Lehdistötiedotteet - Rookie Series Champion (Season 6)

Rookie Series Champion (Season 6)

After a long and hard-fought campaign we finally have a finite results table for this seasons Rookie class, which saw several drivers take the title lead before crowning a champion.

Suzuka was the penultimate venue and threw rain at the top 30 drivers across both races, causing changeable conditions that were nigh-on impossible to predict.

Race 1 saw championship front runner Rapido secure a win ahead of Torghelle and Peet, notably a podium devoid of championship leader Siebrand who collided with Britains Striver in a tough fight for 6th. This allowed Rapido to Scythe through Siebrands points advantage.

Suzuka - Race 1

1. R. Rapido
2. S. Torghelle
3. J. Peet

Race 2 was just as significant as the first as the wet/dry conditions continued at the Japanese track. A good start from Peet saw him challenging Rapido for 1st in the early stages, a challenge that resulted in both cars coming together at the head of the field, an accident that resulted in Peet retiring and Rapido with work to do to salvage a good result.
This left a huge gap at the front, an opportunity taken by Doi and the ever persistent Siebrand who finishes three places ahead of Rapido to limit the points damage he suffered in race 1.

Suzuka - Race 2

1. D. Doi
2. T. Siebrand
3. S. Morris

The final race of the Rookie Series took the circus to Italy and the twisty Misano track. A track that would benefit British drivers Maines and Striver and their ART chassis. An opportunity taken by Maines as he qualified an impressive 6th, but an overexcited Striver's loss of focus on both runs saw him make serious errors on both runs and qualify a lowly 21st!

Race 1 saw a return to form for Andretti who led the majority of the early laps before a mistake saw him drop to 4th with 5th place Maines right on his tail. The pair collide in what was referred to at the time as a 'Pure racing incident'. Andretti retires as a result and Maines holds on to 5th.
This accident just the first of a race of carnage as championship leader Rapido registers a DNF after tangling with Capeta, and once championship leader Paxic meet a similar fate after crashing with Filipovic.

Misano - Race 1

1. S. Torghelle
2. T. Siebrand
3. A. Solovev

Race 2. The title showdown. Rapido faces an uphill struggle starting from the back while Siebrand starts from the front row. But the epic battle we were promised was short lived as both drivers fail to finish.
Most notably, this race saw several drivers drop back through the field. A great strategy call saw Ray Striver climb to an impressive 4th from his starting position of 14th, this effort was overshadowed by a mighty climb to 6th by Paxic who started 25th!

Despite the fights behind him, Torghelle makes it two from two and sweeps the Misano weekend taking over 100pts and climbing to 5th in the final standings!

Ray Striver does himself a favour with his 4th place and rises into the Top 10 to finish 8th after an unfortunate run of poor form.

Misano - Race 2

1. S. Torghelle
2. B. Martins
3. M. Parisi

And so, Germany's T. Siebrand wins the Season 6 Rookie Championship title. Switzerlands R. Rapido takes Runner-Up. There is undeniably some serious talent coming through the Junior ranks.