LIVE ON SIMBROADCASTS, RETRO CUP 25 Season BEGINS officially on Monday, 15th September, with the Round 1 of the Season!
The dangers and the thrills of Westhill North RGE awaits the Retro Drivers for the classic opening round of the season!
Lots of drivers have already started practicing, finding confidence around the track and with the 7 Retro Cars, split in 4 classes, demolishing the previous track records already!
But this Monday, practice will leave space to the real deal!
You'll have 60 minutes of qualifying time to find your best lap around the course, then it's time for the big race, with the classic Le Mans start and all the dangers of Multiclass Vintage Racing!
After 90 minutes of intense racing and drama, we'll finally know who are the first 4 race class winners of the Retro Cup 25 Season!
Are you up for this challenge?
EVENT TIMETABLE
Monday, September 15th
QP (60 min) || 17:00 UTC / 19:00 CET RACE (90 minutes-46 laps) || 18:10 UTC / 20:10 CET
Pitting rules:
Pit-Stop is not specifically required, but the race is 90 minutes long, so you might need it anyway, either to change worn tyres or go for a specific fuel strategy.
Le Mans style Start procedure:
In proper Retro fashion, the cars will be aligned oblique on the start finish straight.
At the green light, the race is ON, so you'll have to steer right and accelerate!
(there are also arrows marks pointing the correct direction in front of you)
Specific Rules:
- Re-joining is allowed after crashes or disconnections.
But you'll have to wait at least 1 MINUTE (60 seconds) from the time of disconnection or telepit, before re-entering the race
If this re-joining wait time is not respected, the driver will be DQ from the final results.
- Mid-race join without qualifying IS NOT ALLOWED, and the driver will be removed from the results and risk a server ban.
- Changing cars beteween quali and race is NOT ALLOWED, and will results in DQ from final results and possible bans.
- Changing driver at the pit-stop IS ALLOWED, but the final results will see the points splitted between the two drivers.
- Server will be PASSWORD PROTECTED15 minutes before the qualifying ends, to avoid late inexperienced entrants.
- The championship is open to join, no Sign-ups required
General Racing Rules
RETRO TRACK SPONSORS
To make yourself feel even more immersed in this Retro World of Racing, the track sponsors and banners have been customized to reflect actualy 70's and 80's sponsorship logos.
You can find them attached below, just download the files and replace files in the "pic" folder of Live for Speed (remember to save a copy of your original files)
RETRO LIVERIES PACK
To look cool on the broadcast and through the photographer's lens, you may use one of these glorious Retro Skins prepared for all the cars of the championship!
Everything is set on Westhill North RGE Retro for the first round of the Retro Cup 25 season!
SCHEDULE
QP (60 min) || 17:00 UTC / 19:00 CET RACE (90 minutes-46 laps) || 18:10 UTC / 20:10 CET
Server will be passworded 15 minutes before the end of qualifyng to avoid late, inexperienced entrants Password will be posted on RG Discord and here in the thread
First:
Lap 6, turn 14 (mpr 13:20.00->), [SyN] Coyote / ZFRL•LG-mies
LG-mies rejoins the track before Coyote after going wide. Coyote comes from behind and misjudges the braking point of LG-mies in the following corner and doesn't even try to turn and avoid contact, running into back of LG-mies and causing another spin.
Second:
Lap 8, turn 2 (mpr 16:10.00->), bobbysixkiller / ZFRL•LG-mies
LG-mies passes bobbysixkiller by having a faster top speed on straight. bobbysixkiller is able to brake later into turn 1 and runs very close to hitting. Despite this he fails to adjust and in turn 2 runs into back of LG-mies sending him on to the gravel.
A record-breaking crowd of over 40 drivers showed up for the opening round of the RETRO CUP 25 Season, in Westhill North RGE.
The bends and bumps of the iconic Live for Speed track were turned into fire by swarms of Retro Cars in qualifying, with the drivers looking for the best laps among heavy traffic.
35 drivers took the start of the race, and the classic Le Mans start provided all kind of drama and excitement in the first few turns, with a few drivers getting it wrong, but the vast majority kept it clean and raced on for the next 90 minutes of the event!
If you missed this race, you can relive the entire event on SBTV!
Relive the Race on Simbroadcasts!
[SyN] Coyote || Warning - Driving Standards (causing collision with LG-Mies Lap 6, Turn 15)
Bobbysixkiller || Warning - Driving standards (causing collision with LG-Mies Lap 8, Turn 2)
J.E.R.E_254 || DSQ + FINAL WARNING (changing cars between QP and R and causing massive crash with Hermanni on Lap 14)
PROTOTYPE 1
ZFRL Thehemuli took a commanding lead coming into turn 1: the finnish prodigy, already last year's LMP1 champion, started strong this season by claiming Pole Position, and put down the hammer of his race pace from the very beginning of the event!
