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March 14, 2025
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The 2025 GPVWC Superleague season roared into life with an electrifying race at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit.
A fiercely contested qualifying session saw Alessandro Maggio (Valle) set the fastest time, but a five-place grid penalty handed Jan Granqvist (Super Venturi) the coveted pole position. The reigning champion capitalized on the opportunity, converting his front-row start into a commanding victory, while Tom Stevens (THR) showcased his racecraft with a stunning drive to second place.
Qualifying: A Historically Close Session
Albert Park provided one of the closest qualifying sessions in Superleague history, with the top ten separated by just 0.348s. Maggio initially secured pole with a 1:15.178, but his grid drop meant Granqvist would start at the front, narrowly ahead of Alex Lehoux (Road2Formula) and Szymon Frelik (TOP). Stevens qualified fifth and started fourth, THR team mate Jarl Teien right behind him, while Matthew Williams (Edonis) and Maciej Mlynek (HRT) both showed strong pace within the top ten.
As the lights went out, Granqvist led cleanly into Turn 1, but Frelik made an aggressive move past Lehoux to slot into second. However, Jarl Teien (THR) endured a nightmare, dropping to 14th at the start due to a slow launch, while Carlos Martin (TOP) also struggled to maximize his starting position. Teien's poor start saw him swallowed by the midfield, while Stevens quickly made up ground, passing both Lehoux and Frelik by Lap 12.
Further down, Alessandro Maggio lost control and narrowly avoided a full spin, costing him two places to Williams and Mlynek. Robin Pansar (Edonis) and Geoffrey Fournier (Epic Racing) engaged in an early skirmish, with Pansar muscling his way into the top ten.
Stevens on the Charge
Having dispatched Frelik and Lehoux, Stevens set his sights on Granqvist, closing a two-second gap within ten laps. Utilising the DRS activation and his Push-to-Pass system from Lap 2, Stevens was relentless. By Lap 13, he pulled a daring move around the outside at Turn 11, completing the overtake on Granqvist to take the lead.
Meanwhile, Williams and Mlynek battled intensely, with Williams eventually emerging ahead. Carlos Martin, who had extended his first stint, briefly led the race, and saw him delay his first stop until Lap 18.
Undercut or Overcut?
The first round of pit stops began on Lap 10, with early stoppers looking to capitalize on fresher rubber. Notably, Fournier and Schubert pitted early and gained significant time on their rivals.
However, Granqvist executed a perfect strategy, stopping just one lap after Stevens and rejoining in cleaner air. The undercut was powerful, but Granqvist's decision to stay out longer meant he had fresher tyres late in the race, a crucial advantage.
By Lap 28, the field had settled into its second stint, with Stevens leading Granqvist and Lehoux, while Frelik began to fade, allowing Williams and Mlynek to close in.
Jarl Teien went about his final stint a different way to his rivals - he was P7 before he chose to undercut on a set of hard tyres, and emerged in P3, before the medium-runners behind him began to close back up. Lehoux and Frelik both got by at different times.
Late-Race Action and Granqvist's Victory
As the race entered its final 15 laps, Granqvist's tyre advantage became evident. With Stevens struggling for grip, Granqvist reeled him in and, on Lap 44, made a decisive move into Turn 3 to reclaim the lead.
Disaster struck for Jarl Teien and Alessandro Maggio, both forced to retire in the latter stages due to damage sustained in collisions with the wall. T6 was particularly difficult and Teien paid the price, considering P3 was well within his sights.
What's Next
A piece or two of humble pie for this author, considering the pre-race predictions didn't mention Frelik and Lehoux was a podium finisher!
But humble pie, whilst tasty, is no substitute for Turkish Delight, and to Istanbul we head next. The weather is currently uncertain; currently a balmy 23 degrees, there's talk of snow next Wednesday! Let's hope the race 'serves up' just the right 'mixture' of weather and drama; it would be the 'icing on the cake' if there was a 'sprinkle' of rain!
(I'm not done)
With Granqvist taking the first victory of the season, he cements himself as the early championship favorite, but Stevens and Lehoux proved they will be strong contenders. THR and TOP Esports showcased race-winning pace, while Edonis and Valle also showed signs of promise.
