After two weeks of racing, the inaugural season of This X1 Racing League wrapped up at the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT).
After procuring some powerful results at the season opener in the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Bangalore Racing Stars and Mumbai Falcons managed to take forward their powerful form in the last round as well.
With a total of four wins in seven races, Bangalore Racing Stars managed to clinch the X1 Racing League championship.
The X1 Racing League suffered a shaky beginning at the BIC Complaint being that the cars (which are predicated on the now-decade-old Formula BMW chassis) appeared rather underwhelming on the circuit that was originally built for Formula 1 cars.
Bearing that in mind, the MMRT’s boundaries must have suited these cars been less punishing on the motors. But this was not the case.
In fact, the round was a somewhat chaotic affair. The Series needed to cancel all of running citing logistical issues, and, as a result, the circular was condensed.
Half the runners ended up having to pull out at the first race itself — a vast majority of the retirements brought on by engine problems. As the marshals fought to clear Pippa Mann’s automobile that stopped on track due to an engine blowout, the race saw a safety car period.
Mumbai Falcons’ auto , driven Mikkel Jensen and by Kush Maini , originally led from pole but had to serve a drive-through penalty for jumping the start. As a result, the lead was inherited by the Bangalore Racing Stars duo of Oliver James Webb and Arjun Maini, and went on to win the race.
Race 2 followed a reverse grid format, but with a significant portion Of the field out following the first race, every team field was seen by it .
The Mumbai Falcons shortly was able to take the lead, although the car 16, piloted by Gaurav Gill and Raghul Rangasamy of AD Racing Delhi, began the race from pole position.
But it wasn’t a trouble-free race to the team as their only remaining car ended up using DG Races Ahmedabad’s car 45 from the pit lane following a driver exchange.
But Mumbai Falcons went on to win the race with a mammoth 19.415 seconds. AD Racing Delhi (Gill and Rangasamy) ended up having to settle for 2nd place, and Bangalore Racing Stars (Kush Maini and Jensen) finished 3rd.
Race 3 was supposed to follow a relay format, but because none of the Teams could field a second car, the grid was determined based on each group’s quickest lap in Race 1.
Mumbai Falcons’ Arjun Maini and Webb once again dominated the race to clinch success before Bangalore Racing Stars (Kush Maini and Jensen) and Blackbirds Hyderabad (Vitantonio Liuzzi and Akhil Rabindra).
With its season done and dusted, It’s clear that the X1 Racing League has if it does aim to be more sustainable as a series, some fine tuning to do.
A relative lack of the complex formats (such as throwing in quite lengthy driver swaps in what’s already a relatively brief race) are some problem areas that will have to be addressed.
But perhaps the most pressing dilemma for the series at this time is that the cars; after all, having half of the grid retire in the first race of the day itself hardly bodes well for a series that intends to position itself as the future of motorsport in India.Outcomes
1. Bangalore Racing Stars (Arjun Maini / Oliver Webb) (27:23.458)
2. Mumbai Falcons (Kush Maini / / Mikkel Jensen) (27:24.018)
3. Blackbirds Hyderabad (Vitantonio Liuzzi / Gosia Rdest) (27:28.969)
1. Mumbai Falcons (Kush Maini / Mikkel Jensen)
2. AD Racing Delhi (Gaurav Gill / Raghul Rangasamy) (28:21.637)
3. Bangalore Racing Stars (28:25.847)
1. Mumbai Falcons (Kush Maini / Mikkel Jensen)
2. Bangalore Racing Stars (Arjun Maini / Oliver Webb)
3. Blackbirds Hyderabad (Vitantonio Luizzi / Akhil Rabindra)