The Ring

Reporter: Marc van Niekerk
We all make mistakes sometimes. We all stuff up from time to time. And then some of us get lost.

After a highly successful GP race at Monza the rFactor boys had the world at their feet Hotel corridors were clammered up with big shots wanting to sign exclusive advertising deals, promotions and even free gifts. Unfortunately the boys had earned themselves a well earned rest and with no racing due the following week everyone went about their own way. And of course missed the deal of a lifetime when Sir Richard signed a deal promising to book the Nordschleife Tourist venue for exclusive use on the following race Monday, provided the boys make exclusive use of Virgin Atlantic for all their travels. read more...

Out of sight and out of mind some of the guys mistook the Lord of the Rings movie deal for The Ring racing promotion and ended flying off Down Under

Come race Monday it was chaos. Entrance to the Tourist parking lot was already closed to the public by sunrise while an angry crowd demonstrated outside the gates because they were not allowed to drive daddy's AMG or Porsche around the track. And only a handful of SARL drivers standing around in the parking lot sheepishly kicking their tires.

With the Virgin deal stating that more than 12 drivers should compete in the racing and the rest of the gang halfway around the world, some frantic phone calls obtained the services of regular GTR drivers Charl Smit and Pedre Havenga. The day was saved when the defending champion, Phil crawled out of the Woodhouse to join in the fun at the last moment.

Sir Richard grudgingly inserted a handful of coins into the toll gates and stormed off mumbling something about Quantas and Bin Laden. The track was open!

With the 90 minute practice session doubling as qualifying too due to the sheer length of the track most guys opted to first sample the bratwurst and sauerkraut, dished up by Hilda Grossenbaum, one of the locals, and the only spectator. Some say she only visited due to the South Africans' rugged good looks, some say it was out of pity. Washed down with some of the local beer it turned out to be not that great an idea.

One by one - with their tummies filled to the brim - the drivers lazily started to exit the parking lot in order to set a lap-time, maybe even two. The Panoz, being renowned for its unweilding suspension and the bumpiness of the track coupled with the tight turns ensured a real roller coaster ride. Of course the ample lunch did little to improve things and pretty soon one could see Panoz' parked next to the ARMCO as drivers had to quickly abandon ship and take a stroll, or rather a trot to the nearest tree. Luckily there were lots of trees.

As the clock ticked closer towards the race Marc Wright set a pretty decent lap-time of 7:16 to push Marc van Niekerk's early banker lap of 7:18 down to 2nd. The gloves were off! The #21 Panoz was tilted on its side to get rid of all excess fuel and some brand new soft tyres fitted. The bratwurst concoction was momentarily forgotten and the race for pole was on. Van Niekerk started his last qualifying run first and posted a 7:11 and could then only sit back and watch as Wright still had half a lap to go. From the sector splits it was clear that it's too close to call. The stopwatch eventually stopped on 7:12. Only a second difference on a 20 mile circuit. Even Frau Grossenbaum was thrilled.

Phil qualified in 3rd, showing that he has not lost any of the skills which made him champion the previous season. The battle for 4th-7th was just as hot with only 4 seconds separating the 4 drivers.

The regular track marshals were still stuck at the protest, so Frau Grossenbaum had snuck off in the mean time to fetch her 2 rather large daughters to assist with the start lights. Of course they could only speak German and any instruction was met by a big smile and "ja ja"

All too soon it was race time. This 90 minute race was never going to be about driver against driver, but man vs machine vs the Green Monster. Each one had to deal with the track in his own private hell of sheer bliss. And the Bratwurst n Sauerkraut.

As expected the green light never got turned on at the race start, but all the drivers got away in an orderly fashion Phil unfortunately could not make the start due to a connection failure, but it was business as usual for the rest.

The German cuisine took its toll, with most of the drivers having to stop from time to time. The race was eventually won by Marc van Niekerk, who was challenged hard by 2nd place man Marc Wright until lap 9 when he had to stop suddenly for a quick dash to the tree line, upon which he broke his rear wing when jumping back over the barrier. Charl Smith made it to the podium followed by Craig Hume and Ken Hunter rounding out the top 5.

Story of the day was not about winning, but rather that 8 of the 12 starters made it to the finish after a full 90 minutes on arguably the most difficult of tracks. Testimony to the growing skills of the SARL drivers. Prost!

Even Frau Grossenbaum was impressed. As the drivers staggered home in the early hours of the next morning after having the mother of all parties they were invited to come back again someday.

Ja ja.