With Round 2 in Turkey looming, teams will analyse tyre wear and race strategy, knowing that Granqvist's consistency and Stevens' aggressive racing style will be tough to beat.
Qualifying: A Historically Close Session
Albert Park provided one of the closest qualifying sessions in Superleague history, with the top ten separated by just 0.348s. Maggio initially secured pole with a 1:15.178, but his grid drop meant Granqvist would start at the front, narrowly ahead of Alex Lehoux (Road2Formula) and Szymon Frelik (TOP). Stevens qualified fifth and started fourth, THR team mate Jarl Teien right behind him, while Matthew Williams (Edonis) and Maciej Mlynek (HRT) both showed strong pace within the top ten.
As the lights went out, Granqvist led cleanly into Turn 1, but Frelik made an aggressive move past Lehoux to slot into second. However, Jarl Teien (THR) endured a nightmare, dropping to 14th at the start due to a slow launch, while Carlos Martin (TOP) also struggled to maximize his starting position. Teien's poor start saw him swallowed by the midfield, while Stevens quickly made up ground, passing both Lehoux and Frelik by Lap 12.
Further down, Alessandro Maggio lost control and narrowly avoided a full spin, costing him two places to Williams and Mlynek. Robin Pansar (Edonis) and Geoffrey Fournier (Epic Racing) engaged in an early skirmish, with Pansar muscling his way into the top ten.
Stevens on the Charge
Having dispatched Frelik and Lehoux, Stevens set his sights on Granqvist, closing a two-second gap within ten laps. Utilising the DRS activation and his Push-to-Pass system from Lap 2, Stevens was relentless. By Lap 13, he pulled a daring move around the outside at Turn 11, completing the overtake on Granqvist to take the lead.
Meanwhile, Williams and Mlynek battled intensely, with Williams eventually emerging ahead. Carlos Martin, who had extended his first stint, briefly led the race, and saw him delay his first stop until Lap 18.
Undercut or Overcut?
The first round of pit stops began on Lap 10, with early stoppers looking to capitalize on fresher rubber. Notably, Fournier and Schubert pitted early and gained significant time on their rivals.
However, Granqvist executed a perfect strategy, stopping just one lap after Stevens and rejoining in cleaner air. The undercut was powerful, but Granqvist's decision to stay out longer meant he had fresher tyres late in the race, a crucial advantage.
By Lap 28, the field had settled into its second stint, with Stevens leading Granqvist and Lehoux, while Frelik began to fade, allowing Williams and Mlynek to close in.
Jarl Teien went about his final stint a different way to his rivals - he was P7 before he chose to undercut on a set of hard tyres, and emerged in P3, before the medium-runners behind him began to close back up. Lehoux and Frelik both got by at different times.
Late-Race Action and Granqvist's Victory
As the race entered its final 15 laps, Granqvist's tyre advantage became evident. With Stevens struggling for grip, Granqvist reeled him in and, on Lap 44, made a decisive move into Turn 3 to reclaim the lead.
Disaster struck for Jarl Teien and Alessandro Maggio, both forced to retire in the latter stages due to damage sustained in collisions with the wall. T6 was particularly difficult and Teien paid the price, considering P3 was well within his sights.
What's Next
A piece or two of humble pie for this author, considering the pre-race predictions didn't mention Frelik and Lehoux was a podium finisher!
But humble pie, whilst tasty, is no substitute for Turkish Delight, and to Istanbul we head next. The weather is currently uncertain; currently a balmy 23 degrees, there's talk of snow next Wednesday! Let's hope the race 'serves up' just the right 'mixture' of weather and drama; it would be the 'icing on the cake' if there was a 'sprinkle' of rain!
(I'm not done)
With Granqvist taking the first victory of the season, he cements himself as the early championship favorite, but Stevens and Lehoux proved they will be strong contenders. THR and TOP Esports showcased race-winning pace, while Edonis and Valle also showed signs of promise.
With Round 2 in Turkey looming, teams will analyse tyre wear and race strategy, knowing that Granqvist's consistency and Stevens' aggressive racing style will be tough to beat.
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