Watkins Glen

A Champion in Command

The final round required clarity from Simone Porcu, and the Italian supplied it. Over 39 laps at Watkins Glen Boot Classic he was the leader at every recorded passage, keeping his Formula RSS 1979 V8 at the head of the field from the opening circulation to the chequered flag. His fastest lap, a 1:32.062, was an apt detail in a drive that left little room for doubt.

There was no need for extravagance. Porcu's race was built on command: the early pressure of a compact leading group was absorbed, the rhythm was maintained, and the winner was never displaced. When the flag fell, the victory was worth 40 points and confirmed him as Champion at the conclusion of the six-round season.

The Early Contest Behind

Behind Porcu, the first half of the race contained a considerably more fluid argument. Florian Masse, FMG and Davide Saiu ran together within five seconds from the second lap through lap 15, with gilvil77 also among the close company around the front in the opening stages.

Saiu was particularly prominent early on. He moved ahead of FMG before lap 10 and became part of the contest around Masse, but an incident on lap 16 coincided with his fall from third to fifth. FMG reclaimed the advantage over him on that lap, changing the character of the fight behind the leader. Saiu was ultimately classified ninth after completing 26 laps, but his early pace had helped make the opening stint far less settled than Porcu's position suggested.

The Frenchman Masse and Britain's FMG then carried their own duel forward. FMG moved ahead early, Masse regained the place before half-distance, and FMG again had the advantage on lap 18. Masse reclaimed it by lap 22, a decisive exchange in the contest that would settle the remaining places of importance.

gilvil77 Takes Second

While the Masse-FMG contest shifted back and forth, gilvil77 made the most of the race around him. The Italian was part of the leading group in the early laps, remained close enough to benefit as the order behind Porcu evolved, and came home second after the full 39 laps.

It was a quietly effective result. gilvil77 had begun the afternoon fourth in the standings, but at Watkins Glen Boot Classic his immediate task was not a statistical one. He had to survive the changing pace and the close-running company behind the leader, and he did so to take the runner-up place.

Masse reached the flag in third, while FMG finished fourth. Their battle had lasted long enough to shape the centre of the race, but the final classification gave Masse the last podium place and the greater Championship reward.

The Final Table

Porcu's victory settled the principal question in decisive fashion. He ends the Championship on 194 points, with Masse second on 176 and FMG third on 166. Masse had arrived at Watkins Glen Boot Classic as Porcu's nearest rival, 12 points behind; the final round instead gave the leader both the race and the title.

Further back, Richard Rossier was classified fifth after completing 38 laps, and pitman sixth after 38. They played no part in the fight for the podium, but their points altered the order immediately behind the leading four, Rossier rising to fifth in the final Championship table ahead of pitman.