Behind him it was drama, as [MRc]ZMaty14Z got his Le Mans style start very wrong, spinning out and having to climb back positions from the very back: RG^Rony managed to jump in provisional P2 among the drama, but found himself going wide and into the gravel coming into Turn 2.
[FM] Ohnifus and S1DUS Unite took provisional P2 and P3, pushing their McLarry to the limits in the pursuit of Thehemuli.
Eventually, pushing the car to the limits eventually took its tool: both Ohnifus and Unite crashed out towards mid-stage of the race, leaving P2 to RG^Rony, the experienced Race Green leader on his green dinosaur machine!
The Race Green ace was eventually passed on track by [MRc]ZMaty14Z, who managed to recover from his start spin, climbing back up to P2 of the standings with a masterful drive!
While Thehemuli was pushing at the front with a frantic and unstoppable pace, it was a more troublesome debut on the Ferrenzi veichle for his teammate ZFRL LG-Mies, who was involved in several spins and offs around the race track.
But in front, ZFRL Thehemuli kept it clean all day long, through traffic and all kinds of dangers, crossing the finish line in P1, it's victory for Thehemuli in Round 1 of the Retro Cup!!
[MRc]ZMaty14Z finishes in P2, a very solid drive after an early mistake, while RG^Rony closes off in P3, a damage limitation race.
P4 overall for LG-Mies, who still managed to bring the car home despite all kind of troubles!
Thehemuli led the race from Lap 1 to the chequered flag!
PROTOTYPE 2
This season the Prototype 2 battle is set to be the closest and the most spectacular yet!
Mazdarati is set to be the championship favourite, having dominated the debut Retro season in the class, but RG^LORENZO comes back in LMP2 after achieving the podium in last year's LMP1 class, and other protagonists are set to rise and challenge at the top.
Mazdarati took the Pole Position and started the race strong, leading the LMP2 contenders in the form of RG^LORENZO and the two B2R cars of Rayman and TwinCam!
But the 90 minutes multiclass always throws challenges to the drivers, and the race strategy can play a big role in the final result: RG^Lorenzo decided to start the race with lower fuel, and started closing the gap to Mazdarati lap after lap.
The italian eventually reached the LMP2 legend by Lap 15, and managed to overtake him into the final, technical sector, taking advantage of Mazdarati going a bit wide on the grass!
Meanwhile, the two B2R drivers swapped positions a number of times, with Twincam and Rayman doing little mistakes from time to time, still not up to speed to really challenge the top positions at the moment.
In the meantime, RG^Lorenzo extended his leadership to 7 seconds, but started to fade out as the tyres were getting worn up: Mazdarati caught back up and the gap between them was just 3 seconds before the italian's Pit Stop, at Lap 28.
Mazdarati stayed out for a long time: his plan was starting the race with full tank, than going for a late, fast pit-stop to only change the front tyres and 10 liters of fuel.
The strategy seemed to pay off well, with Mazdarati pitting and retaining a solid lead over Lorenzo, but the worn front tyres started to take a toll on him, as the italian was gaining lap after lap.
It was looking to be a final battle for the win in LMP2, but the dangers of the Retro Cup exploded in the face of RG^Lorenzo, who slammed into a tree while trying to overtake a GT car in the fast way possible.
The impact sent the italian flying into the air and onto his roof.
The race for victory was over for Lorenzo, who lost more than a minute: but the gap on the closest competitors was more than a lap, so he was able to keep P2 at the chequered flag.
Mazdarati sailed to the chequered flag to claim the first, big victory of the season, in front of RG^Lorenzo and B2R Rayman, while his team-mate Twincam was forced to retire by a late crash.
Mazdarati and RG^LORENZO battled close all race until the italian crashed out!
GROUP 5
S1DUS Gàbor took a monumental pole position in qualifying, pushing his Ford Musting nearly three seconds faster than the closest competitor, [SyN]HIWATT in his gold and white livery.
But the Retro Races are often unpredictable, and ultimate pace is not always the key for the win!
In fact, Gàbor's race started in the worst possible way: in Turn 1 he was touched and spun out by a too generous [MRc] MousemanLV, in his pink Mclarry.
[MRc]TimDC, the 2025 RG World Rally Cup champion, took advantage of the drama and launched himself into the lead of the Group 5 race, ahead of the [SyN] pair of ttamas and HIWATT!
Gàbor started his first comeback of the race, overtaking the SyN drivers and reaching [MRc]TimDC tail by Lap 2: but as he reached the leader, there was contact between the two of them, as Tim touched the wooden railing before the fast backstraight section.
