The final circuit of the Road to SimRacing Expo competition was kept under wraps this season in an attempt to make for an unpredictable online finale.
In both categories, there were plenty of drivers with a chance of making it to Dortmund for the in-person conclusion. For example, Aaron Vazquez, Pinter Zsombi, Alessandro Porta and Marcell Morocz in the PRO category.
Race 1
Going into the final two races, Vazquez, Zsombi and Porta were all tied on points, partly due to the two dropped races rule that was bound to make the points close before the final round, and also make it unclear who was actually in the top three by the end. Zsombi was set on making absolutely sure of his place at the SimRacing Expo, though, and he took pole for the evening.
What ensued was a 20-minute defending session, as David Toth threw increasingly promising moves to the left and right of his compatriot at the front throughout the race. In the small group behind, Vazquez would be turned around at the third last corner by Adnan Grozdanic on lap five, putting more pressure on him than he’d hoped at the start of the day.
Fortunately for him, Porta and Morocz were both outside of the top 10 anyway and struggling for speed. Zsombi would hold on for the win in the end, helped in part by Toth’s spin across the nose of Jarno Koch, whose incident-filled season continued, and pretty much guaranteed Zsombi a place in the final.
After taking the lead off Miroslav Svoboda early on, Connor Franssen would win in AM, also putting himself in a good position to progress.
Race 2
As fate would have it, Marcell Morocz was in 20th for race one and therefore sat on pole for the second race, vaulting him back into contention. Despite his clean start, he was chased down by Vazquez after just four laps, and the Spaniard quickly dispatched and distanced him.
Balazs Palla and Zsombi were having the best overall night, fighting their way through the field together, which included passing Alessandro Porta, who had his worst night of the three at exactly the wrong time. Both Palla and Zsombi would get a top five, potentially giving Palla a chance at the top three.
Those positions were secured by late passes on Tim Beilicke, who effectively let them through on his way to AM victory in race two. With Mathieu Collin, the AM championship leader before Okayama, having a quiet night, once all the dropped scores were calculated, he missed out on a spot in Dortmund. Instead, it’s Franssen, Beilicke and the consistent Leon Manin who will make the trip.
As for PRO, it was equally unknowable until the stewards’ results and drop score calculations. Vazquez and Zsombi were in great positions, but ultimately just missed out. Porta, Palla and Morocz will be heading to Germany.
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Road to SimRacing Expo 2025 PRO finalists
- Alessandro Porta
- Balazs Palla
- Mercell Morocz
Road to SimRacing Expo 2025 AM finalists
- Connor Franssen
- Tim Beilicke
- Leon Manin
Road to SimRacing Expo 2025 LAN final
- SimRacing Expo, Dortmund, Saturday 18th October, 17:00 CET
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