Pontiac51's Slot Race 06-12-99

This was the 5th race on the 4-lane track and the final race out of 7 races in this season. They were all here: "Viking", "McRay", "Pontiac51", "Beeli", "Lukas", "Alex", "Martin", "Nevermind", "Wobi", "Ulrike" and "Andi". Only one wildcard driver: "Maxi TB". Under the spectators of this final known names like "Karin", "Nathalie", "Nadja", "Christina" and "Cray". And all over the place the same question: "Will Viking be able to catch the points leader Pontiac51 in the final race?". "Viking" would need a win to grab the lead, in this case "Pontiac51" would have to finish 3rd to stay in front. On to the qualify, first "Lukas" took attention with a blistering run, but it then was "Wobi",who drove his qualify as third, but no one was able to beat his time later on. The rest of the field looked like this:
 

Qualify Results
Pos.
Name
Nick
Time (secs)
1.
Wolfram Krainz
Wobi
6.5313
2.
Ulrike Barna
Ulrike
6.5391
3.
Lukas Berger
Lukas
6.5938
4.
Andreas Fremd
Andi
6.6406
5.
Jürgen Peham
Beeli
6.6484
6.
Martin Schwaiger
Martin
6.7031
7.
Robert Graf
Pontiac51
6.8594
8.
Wolfgang Peham
Viking
6.9219
9.
Raimund Guggenbichler
McRay
7.0313
10.
Markus Wolfger
Maxi TB
7.3594
11.
Marcus Pacher
Nevermind
7.5234
12.
Alexander Hirnschall
Alex
7.6406

So "Alex", "Nevermind", "Maxi TB" and "McRay" competed in Class C. Race was run as this: slowest driver chooses lane, fastest driver chooses car, then after 1 race in the same configuration the controllers are swapped, so everyone races each car on each lane. This means 4 races (3 laps long) per round. Points for each race: 10 for 1st, 6 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd, 3 for 4th, 0 for DNF.
 

Class C
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04
pts.
final
McRay
0
6
6
0
12
B
Nevermind
0
10
10
4
24
A
Maxi TB
0
10
0
0
10
C
Alex
0
10
0
0
10
C

This class seemed pretty close, but somehow "Nevermind" slipped by everyone to make it to the A-final. Maybe a little hot rod riding by the others was the cause.

"Martin", "Viking", "Beeli" and "Pontiac51" competed in Class B.
 

Class B
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04
pts.
final
Martin
0
6
4
6
16
B
Viking
0
10
10
10
30
A
Beeli
0
0
0
0
0
C
Pontiac51
0
6
10
0
16
B

"Viking" making it all clear for the A-final, the only race he did a DNF was won by "Pontiac51", who duelled with Martin most of the time. So "Viking" was in A, "Pontiac51" down in B, no chance for him to counterstrike, if "Viking" would win the A-final.

Next was Class A with "Andi", "Lukas", "Wobi" and "Ulrike".
 

Class A
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04
pts.
final
Andi
0
10
0
0
10
A
Lukas
0
10
0
0
10
B
Wobi
0
10
6
0
16
A
Ulrike
0
10
0
0
10
C

A tough fighted class, with focus on fighted. "Wobi" sharp out in front, the others raced a tiebreaker to settle their final class.

After the pitstop for cleaning the cars and cooling track and minds the C-Final was on. Here "Ulrike" (A, 10pts), "Beeli" (B, 0pts), "Maxi TB" (C, 10pts) and "Alex" (C, 10pts) settled the positions 9 to 12.

C-Final
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04 
pts.
pos.
Ulrike
0
10
0
6
16
11.
Beeli
0
10
0
6
16
12.
Maxi TB
4
10
6
4
24
9.
Alex
6
10
0
4
20
10.

"Maxi TB" showed some skills on that one, finishing all 4 races, "Alex" not far behind him. 11th place was settled by a tiebreaker.

On to the B-Final, in there "McRay" (C, 12pts), "Lukas" (A, 10pts), "Pontiac51" (B, 16pts) and "Martin" (B, 16pts), settling pos. from 5 to 8.
 

B-Final
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04
pts.
pos.
McRay
0
6
4
6
16
8.
Lukas
10
10
0
0
20
5.
Pontiac51
6
0
0
10
16
6.
Martin
0
10
0
6
16
7.

"Lukas" on the lead for the 5th place, even scoring a win on the hated lane1 (only "Viking" scored a win on this lane, too). "Martin" and "Pontiac51" into a tiebreaker for the last point in the championship. "Pontiac51" won...

This was it, the "Grande Finale". Would "Viking" get the needed 10 pts.? Here their ways to the top: "Viking" (B, 30pts), "Nevermind" (C, 24pts), "Andi" (A, 10pts) and "Wobi" (A, 16pts) drove for the grand prix trophy.
 

A-Final
Driver\Lane
01
02
03
04 
pts.
pos.
Viking
10
10
10
10
40
1.
Nevermind
0
6
0
4
10
2.
Andi
0
0
0
0
0
4.
Wobi
0
6
0
0
6
3.

"Viking" in front grabbing the number one with an impressive 40pts score, "Nevermind" behind in 2nd, not bad for an 11th place in qualify. "Wobi" tried to beat the champ, flying off most of the time. "Andi", well, i say it was a blackout.

So the "Grand Prix Champion Trophy" was for "Viking", the "Pole Position Trophy" for "Wobi", the "Runner Up Award" for "Nevermind" and the "Steadiness Award" for "Beeli".

So the "esh slotcar racing championship '99" was over and in the final points it was "Viking" to hold the cup on the winners photo.

We interviewed some of the drivers after the race:

"Viking":
I found that the B-Class was much harder to drive then the final, where i really had a clear run. After the qualify, i noted that "Pontiac51" was in the same class. I knew the one, who would make it to the A-class, would win the title. I'm happy it was me.

"Pontiac51":
Oh no, 2 pts away from the title in the final points, talk about close. I should have raced harder in the qual, but choosed the wrong car, call it arrogance. After "Viking"s qualify run, i tought i might have a chance beating him off the A-final, but he was too strong. He really earned the title and what would you have said, if i had won my own series? :-)

"Mondial7" (e-mail from japan):
First let me thank Pontiac51 for setting up this incredible event. I really enjoyed every minute of it and I'm sure everyone else did as well. Personally, I'm very pleased with my 3rd rank in the championships while missing the last three races. However, one must say that most of the other drivers (including the champion!) also skipped some races. Finally my congratulations go to Viking. He can be safely called this year's fastest driver, although we had some close battles in the inofficial runs. But be warned: I'll be back!

"Nevermind":
I didn't worry about my 11th in the qualify, i was sure about getting to the top and the results speak for themselves. I am pleased with the final 4th place in the points, tough i only raced 2 races in this season.

Congrats to all drivers, thank you, ladies and gentleman, for an exiting season. The Pontiac51 Raceway is closing for the winter and will be back in the february 2000. Till then, go fast, turn left...

Pontiac51