2023 Season 2 Round 7 Thunder Results
Thunder Series Review
Entering the 2nd half of Series 2, drivers were keen to bag some solid points and consolidate their championship position around the tricky flat track this is New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
27 drivers would grid up for the 113 laps, with Dyson taking pole position ahead of Michelmore, Gallagher, Jones and Martin.
Whilst Dyson was able to get a good launch, it was Michelmore who was able to drive around the outside to inherit the lead going down the back straight for the first time.
Drivers would move their lines constantly, trying to find out where they were stronger than others, with most driver electing to run the middle groove and settling in for a long run,
The first caution of the night on lap 16 would see the majority of the field head to the lane except for Carroll-Walden, Martin and Hetterscheid, who elected to save a set of tyres for later in the race. Drivers on fresh tyres were keen to make up positions early on the restart, which would trigger 2 more cautions in quick succession.
By the time drivers had dusted themselves off and got back into some green flag racing, it was Dyson and Gallagher who would run several laps side by side battling for the lead before Gallagher was able to get clear. Whilst things settled down at the front end, in the mid pack elbows were out with plenty of side by side racing.
Approaching half race distance, Gallagher held a comfortable lead over Dyson, with Michelmore half the straight behind in third. Just a few laps later, the caution flew with all the field coming for fuel and tyres and putting everyone back onto the same strategy.
This would set up a 40 lap sprint to the finish – Dyson and Gallagher off the front with Michelmore and Martin, Jones and Jaie Schultz filling the top 3 rows. Dyson took off, opening a decent sized gap over Gallagher whilst Michelmore slipped down to fifth over the first few green flag laps.
It would take Gallagher 10 laps to get back to Dyson’s rear bumper and started to apply the pressure, with Dyson having several moments with the exit wall at turn 4. This would ultimately prove to be Dyson’s undoing, as he kept Gallagher at bay until 5 laps to go until yet another rub of the turn 4 exit wall. Gallagher would get underneath going into turn 1, but the pass wouldn’t be completed until the exit of turn 4, where Dyson and Gallagher panel rubbed and allowed Martin to close up onto the back of Dyson.
The pressure from Martin allowed Gallagher to go on to take victory by just over a second, whilst Dyson managed hold off Martin by a mere tenth of a second at the line to secure second and third positions respectfully.
Race Summary:
113 Laps
4 Cautions for 16 Laps
6 Leaders
8 Lead Changes
1st - #13 Hamish Gallagher
2nd - #41 Andrew Dyson
3rd - #21 Jason Martin
4th - #31 Josh Michelmore
5th - #11 Ryan Jones
Stewards Summary:
Cautions:
Lap 16 - #02 Darren Mckenzie
Lap 23 - #42 Lachlan Urquijo – 3rd strike, ROF next week
Lap 68 - #007 Mark Smith
Restarts:
Lap 27 - #194 Andy Barber
Lap 34 - #053 Simon Hetterscheid
Lap 34 - #194 Andy Barber
Lap 34 - #007 Mark Smith
Protests:
Nil
Other:
Lap 30 caution – no single driver was deemed at fault – racing incident
Lap 34 restart - #007 Mark Smith – Rule 6.(d).i Unprofessional conduct involving contact with, or significantly impeding or disadvantaging another competitor – DQ from the race
Series 2 standings:
A 2nd place finish at New Hampshire allows Dyson to increase his lead at the head of the Series 2 standings, now 37 points ahead of Michelmore, with Wellman dropping down to third place ahead of Phelps and Jones. Round 8 of the Series will also double Round 3 of the Superspeedway Title, with 60 laps at Pocono, with Carroll-Walden holding a 5 point lead over Marin and Mckenzie.
2023 overall standings:
Whilst Mitch Motorsport drivers Martin and Michelmore appear to have the top 2 positions locked down, movement is happening for 3rd position. With a 20th place finish, Clark has dropped from third to fifth, with Phelps and Jaie Schultz elevated themselves up the order.
Full race results and Series 2 standings at Sim Racer Hub: https://www.simracerhub.com/scoring/season_schedule.php...
