead.
Soriano, meanwhile, was having a fantastic drive for Netrex, keeping himself in podium contention and matching the pace of the front runners.
The Strategies Converge
With 10 laps to go, Puschke was all over the back of Satherley, the Draig driver looking for a way to reclaim P1. Netrex's Soriano was also closing in, sensing an opportunity if the leaders tangled; the top 3 all on a one-stop strategy.
But Satherley was flawless under pressure. He covered off every attack from Puschke, forcing him to settle for second place by just 0.250s at the finish line.
Soriano secured third, delivering a brilliant debut for Netrex, while Jakab and Smith rounded out the top five after consistent and measured performances. Jakab in particular was coming through the pack with his two-stop strategy, and might have felt a few more laps could have had him compete for first.
Kropp and Moelling made contact a few laps from the end, but Moritz held on for sixth place ahead of his fellow countryman.
One of the standout drives of the race came from Dominik Khoroshavin (Alfa Sierra), who gained 12 places to finish eighth, showing fantastic racecraft and strategy execution.
For Joseph Hurlock, it was a disappointing end to a race that started so promisingly. Having started second, he eventually dropped to ninth, struggling to match the leaders' pace in the final stint.
James Knox, Alexsander Rogoza, Federico Russo, Daniel Hurlock, Maxime Beaulieu, and Michal Galka were the final finishers inside the points.
Will There Be Turkish Delight (yes, we'll use this joke again)
With Melbourne setting the tone for the season, all eyes now turn to Round 2 at Istanbul Park. The returning Turkish Grand Prix circuit will be a fresh challenge for the field, featuring fast corners and significant tire wear.
Can Satherley continue his momentum? Will Puschke go one better and take a win? And which teams will bring early upgrades to gain an edge?
The Superlights season has only just begun, but if Round 1 was any indication, we're in for a thrilling year ahead!
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