ABL S36 W11 Recap

26 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 11
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Mount Panorama Circuit

On Sunday, May 26th, the Absolute Beginners League’s Formula Neagle FIA F4 Series hosted its season finale at the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit, featuring two thrilling back-to-back 20-minute races. The event was a spectacular end to the season, filled with intense battles, strategic maneuvers, and dramatic incidents that kept the fans on the edge of their seats.

Marcus Byfeldt started the first race from the pole position, with Michael Haflidason alongside him on the front row. As the green flag waved, Byfeldt, Haflidason, and David Burns quickly broke away from the rest of the field, showcasing their superior pace. The trio remained closely bunched together during the opening laps, with a nearly two-second gap back to Neil Bamber, who was running alone in fourth place.

The battle at the front was intense. Haflidason, in his efforts to defend against Byfeldt, lost control of his car and suffered severe damage after a hard hit into the wall. This incident allowed Bamber to move up to third place, trailing the leading pair of Byfeldt and Burns. The two front-runners continued their duel, trading the lead multiple times throughout the race. Burns stayed strategically tucked behind Byfeldt, conserving his car and waiting for the perfect moment to make a decisive move.

That moment came on the final lap. Burns executed a perfectly timed overtake in the last corners, seizing the win from Byfeldt in a dramatic finish. Ludwig Sauer secured the pole position for the second race due to the top-five inversion rule, setting the stage for another exciting contest.

The second race saw a noticeable increase in aggression from the drivers. Sauer managed to hold onto the lead for the first six minutes before eventually being overtaken by the hard-charging Byfeldt. Haflidason made an impressive recovery, working his way through the field to secure the third spot, just behind Burns. Sauer’s struggles continued as he lost control of his car approaching the halfway mark, allowing Haflidason to take second place and Burns to move into third.

Burns, capitalizing on a strong run down the back straight, managed to overtake Haflidason for second place. The intense battle between Haflidason and Burns for the second position allowed Fabian Jungbluth to stay in close contention, running in fourth. As the race neared its conclusion, Haflidason lost control again, similar to his incident in the first race, crashing into the wall and collecting Jungbluth in the process. This mishap promoted Bamber to the third position.

By this point, Byfeldt had extended his lead to over five seconds, demonstrating his dominance. He crossed the finish line to claim his seventh checkered flag of the season, securing the season 36 points championship with a commanding performance.

The Absolute Beginners League will return next Sunday, June 2nd, for the final round of the Andy Morgan Cup GT3 Series at Road Atlanta. The action will go live at 1:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network. This upcoming race promises to deliver more thrilling moments as the drivers battle it out on one of North America’s premier road racing circuits. Be sure to tune in for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to another fantastic season of racing.