HM Engineering sweep Summit Point!
Apex Racing League iRacing Touring Car Championship R13 Race Report
Summit Point, West Virginia may not ring any bells for race fans around the world. However, this humble countryside venue served up a classic Apex Racing League Touring Car meeting. With a handful of rounds remaining, the focus continues to intensify on the fights for the PRO and AM titles.
Defending champion Kieran Harrison arrives at Summit Point after a dream day at the Circuit of the Americas. Harrison’s nearest rival, George Simmons, needed a dream day in West Virginia to close the gap to the HM Engineering star. Over in the AM class ranks, Mark Woodhouse still holds a margin over Ben Gregory. However, Gregory heads to Summit Point keen to avenge a rotten meeting in Texas.
Qualifying
Signalling his intent, George Simmons outpaced Harrison to start the opening race on pole position. Meanwhile, Marcel Fritsch led the AM class in thirteenth.
Race 1
Although Simmons marginally won the drag race to the tight turn one, Harrison had a trick up his sleeve. Bravely hanging it around the outside of his rival, Harrison emerged from turn one with the favourable line for the left hander at wagon bend and took the lead.
While Harrison held the lead, the British star had the help of HM Engineering stablemates Norbert Leitner and Corentin Guinez. Swarmed by HM Engineering machines, Simmons couldn’t make a decisive charge to challenge Harrison.
This four-car brawl came to a head on lap thirteen. Contact with Guinez at turn one dropped Simmons off the podium, despite the Frenchman’s kind gesture to allow his British rival to pass.
Once again, Harrison serenely sailed to a race one victory ahead of Norbert Leitner. Vasiliy Zaitsev rounded out the podium in his Wild Animals Racing Team Audi. Ben Gregory opened his account with a crucial AM class victory.
Race 2
A complete flip of the grid placed Martijn Asschert on pole position for race two. Catapulting his Impulse Racing Audi off the line, Asschert arrived at turn one with a comfortable gap. However, the inevitable HM Engineering onslaught was on the way. From seventh on the grid, Romain Boeckler ascended to second by the time the field snaked around turn one.
Boeckler was on a mission. Making short work of Asschert, the French start quickly progressed to the lead. Once out front, the HM Engineering driver never relented and sped to the win. Throughout the remainder of the race, Asschert kept pace with Boeckler in second place. However, Wojciech Swirydowicz was on a charge. On the final lap an overtaking manoeuvre gone awry resulted in contact between Asschert and Swirydowicz. Asschert came off second best and dropped off the podium while Swirydowicz slipped through to second place.
Profiting from the incident ahead, Mark Woodhouse leapt into third place overall. Thus, scoring a huge haul of points for the AM championship race.
Race 3
Following a disappointing race two, Norbert Leitner made amends from pole position in race three. A perfect launch gave the Hungarian star a handy margin into turn one. ‘Lightning Leitner’ never looked back and charged to a dominant race win and completing a sweep of wins for the HM Engineering squad.
Counter attacking his AM championship rival Mark Woodhouse, Ben Gregory ensured the last laugh went his way with a superb drive to second overall.
On the 20th of May, the Apex Racing League iRacing Touring Car Championship heads into the business end of the season at Long Beach. With two street circuits in the remaining three rounds and no drop scores, drama is sure to ensue. Don’t miss any of the action on Apex Racing TV!
Photos by Kevin Zhao