Full race replay provided by Performance E-Streaming - https://youtube.com/@performancee-streaming9170
Entering the 2nd half of Series 2, drivers were keen to bag some solid points and consolidate their championship position around the tricky flat track this is New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
27 drivers would grid up for the 113 laps, with Dyson taking pole position ahead of Michelmore, Gallagher, Jones and Martin.
Whilst Dyson was able to get a good launch, it was Michelmore who was able to drive around the outside to inherit the lead going down the back straight for the first time.
Drivers would move their lines constantly, trying to find out where they were stronger than others, with most driver electing to run the middle groove and settling in for a long run,
The first caution of the night on lap 16 would see the majority of the field head to the lane except for Carroll-Walden, Martin and Hetterscheid, who elected to save a set of tyres for later in the race. Drivers on fresh tyres were keen to make up positions early on the restart, which would trigger 2 more cautions in quick succession.
By the time drivers had dusted themselves off and got back into some green flag racing, it was Dyson and Gallagher who would run several laps side by side battling for the lead before Gallagher was able to get clear. Whilst things settled down at the front end, in the mid pack elbows were out with plenty of side by side racing.
Approaching half race distance, Gallagher held a comfortable lead over Dyson, with Michelmore half the straight behind in third. Just a few laps later, the caution flew with all the field coming for fuel and tyres and putting everyone back onto the same strategy.
This would set up a 40 lap sprint to the finish – Dyson and Gallagher off the front with Michelmore and Martin, Jones and Jaie Schultz filling the top 3 rows. Dyson took off, opening a decent sized gap over Gallagher whilst Michelmore slipped down to fifth over the first few green flag laps.
It would take Gallagher 10 laps to get back to Dyson’s rear bumper and started to apply the pressure, with Dyson having several moments with the exit wall at turn 4. This would ultimately prove to be Dyson’s undoing, as he kept Gallagher at bay until 5 laps to go until yet another rub of the turn 4 exit wall. Gallagher would get underneath going into turn 1, but the pass wouldn’t be completed until the exit of turn 4, where Dyson and Gallagher panel rubbed and allowed Martin to close up onto the back of Dyson.
The pressure from Martin allowed Gallagher to go on to take victory by just over a second, whilst Dyson managed hold off Martin by a mere tenth of a second at the line to secure second and third positions respectfully.
Race Summary:
113 Laps
4 Cautions for 16 Laps
6 Leaders
8 Lead Changes
1st - #13 Hamish Gallagher
2nd - #41 Andrew Dyson
3rd - #21 Jason Martin
4th - #31 Josh Michelmore
5th - #11 Ryan Jones
Stewards Summary:
Cautions:
Lap 16 - #02 Darren Mckenzie
Lap 23 - #42 Lachlan Urquijo – 3rd strike, ROF next week
Lap 68 - #007 Mark Smith
Restarts:
Lap 27 - #194 Andy Barber
Lap 34 - #053 Simon Hetterscheid
Lap 34 - #194 Andy Barber
Lap 34 - #007 Mark Smith
Protests:
Nil
Other:
Lap 30 caution – no single driver was deemed at fault – racing incident
Lap 34 restart - #007 Mark Smith – Rule 6.(d).i Unprofessional conduct involving contact with, or significantly impeding or disadvantaging another competitor – DQ from the race
Series 2 standings:
A 2nd place finish at New Hampshire allows Dyson to increase his lead at the head of the Series 2 standings, now 37 points ahead of Michelmore, with Wellman dropping down to third place ahead of Phelps and Jones. Round 8 of the Series will also double Round 3 of the Superspeedway Title, with 60 laps at Pocono, with Carroll-Walden holding a 5 point lead over Marin and Mckenzie.
2023 overall standings:
Whilst Mitch Motorsport drivers Martin and Michelmore appear to have the top 2 positions locked down, movement is happening for 3rd position. With a 20th place finish, Clark has dropped from third to fifth, with Phelps and Jaie Schultz elevated themselves up the order.
Full race results and Series 2 standings at Sim Racer Hub: https://www.simracerhub.com/scoring/season_schedule.php...
Full race replay provided by Performance E-Streaming - https://youtube.com/@performancee-streaming9170
