V8 Supercar Showdown Looms Large.

by Patrick Atherton on January 17th, 2012

The iRacing V8 Supercar series by Bigpond Sport continues to thrill, and the top split is heading for a showdown worthy of it’s immense status. This epic iRacing event will take place at Road Atlanta this Monday 23rd January.

The final season for 2011/12 has been a story of intense, consistent rivalry between Trans-Tasman’s Madison Down, Tatts.com Racing’s Mitchell McLeod and Nfinity Esports’ Rens Broekman. While Down has had the upper hand, indeed dominating most rounds, McLeod has shown him up enough to stay in the chase.

“Road Atlanta will be bigger than Ben Hur…”

Right now, the gap between Down and McLeod, first and second, is a measly 42 points. Meanwhile, a dropping-worst-round points system stands to benefit Broekman.

Since our last report on a messy Round Six at Suzuka, the battle resumed, with no respite on the carnage, at Brands Hatch. No procession here, as McLeod and Down went wheel to wheel for most of the race, right until the flag. McLeod triumphed. Third was Broekman, with a cameo appearance from European Daniel Sinka in fourth. The vastly improving Richard Hamstead was fifth from Stuart Wood. Both these drivers were having stellar seasons.

The title leaders battle at Brands (image courtesy Dylan Sharman)

Round Eight at Okayama was won by Down, but he did not have it his own way. After lighting up the rears at the start, he dropped to third. Pitstop strategy won it for him, however, as Broekman came home second. This round’s cameo was from sim veteran Peter Read in third place. Hamstead, U’Ren and McLeod (on-stopping) went hard at it for fourth and lower. McLeod only managed sixth, a very significant development for the title.

“It ‘aint over yet…”   -Mitchell McLeod

Round Nine was less eventful at Virginia International. Down won from Broekman, who had McLeod all over him in third. Hamstead again shone with a fourth place, although a reputation for aggression was developing. Stuart Wood, likewise a five-star performance for fifth.

Down never out. He leads at the rolling green hills of VIR (image courtesy Stuart Wood)

Under the night sky of Sebring for Round Ten, Down further stamped his dominance on the series with another win, but again McLeod hung on, albeit 8 seconds behind at the flag.  Hamstead finished with a season-high third from Stuart Wood and Josh Muggleton. Broekman, significantly, was nowhere after a late-race spin.

Down pierces the darkness at Sebring (image courtesy of www.v8supercars.com.au)

Round 11 was at Mid-Ohio, and Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script with a stirring fightback win from McLeod. In fact, his winning margin was something we’re more used to seeing from second-placed Down. Broekman was third, still alive, with Hamstead and Muggleton fourth and fifth.

While the punters pull out the calculators and furiously map out the title scenarios, with the variable of SOF points, Mitch McLeod summed it up a little more simply: “It ‘aint over yet…”

Road Atlanta- next week. Be there. It will be bigger than Ben Hur.

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