The FRL’s running of the US Grand Prix on Sunday night was the final “One-Off” Challenge of the year. How would our drivers do in the legendary cars of yesteryear’s racing elite?
Several drivers turned out for the event that was held on Circuit of the America’s. After a few practice sessions, eight cars took the green flag for a 15 minute qualifying session that saw Ethan Maestri in his #85 Lotus 77 take pole position. The field would line up single file for a parade lap to set the grid and the start of the FRL’s USGP. However, before the green flag could fly, there would be a last minute scramble to get everyone on the same radio frequency. This distraction led to a costly error for pole position. Once the technical error was sorted and the call went out for green flag racing, Ethan Maestri had forgotten to shift into his starting gear and stalled his car on the line. He was narrowly missed by Paul Maestri, who was lined up immediately behind him. Drew Dilbeck would try to swerve to the outside but would clip Ethan’s left rear tire, sending his stricken car spinning into the opposite lane. Nicholas Hargrove had nowhere to go and ran into the back of Ethan’s car, crippling both machines.
Further down the front straight, Drew worked to try and gain control and speed of his Ferrari 312, but ended up in the side of Tony Tyree’s Aperture Laboratories Lotus 77, sending both into the grass. Tony would escape relatively unscathed, but Drew, Nicholas & Ethan would have to limp around the 3.4 mile track to the pits for early repairs.
The unaffected four of Andrew Steppat, in the lone McLaren M23, Paul Maestri, Travis Billingsley and Carter Merkling would wheel around the carnage and set off for an early contest of position. Carter would settle in behind Andrew for a couple of laps while Travis and Paul sorted out P3. Travis would catch Carter in the third lap and pass for P2. A lap later and it was Paul’s turn to snatch the P3 spot from the young driver. Aside from a few minor errors and off’s, there was not much else in the way of incidents as the laps unfolded.
Andrew Steppat would lead the early laps in the race, giving up P1 for a brief time to Travis Billingsley’s #18 Lotus, but would gain it back as pit stops cycled through the field. Andrew would extend and then hold a comfortable lead for the rest of the race.
As cars cycled through pit stops, Ethan Maestri would begin moving from the back up to P4. From there he was able to catch up to Paul Maestri. A lap later would see Paul slide out on the track in the essess, giving up P3 to his brother. Drew Dilbeck would make a run on Paul as well, but would finish in P5 just behind Paul.
Andrew Steppat would win this event, his third “One-Off” victory of the year. Travis would score P2, and Ethan Maestri would salvage his effort in the event by taking the final podium position.
Results
Driver: Fastest Lap:
Andrew Steppat
|
2:02.756
|
Travis Billingsley
|
2:03.159
|
Ethan Maestri
|
2:02.047
|
Paul Maestri
|
2:04.481
|
Drew Dilbeck
|
2:03.542*
|
Carter Merkling
|
2:05.991
|
Tony Tyree
|
2:08.318
|
Nicholas Hargrove
|
2:13.005
|
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