Gàbor lost multiple positions and was about to overtake [SyN] Coyote in the super fast and scary Turn , when a little touch between the two of them sent Gàbor on the outside grass, smashing into the tyre barriers at over 200 km/h and catapulting back inside the track, crashing into Coyote and sending him into an uncontrollable spin.
A scary crash and massive damage to the Ford Musting, but Gàbor was able to somhow reach the pits with the bent car: going for a long repair work.
From possibly race over to an incredible comeback: Gàbor started lapping 2 seconds faster than anyone in Group 5, catching back everyone in front, lap after lap.
He managed to climb back up to P2, right behind [MRC] TimDC at Lap 23, that's when both of them did a Pit-Stop to change tyres and refuel.
Gabor's pit-stop was faster and he jumped in front, taking the lead of the race: he mounted R2 tyres vs [TimDC]'s R3, meaning that the gap extended till the chequered flag!
It was a monumental victory for S1DUS Gàbor, from a potentially terminal crash to a glorious comeback for the win.
P2 for [MRC]TimDC, who starts strong his Retro Cup campaign with a super consistent drive despite the lack of practice!
Final position on the class podium for [Syn]HIWATT, a prestigious finishing position for the [Syn] team, wich also places ttamas in P4!
The Top 5 is completed by Benzin, while J.Williams finishes his debut Retro Cup Race in P6!
S1DUS Gàbor managed to complete a stunning comeback drive from last to first
ROAD CLASS
Road Class may be the slowest class on track, but very often the slower categories can deliver the best show in the races!
It was the case in the previous seasons, with three, four way battles for the Title until the very last race, and it's looking like this year is going to be even better, with plenty of contenders!
A huge number of 16 drivers qualified for the road class in this first round of the season, making it the most attended class!
GUM||Donald got the first pole position of the season, a well known Road Class driver, having scored P2 overall in the Retro Cup 23 Winter Season.
The race start was hectic: dodging crashes and traffic from struggling Group 5's and prototypes, Donald, B2R Stiefla and YES Trespasser found themselves wheel to wheel coming into Turn 4.
Other two Road Class specialists, S.Martin and SGR Madjester followed the leading trio at short distance, ahead of the rest of the road class peleton, made of Porsche Cammeras and Piran Fireflys!
First drama came at Lap 7, when the Ford Musting of J.Williams spun out in the first corner, just ahead of Trespasser, who had no time to react and jumped over the hood of the Group 5 car, rolling over into the gravel trap.
The Spirit and comradery of Endurance racing was fully embraced by the LMP2 of B2R Twincam, who saw the rolled Piran Firefly of Trespasser and nudged him back on his four wheels, allowing him to rejoin the race safely!
At the front, GUM||Donald was still leading the way, with around 10 seconds ahead the SGR Madjester and S.Martin duo, while B2R Stiefla lost time due to traffic issues!
But the battle for the podium heated up big time in the second half of the race, with Madjester and Martin getting caught by B2R Stiefla, who was pushing like a demon on his Jaegermeister Porsche.
Stiefla caught Madjester by Lap 25, and one of the best battles of the race started, with Stiefla attacking in the fast sections and Madjester taking the position back in the technical corners, making the most of his Piran Firefly's lightweight.
The two of them went back and forth for a few laps, but Stiefla was finally able to make the decisive move on Lap 30, diving on the inside of Turn 3!
Madjester had no peace out there, with S.Martin coming in strong as well in the last few laps, and being able to overtake the Piran Firefly driver in the last few corners of the race, with Madjester going wide after allowing the faster LMP2 of RG^Lorenzo to pass.
At the front, it was a display of superiority by GUM||Donald, who takes the first Retro Cup 25 win in dominant fashion and launches himself as a main contender the title fight!
P2 at the chequered for B2R Stiefla, who came back well after troubles in the first stint, while S.Martin finishes off on a strong P3, ahead of SGR Madjester and the recovering YES Trespasser, who completes the top 5!
O.A finishes 6th, a solid race ahead of the other B2R of 136, [PM] Jam 616 and the two big strugglers of the day: RG^M@CI3K, the Porsche Whisperer had a troublesome start of the season, always trundling around the back of the field, while hermanni got involved in one of the biggest crashes of the day, getting hit by a Group 5 and rolling over multiple times on his roof.
GUM||Donald led the way all race, but the battle for the podium behind was monumental!
STANDINGS AFTER 1 ROUND
NEXT TIME ON RETRO CUP 25!
Next race is going to be the classic Aston Retro, coming on Monday September 29th!
A fast and frantic track, with the iconic Live For Speed's Eau Rouge and plenty of Retro twists around the track, to make it more challenging!
This year's version will feature little bit of modifications around the course, with the inclusion of a Banked Corner, reminiscent of Zandvoort Turn 3.
It's going to be exciting, see you for Round 2 of the Retro Cup!
