Monday 28th April, Rockingham, it was already time to run the 4th round of the French League. For this meeting at Rockingham Historic (RO8), the drivers had to deal with the XM-5 Cup, replica of the famous Mazda MX5 ND. After less than a month of pre-qualifications, it was the co-leader of this 2025 league, Team Winner's L.Rydh that was on pole position. The reigning champion, GUM's KingOfIce wasn't too far in second, meanwhile the second row would be full FSR with Kip in front of Gerti. Pigeon was starting 5th, in front of Proxima and System. Meanwhile Donald, DLV, and returner Aposki, were completing the top 10. And not to forgot, it was actually another returner that was on the official pole position! Indeed, GUM Meuh, former champion of the league in 2021 was marking his return for the first time since the 11th round of the 2022 season were he only did half of the races. And what a return in style with the pole position! But infortunately, as he wasn't feeling confident with his race pace, he asked the staff to start last position, more especially to not cause troubles inside the title contention.
At the green light, the top drivers took a good start, behind them, Pigeon and Proxima carefully slowed, meaning the pack met a speed difference. And to this game, the benefit went to DLV who climbed into 6th from his 9th place! In front, Gerti went mowing after avoiding Pigeon, and to not improve the things, a corner later he was sent unintentionally in spin by Cyk, who waited for him. After a thought start who saw him dropping 10th, System activated his remontada mode, and by the end of the 2nd lap, he was already back in 6th passing DLV very easily. Later, KingOfIce was putting a little pressure on L.Rydh, but then started to drop time, Kip took benefit of that to put pressure to the reigning champ. It was effective, as on the second corner of 4th lap, KingOfIce made a mistake, and let Kip climb up second. A moment later, we would see the first DNF of the race! NFR Team's Geraxi indeed collided with the wall at the turn 1's chicane. With a bent steering, he tried to join the pits back, but infortunately, it was more difficult than a rodeo for him, and he parked his car. A lap later, while System continued his remontada by adding another team mate in his trophy cabinet with Aposki for 5th, Geraxi was imitated by his countrymate Gerti! Though time for Belgium as it lost 2 drivers in one lap! Their only hopes were on Proxima who was fighting for 6th. And a few seconds later, Pigeon turned the heat on and made KingOfIce melt to 4th! But this didn't lasted long as the ice blue GUM Garage's car went pack to provisonal 3rd later. In the middle of the pack, things went hotter, as the fight was on with Aposki, Proxima, Donald and DLV for the 6th place. But DLV infortunately joined the DNF list on the 8th lap, after a crash on second corner. A lap later, Proxima finally got the final word against Aposki, and was escaping. It seemed like the last NFR driver was hungry for more and hunting for System. But infortunately, Proxima started to loose pace and making mistake, while dropping in the ranking until the 13th lap killed NFR Team's and Belgium's last hope for a good result. Proxima indeed crashed in 1st corner, and to dramatise it more, Aposki couldn't avoid him as they collided. The last NFR driver left his destroyed car to the marshalls, and became the 4th DNF of this race, while Aposki could luckily continue the race despite the damages.
We were approaching the 3/4 of the race and we thought the positions were frozen... And that's when Tomfuel decided to make us lying, after having to make a penalty for a reset, the GUM's boss recovered his way inside the DNF's and also passed his former team mate, Texas Drivers' Papator, for the gain of the 11th place. But also we couldn't forgot Meuh that had a kinda fast pace, who was still climbing up on the ranking after a eventful race start. The GUM Garage's driver took the best of Aposki a lap later. And another lap later, another drama! As he was under the constant pressure of FSR Team's Kip, L.Rydh made a huge mistake on the second corner! Indeed the mistake wasn't that huge physically, because he didn't went to taste the wall, but instead he showed us his mowing skill! And thankfully for him, he only loose 2 positions in the action! But that was huge because he had to give up the race leading and let pass his championship rival too... And Kip was en route to take his first win of his career, after missing the opportunity in 2024 final round where he lost against his team boss, System. And then KingOfIce wasn't ready to let Kip go away that easy to the win... But the Dutch driver kept his head cool and escaped from the champ, and took his maiden Ligue FR win after the 20th lap! KingOfIce make the good operation of the evening by scoring 2nd in front of L.Rydh who still saves the 3rd position. Pigeon finish behind in 4th, while System achieve his race 5th. Would then follow Donald and Yorry, while Meuh, Aposki and Cyk were completing the top 10. Tomfuel and Papator were the 2 last drivers to see the checkered flag for 11th and 12th!
In the championship, KingOfIce is making the good operation of the evening as the 1st joker, out of the 3 that will be given through the season, has appeared. The reigning champ leads the 2024 season with 298 points, by 1 point away of L.Rydh. Pigeon follows in 3rd with 294, while Kip closes the gap behind him in 4th with 291. The appearance of the joker means actually that the 17 first drivers are still on contention for the full season. But as we have 2 jokers to add, that mean the actual 26 drivers classified on the league can still do a full season, if they complete the next 8 races! On the team side, GUM Garage remain solid leader, although Tomfuel's crew scored the least point from the 4 rounds, which mean, while FSR Team did the exact opposite by scoring their best round of the season, the gap reduced a little bit, with 594 vs 579. Behind them, things didn't changed as NFR Team in 3rd and Texas Driver in 4th both scored their worst round meaning they the gap stayed frozen, thanks to the joker.
