March 19, 2025

 

As Formula Sprint 2 arrived in Istanbul Park for the second round of the 2025 GPVWC season, all eyes were on Junior Lopes after his dominant performance in Australia.
Instead, for race 1, it was Omari Watson who stole the show, delivering a controlled yet commanding performance to take his first victory of the season.

Qualifying: A Tight Battle at the Front

The qualifying session set the tone for what was to come, with the top ten drivers separated by just over four-tenths of a second. The Orbit driver Omari Watson clinched pole position with a lap of 1:43.304, narrowly ahead of Sandeep Singh (Potentia) and Michael Falkenhain (Mapes-VO).

The Turkish circuit, known for its high-speed corners and technical challenges, especially Turn 8, saw drivers struggling with tyre management and consistency, especially on the front-right tyre. The GPVWC Academy team, who had made an impression in Melbourne, once again put in a solid performance, with Mauro Terzoli qualifying in fifth and Lorenzo Turri inside the top ten. Meanwhile, Domenico Scarpelli, the winner of Race 2 in Australia, could only manage 24th, underlining the unpredictable nature of the competition.

Race 1: Watson Holds Firm Under Pressure

When the lights went out for the first race, Watson made a clean getaway, covering off Singh into Turn 1. As expected in FS2, the midfield was a chaotic frenzy, with three-wide moments and aggressive battling through the opening sector.

As the race settled, the battle at the front developed into a strategic game between Watson and Singh. Singh sat just behind the leader for much of the race, potentially preserving his tyres and biding his time for a late-race attack. However, Watson held firm, withstanding the pressure and gradually extending his lead in the final laps.

Behind them, Kaspar Koorits (RGS) secured third, while Junior Lopes fought hard to claim fourth, despite not being able to match the sheer pace of the top three. Brody Lawless (RGS) was one of the biggest movers, rising from tenth to finish a strong fifth, marking a much-improved performance from the Australian round.

The hardest fight of the race came in the battle for fourth, where Lawless and Lopes went wheel-to-wheel in the final laps. In a thrilling scrap that saw multiple attempts from Lawless to get ahead, Lopes showed his experience to hold onto the position. The two drivers exchanged positions multiple times, but ultimately, Lopes' defensive driving proved crucial.

Further down, Magnus Okkenhaug finished sixth, with James Knox recovering to seventh. Falkenhain, after a difficult start, could only salvage 14th, meaning he would start near the front for the reverse-grid Race 2.

Race 2: Falkenhain Strikes Back

The second race was a chance for some redemption for those who had a tough opening contest, and Michael Falkenhain took full advantage. Starting from pole position due to the reverse grid, he controlled the race superbly, resisting challenges to take his first victory of the season.

At one point, Samuil Slavev and Falkenhein were battling, the Mapes-VO pair trying to resist the attentions of those behind, but unfortunately for Samuil it was team-mate Michael who was able to gap the rest of the pack, whilst he was playing the rear gunner role.

Behind him, Brody Lawless continued his strong form, backing up his fifth-place finish in Race 1 with a second-place finish here. The RGS driver is quickly establishing himself as a serious contender, improving with every round.

James Knox had an interesting race; starting higher up he had some lag issues and contact with a few drivers knocked him down the pack. He'll be back, and before too long should be "knoxing" on the door of the podium.

Another standout performer was Thijs Jongstra (Team RNG), who finished fourth after starting fifth, while Junio Lopes rounded out the podium with another third-place finish, ensuring he remains a strong force in the championship fight.

Meanwhile, Watson and Singh had tougher races, finishing 12th and ninth, respectively, meaning they missed out on valuable points. They simply appeared unable to make any progress until later in the running, unlike how Lopes was able to scyth through the pack at Melbourne. However, their Race 1 performances kept them firmly in the title battle.

What Did We Learn?

- Omari Watson has arrived - after a steady start to the season, his performance in Race 1 showed he has the pace to challenge for the championship.
- Sandeep Singh's consistency - finishing second again, Singh is proving to be one of the strongest drivers this season, even if he couldn't find a way past Watson.
- RGS are rising - Koorits and Lawless were among the biggest winners of the weekend, both drivers proving they can fight at the front. Their new livery looked pretty nice, too!
- Turn 8 is brutal - just as expected, tyre management was crucial, and drivers who pushed too hard early paid the price in the final laps.

With two rounds in the books, the championship battle is beginning to take shape. Watson, Lopes, Singh, and Koorits all look like early title contenders, but with a long season ahead, anything can happen.

Next up for FS2 is Suzuka - and if the first two events are anything to go by, we're in for another spectacular round.