Apex Racing League Bathurst 250 Review
Antipodean auto sport revolves around one race-The Bathurst 1000. Drivers have few opportunities each year to conquer the semi-permanent Mount Panorama circuit. Therefore, enhancing its notoriety. Although the Bathurst 12-hour race in February has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years under the guardianship of the SRO, nothing compares to the Bathurst 1000.
For many, winning this single race means more than a championship crown. ‘Supercars’ drivers all yearn to etch their name on the Peter Brock trophy, awarded to the winner of ‘The Great Race’. Every October, ‘Supercars’ championship contenders employ a co-driver to share the load of the 1000km marathon. In the past, many teams employed an international superstar. However, in recent times, the fickle nature of the brutal V8 machines led teams to choose local V8 Supercar specialists.
Since Rickard Rydell and Jim Richards won in their Volvo S40 in 1998, Ford and Holden have dominated the Bathurst winner’s circle. Ford and General Motors’ rivalry began in the boardrooms of Detroit but ignited into pure vitriol down under. Ask any Australian- Ford or Holden? Not many are left sitting on the fence.
In the sim racing world, this rivalry transfers to the virtual Bathurst 1000. On the 26th of September, virtual racers worldwide will attempt to complete the 1000 kilometre classic on the iRacing.com simulator.
Track time is the most potent commodity for performance in sim racing. With this in mind, the Apex Racing League hosted the ARL Bathurst 250 on the 19th of September. A perfect opportunity for Bathurst 1000 hopefuls to sharpen up before the main event.
After a lengthy practice session, drivers were granted only four laps to set their best time in qualifying. Due to Mount Panorama circuit’s perilously narrow mountain section, track position is precious. Therefore, Bathurst qualifying is vital. Anyone who has marvelled over the Bathurst 1000 top ten shootout for pole position will attest to this.
Brady Meyers hustled his Holden Commodore to pole position with a scarcely comprehendible lap of 2 minutes and 3.564 seconds. Half a second further back, in second, was the Ford Mustang of Andrew Dyson. Adam Briggs sped around Mount Panorama just seven tenths behind Meyers. Briggs would start from third in his Ford Mustang.
So superior was the pace of Meyers, Dyson and Briggs – the trio negotiated a gentleman’s agreement to start from pit lane. As a result, Luke Rosella and Mario Vartanian inherited the prime spots on the front row. A slightly bizarre start to proceedings but in the end providing magnificent entertainment to viewers on the iRacing Esports network and Apex Racing TV. Meyers drive through the pack must be considered as one of the most exceptional performances of 2020.
Mario Vartanian grasped his chance and sped to an early lead in his #77 Iridium Holden Commodore. Throughout the opening thirty minutes, Vartanian consistently punched out solid lap times at the front of the field. However, there was nothing that Vartanian nor any other driver could do about the exceptional pace of Brady Meyers. Having started from pit lane, the Logitech Esports superstar surged through the pack. On lap eighteen, Meyers reclaimed the lead. Such dominance at Bathurst is rare.
Twenty-five minutes later, Meyers enjoyed a commanding lead of twenty-two seconds. However, this was eroded by the deployment of the safety car, on lap twenty-seven. As a result, Meyers had the company of his accomplices from the voluntary pit lane start pact- Adam Briggs and Andrew Dyson. Meyers now faced a ten-lap dash to the finish with some rapid contenders to fend off.
Despite Briggs and Dyson’s best efforts, Meyers refused to flinch and sped to an exceptional victory. Briggs and Dyson finished second and third, in their Ford Mustangs.
POST RACE
After the race, race winner, Brady Meyers joined the Apex Racing TV broadcast team to give their thoughts on the action.
“Adam Briggs, Andrew Dyson and I had a gentleman’s agreement to start from the pits and see what happened from there” revealed the Holden driver. He continued: “The car was mega. Our tyre wear and consistency were quite good. That allowed me to keep punching out good lap times.”
The Logitech Holden Commodore of Brady Meyers will undoubtedly be a car to watch this weekend in the iRacing.com Bathurst 1000.
Check out www.apexracingleague.com for more information on how to get involved in the various series available and upcoming special events.
Images by @Groove_Media