Next round will be held at Aston Club Reverse with the classical LX4 for the end of May.
At the green light, the top drivers took a good start, behind them, Pigeon and Proxima carefully slowed, meaning the pack met a speed difference. And to this game, the benefit went to DLV who climbed into 6th from his 9th place! In front, Gerti went mowing after avoiding Pigeon, and to not improve the things, a corner later he was sent unintentionally in spin by Cyk, who waited for him. After a thought start who saw him dropping 10th, System activated his remontada mode, and by the end of the 2nd lap, he was already back in 6th passing DLV very easily. Later, KingOfIce was putting a little pressure on L.Rydh, but then started to drop time, Kip took benefit of that to put pressure to the reigning champ. It was effective, as on the second corner of 4th lap, KingOfIce made a mistake, and let Kip climb up second. A moment later, we would see the first DNF of the race! NFR Team's Geraxi indeed collided with the wall at the turn 1's chicane. With a bent steering, he tried to join the pits back, but infortunately, it was more difficult than a rodeo for him, and he parked his car. A lap later, while System continued his remontada by adding another team mate in his trophy cabinet with Aposki for 5th, Geraxi was imitated by his countrymate Gerti! Though time for Belgium as it lost 2 drivers in one lap! Their only hopes were on Proxima who was fighting for 6th. And a few seconds later, Pigeon turned the heat on and made KingOfIce melt to 4th! But this didn't lasted long as the ice blue GUM Garage's car went pack to provisonal 3rd later. In the middle of the pack, things went hotter, as the fight was on with Aposki, Proxima, Donald and DLV for the 6th place. But DLV infortunately joined the DNF list on the 8th lap, after a crash on second corner. A lap later, Proxima finally got the final word against Aposki, and was escaping. It seemed like the last NFR driver was hungry for more and hunting for System. But infortunately, Proxima started to loose pace and making mistake, while dropping in the ranking until the 13th lap killed NFR Team's and Belgium's last hope for a good result. Proxima indeed crashed in 1st corner, and to dramatise it more, Aposki couldn't avoid him as they collided. The last NFR driver left his destroyed car to the marshalls, and became the 4th DNF of this race, while Aposki could luckily continue the race despite the damages.
We were approaching the 3/4 of the race and we thought the positions were frozen... And that's when Tomfuel decided to make us lying, after having to make a penalty for a reset, the GUM's boss recovered his way inside the DNF's and also passed his former team mate, Texas Drivers' Papator, for the gain of the 11th place. But also we couldn't forgot Meuh that had a kinda fast pace, who was still climbing up on the ranking after a eventful race start. The GUM Garage's driver took the best of Aposki a lap later. And another lap later, another drama! As he was under the constant pressure of FSR Team's Kip, L.Rydh made a huge mistake on the second corner! Indeed the mistake wasn't that huge physically, because he didn't went to taste the wall, but instead he showed us his mowing skill! And thankfully for him, he only loose 2 positions in the action! But that was huge because he had to give up the race leading and let pass his championship rival too... And Kip was en route to take his first win of his career, after missing the opportunity in 2024 final round where he lost against his team boss, System. And then KingOfIce wasn't ready to let Kip go away that easy to the win... But the Dutch driver kept his head cool and escaped from the champ, and took his maiden Ligue FR win after the 20th lap! KingOfIce make the good operation of the evening by scoring 2nd in front of L.Rydh who still saves the 3rd position. Pigeon finish behind in 4th, while System achieve his race 5th. Would then follow Donald and Yorry, while Meuh, Aposki and Cyk were completing the top 10. Tomfuel and Papator were the 2 last drivers to see the checkered flag for 11th and 12th!
In the championship, KingOfIce is making the good operation of the evening as the 1st joker, out of the 3 that will be given through the season, has appeared. The reigning champ leads the 2024 season with 298 points, by 1 point away of L.Rydh. Pigeon follows in 3rd with 294, while Kip closes the gap behind him in 4th with 291. The appearance of the joker means actually that the 17 first drivers are still on contention for the full season. But as we have 2 jokers to add, that mean the actual 26 drivers classified on the league can still do a full season, if they complete the next 8 races! On the team side, GUM Garage remain solid leader, although Tomfuel's crew scored the least point from the 4 rounds, which mean, while FSR Team did the exact opposite by scoring their best round of the season, the gap reduced a little bit, with 594 vs 579. Behind them, things didn't changed as NFR Team in 3rd and Texas Driver in 4th both scored their worst round meaning they the gap stayed frozen, thanks to the joker.
Next round will be held at Aston Club Reverse with the classical LX4 for the end of May.