Ramsteijn claims a hard-fought virtual victory at Imola

The Core Simracing driver featured in an incredible podium battle with Alexander Lauritzen and Dylan Birse in the Porsche 911 all the way to the last lap.

Heading into the third round of the PorscheSport Carrera Cup, Kevin Nielsen and Brian Lockwood were tied at the top of the driver standings on 150 points each. The first Heat Race of the night, Lockwood started on pole alongside Racekraft Esports teammate Sam Kuitert. Heat Race 2 saw Maxim Ramsteijn start on pole alongside Dylan Birse on the front row, as Gunonso Tasdelen, Kane Halliburton and Pascal Costa lined up in Top 5 for the second Heat Race of the night.

All eyes were on Heat Race 1, as Lockwood and Nielsen took to the grid whilst PorscheSport’s Gavin Halls qualified in a strong 7th position. Lights out for the first Heat Race of the night, and Sam Kuitert took the lead going into Tamburello as Lockwood came under pressure from the chasing duo of Vialatte and Nielsen who made a surprising mistake missing his breaking point, and nearly going into the back of Lockwood at Rivazza. Nielsen, dropping down to 22nd with the mammoth task of fighting his way back up to 10th to go into the Feature Race.

The fascinating battle for 2nd between Lockwood, Vialatte and now Kamil Grabowski and Alexander Lauritzen continued throughout the race, as Kuitert stretched his lead. Lockwood and Vialatte both feeling the effect of the anti-cut curbs and gravel traps at Imola as Lockwood spun, and Vialatte lost control which allowed Grabowski and Lauritzen to move up the order. Nielsen, meanwhile, having impressively made-up places to be in the battle for 10th going into the final lap.

There was heartbreak for Halls who finished outside the points and into the Consolation Race after dropping down to 17th. Similar heartbreak for David Ward who provided a fantastic spectacle for the fans with a drag race to the finish. Nick Schulte-Wisserman took 10th place, Ward missing out by an agonizing seven-thousandths of a second.

Heat Race 2 provided all the action and drama as Maxim Ramsteijn and Gunoso Tasdelen going side by side towards Piratella in the final two minutes of the 12-lap race. Unfortunately both making contact in the switchback down to Acque Minerali. Ramsteijn going off into the gravel whilst Tasdelen who sent in into Acque Minerali and lost it was incredibly lucky to still be in the Top 5. Halliburton capitalised to claim the win for Heat Race 2 finishing only +0.291 seconds ahead of Dylan Birse.

Meanwhile, the second gripping battle for 10th, between Lewis Ward, Matias Birk, Gaetan Anger and a resurgent Suellio Almeida ran to the last lap, as Ward cracked under the pressure, going off allowing Anger who had a heart in your mouth moment, locking up but surviving to take 10th through the skin of his teeth.

Imola is a narrow historic track and in the Porsche 911 which is difficult to drive on the iRacing platform, the Feature Race seemed impossible to call, as the 30 cars took to the grid for the half an hour race. A rocket start from Sam Kuitert, in what appeared to be a strong night for Racekraft Esports, was short lived when contact later in the lap put him down the order. Meanwhile, Dylan Birse took the lead in the opening stages of the Feature Race.

The main battle that all fans hoped to see was between joint leaders Nielsen and Lockwood. With an impressive drive, Nielsen battled to 7th to put on a show with Lockwood. However, Lockwood’s night and hope to lead the standings went when the Racekraft driver was hit from behind sending him down the order to finish 28th whilst Nielsen finished 6th.

The battle for first between Ramsteijn, Birse, Lauritzen and Tasdelen intensified in the final stages of the Feature Race at Imola, with Ramsteijn having a touch and go moment with oversteer going into Rivazza but managed to recover. An enthralling podium battle with three going wide up to the chequered flag, as Lauritzen finished second with Birse in third as Tasdelen received a costly slow-down penalty to finish fourth.

“The harder you fight, the better they (race wins) feel,” a pleased Maxim Ramsteijn said about his victory despite admitting that pace was not the factor in having the edge out on the Imola track.

“Maxim drove a great race, I enjoyed driving with him.” Praised Alexander Lauritzen who felt his speed was good with the tyres on the last laps but admitted he was “pretty nervous” going into the last sector at Rivazza having locked up but somehow managing to hang on to second place with Dylan Birse closely behind.

“If you can get it (the Porsche 911) hooked up, it is really fun to drive.” A happy Dylan Birse said about racing in the Porsche 911 at Imola, as he “hopes to continue his form across the season.”

The PorscheSport Carrera Cup continues with Round 4 on May 2nd at the Nürburgring.