Rounds 5&6 of the Virtual Racing School Sports Car Open Sprint Masters took the team to Belgium this week, but not to where you might expect. No, instead we headed off to the little used Circuit Zolder.
With an unfamiliar track, and a heavy schedule of Pro Qualifiers over the past week, preparation had been lighter than usual and repeating last week’s strong results in Spain was not a guarantee.
After 2 hours of racing ( 2x 60 minute races with the requisite driver swaps), sublime driving, inspired tactical changes and, for a change, a bit of luck regarding others incidents, the doubt proved unfounded.
A stunning podium for the #98 car of Kevin Ellis Jr and Maxime Brient was swiftly whipped away by a frustrating post-race penalty for a deemed ‘jump start’ in Race 1,
Strong first laps from Zac and Jamie in the #99 car saw them claw their way back from poor qualifying results and back into the thick of it at the sharp end.
Top 10 finishes again for both cars, even after post-race penalties keeps us well in the championship fight. Consistency and a high team morale is really starting to payoff.
Race 1
7th #98 Apex Racing Team 1 (Kevin Ellis Jr & Maxime Brient)
10th #99 Apex Racing Team 2 (Jamie Fluke & Zac Campbell)
Race 2
7th #99 Apex Racing Team 2 (Jamie Fluke & Zac Campbell)
9th #98 Apex Racing Team 1 (Kevin Ellis Jr & Maxime Brient)
Current Championship Standings
Standings correct at time of publication. For up to date standings, visit the Sports Car Open Website
Race Images
Drivers reactions
After 120 mins of action in this weeks rounds of the VRS SCO Sprint Masters, the Apex Racing Team Lambourghini drivers gave their thoughts on a hard-fought race:
Jamie Fluke – Apex Racing Team 2 #99
Both races we struggled to get the best out of the car in qualifying and ended up in midfield when something closer to top 5 was achievable, so we were disappointed with that especially given how hard overtaking is here. Fortunately both Zac and I did well in our respective lap 1 efforts and through the pit cycles to make up a few spots, so a P10 and P7 is ok points in the championship but there was a little bit more in it.
Maxim Brient – Apex Racing Team 1 #98
“Pretty solid result again at Zolder for this 3rd round. Kev did an amazing job to put the car P3 in Q for Race 1 and did an incredible comeback on Race 2. Too bad this post race penalty relegate us to P7 in Race 1 in the end. For my part, it’s getting better and better each round, especially my race pace. I still got some improvements to make but we will getting there !”
Zac Campbell – Apex Racing Team 2 #99
“I felt like Saturday went alright. Could’ve done a little more personally just to get a few more spots but overall I felt like the day was okay. Jamie did great all day and was essential in getting us a good finish!”
We’ve reached half way mark in the championship, 6 races stand between us and the final chequered flag. But there is something BIG between us and the next rounds at Monza.
The SCO VRS 24h of Spa
A standalone, one off, event with its own $10k prize pool is looming on the horizon. Qualifying begins on the 27th July, with the event running from 13:30 on Saturday, July 31st, 2021.
We’ll be there.
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