Screen to Speed by Init Esports is back for the 2023 Summer season as of 15th July. The first of the six round mini-series took place at Laguna Seca in the Mazda MX-5 on Saturday and a new name to the all-women esports series took top honors not once, but in both events.
The 20 fastest drivers qualified for the two-race event at Laguna, and both victories would fall to Bianca Constantiniu after winning from the pole in the first race and winning from the back of the grid after the full field invert in the second.
Not only did Constantiniu win both races, but the entire Top 4 all finished in the same positions in both races. The inaugural Screen to Speed winner at Las Vegas earlier this year, Saoirse Fitzpatrick, finished runner-up both times with Emily Howe third in both races and Sara Dove in fourth both times.
One of the new participants in the program, Constantiniu was a dominant force throughout the first races of the new season. The Romanian challenger led the entirety of the first race, winning by over four and a half seconds over Fitzpatrick.
The second race featured a full race invert, which put Garnet Addams on the pole position and the front runners from the first race all the way in the back. Just after 12 minutes into the 30 minute feature, Howe managed to get through the field from the back in the quickest order, with Constantiniu and Fitzpatrick following through, moving Addams back to fourth.
After losing the lead, Addams plummeted down the running order as the battle for the lead continued without her. Just past halfway as they entered the Laguna Seca Corkscrew, Constantiniu made a move to reclaim the lead for the first time since the invert. Howe gave way as Fitzpatrick also closed in to take the second spot from her.
Once Constantiniu was up front, it was pretty much over. Fitzpatrick kept it close, finishing a lot closer in the second attempt, less than a second an a half. The double victory led the newcomer to gain max points in her debut, a total of 50 plus five added bonus points.
The second round will take place on 29th July, and qualifying is open now for the event. This particular race will utilize the Pro 2 Lite Off-Road trucks on the included-with-subscription iRacing Dirt Road track, Wild West Motorsports Park.
For more information on how to sign up for the series, or how to register as an ally and support women in esports, visit the official Screen to Speed website as well as the official Init Esports page. Tune into the broadcasts over on the Init Esports Twitch as well!
