🏁Breaking News: New Faces Shine in Gran Turismo South Africa Manufacturers League! 🏁

Circuit de Sainte-Croix

With the tournament favorites taking a well-deserved sabbatical, the Gran Turismo South Africa Manufacturers League witnessed a thrilling shake-up as new drivers seized the opportunity to dominate the top steps in Pool 1. The absence of the usual front-runners opened the door for a spectacular showcase of speed and strategy, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Pool 1 Highlights: In a race that will be remembered for its unexpected twists, CAV-R_Hollywood emerged victorious in his Toyota Supra, delivering a masterclass in racing. Hot on his heels was DMR_SMP3PRO in his Porsche 911, with Ghostkilla_Pace rounding off the podium in his Nissan Skyline. This diverse mix of manufacturers added an extra layer of excitement to the race.

However, the race wasn’t without its drama. GT_RSA, who was poised for a podium finish, suffered a heartbreaking puncture in his second-to-last stint, forcing an unscheduled pit stop and relegating him to the mid-pack.

Pool 2 Drama: Pool 2 saw intense battles throughout the field, with Rav_Pace and CAV-R_FluffyButt engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase. Rav_Pace’s speculative three-stop strategy, dubbed #StreamGate by analysts, added to the intrigue as he was later spotted in the commentary booth for the Premier event. 

Ultimately, Yasteel_Pace claimed the top step, followed closely by CAV-R_FluffyButt and newcomer PBR-PumpkinPatch.

Results as follows for Pool 2

Pool 3 Action: Pool 3 delivered an incredible performance across the grid. 

Ken_Dog captured the fastest lap with a blistering 2:07.8, just 0.1 seconds shy of the Pool 1 fastest lap. Despite his speed, his Audi R8 and pit crew could only secure a fifth-place finish.

MGR_Lekwera led the race with stellar laps but was forced to pit for a third time due to a drop in tire pressures, allowing KLM_Pace to execute a stunning last-to-first victory. SAM_Waxen rounded out the podium.
Scene's from the paddock, post-race with MGR_Lekwera and KLM_Pace.

Results for Pool 3 as follows

Pool 4 to Pool 7: In Pool 4, CAV-R_JvDdaBOSS took the win, followed by DH_Gamer and Cash_19M3. A mixed bag of strategies across the field saw drivers trying to combat the high tyre degradation, while trying to drive as fast as their cars would allow.

Pool 5 saw a dominant performance by the Porsche teams, with Josh_Kwas securing a 20-second victory, C8s_Britsvinnig in second, and SBR_Knoop28 in third. Porsche hs seemed to be the car of choice among a nnumber of drivers, with the car having received an extra few benefits in the upgrades and developments, will we see them on the Top step in Pool 1? Only time will tell.

Pool 6 had JensonJ in his Mercedes AMG taking first, BeardedWonder in his Toyota Supra in second, and Warrie in his McLaren 650S in third.

 

Finally, Pool 7 featured new faces in the league, however, the experienced heads managed to secure the podium positions with Pung23_9BR taking first, Portalian404 in second, and Sn4k13-ZA in third. It was really lovely to see the pool feature a number of drivers this week, as recent events, this group has not been well attended withfunding for these drivers being an issue. However, with the cost cap introductions, as mentioned in the previous article, we hope to see this group fill up in future.

As the sabbaticals come to an end, the next Manufacturers League race promises to be even more thrilling, with top drivers from lower pools stepping up to challenge the best. The stewards enjoyed the Alpine mountain range this afternoon, while drivers prepare to transport their vehicles to the next venue.

In Other News: Rumor has it that the Netvlieks crew has been spotted roaming the paddock, interviewing team managers. Expect exclusive interviews in the coming weeks, brought to you by Yours Truly.

As this week comes to a close, we look forward to the next Nations League round scheduled to take place, with details to emerge in the coming days. One things for sure, as we reached the midpoint of this, it is all to play for with the top drivers hoping to secure the top spots in both leagues, for the final showdown!

Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes action from the Gran Turismo South Africa League! 🏁🚗💨

Blogpost by Murray Stalker