ABL S36 W9 Recap

12 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 9
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Oulton Park Circuit

On Sunday, May 12th, the Absolute Beginners League delivered an electrifying doubleheader at Oulton Park Circuit in the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Michael Haflidason set the stage from pole position for the first race, with Marcus Byfeldt alongside him.

As the green flag unfurled, Haflidason shot ahead, but Byfeldt found himself entangled in a thrilling battle with André Selander. Meanwhile, Neil Bamber and Vincent Brehm jockeyed for position behind them, rounding out the top five.

In an intense display of skill and strategy, Haflidason and Byfeldt quickly established themselves as frontrunners, engaging in a relentless duel for the lead. Lap after lap, Byfeldt shadowed Haflidason, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

With just five minutes remaining, Haflidason made a crucial error, allowing Byfeldt to seize the lead. Although Haflidason fought back valiantly, a subsequent contact sent him careening into the tire barriers, earning him a meatball flag and a pit stop in the race’s final moments.

Byfeldt capitalized on the opportunity, streaking across the finish line to claim victory in the first race, while Haflidason salvaged a seventh-place finish.

For the second race, the top five finishers were inverted, placing Brehm at the front of the grid. Haflidason, starting from seventh, wasted no time in mounting a fierce charge through the field. Within moments, he found himself back at the front, with Byfeldt hot on his heels.

In a nail-biting rematch of the first race, Haflidason and Byfeldt engaged in a thrilling battle for supremacy. With each lap, they traded positions, refusing to yield an inch to their opponent.

As the checkered flag loomed, the tension reached its peak, culminating in a heart-stopping sprint to the finish line. In a photo finish, Haflidason emerged victorious by a mere tenth of a second, securing a breathtaking win in the second race.

Join us next Sunday, May 19th, as the Absolute Beginners League takes on the legendary Nürburgring in the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup. Don’t miss a moment of the action, live at 1:55 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!