Race Results & reports
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Points table
Round 1 - Stratton Valley - 15/1/25
1st - Adrian Gray
2nd - Mal O'May
3rd - John Batich
1st - Adrian Gray
2nd - Mal O'May
3rd - John Batich
Race Report - Round 1
2 years on since the DTM series was last run, and it was good to see some new models take to the start line with the introduction of the new Mercedes C Class on show for the first time.
However, this excitement was soon tempered once Adrian Gray took to the track with his tried & true Alfa 155 & showed that nothing has changed in 2 years and that his car will still be the standard to which all others are judged….and will no doubt come up short.
Adrians lap total of 82 was 3 clear of 2nd place this week, and no obvious challengers to this position were forthcoming . We’ll see in the upcoming weeks if anyone else can rise to the challenge.
In 2nd this week a very tight battle with the Calibras of both myself & JB finishing on 79 laps. It came down to the last corner & as the final heat finished I managed to coast down the laptimer hill past JB to grab 2nd by a whisker from JB in 3rd.
Another good showing from DB in his Alfa the 2nd series of the week saw him notch up 78 laps which was clear in 4th by a lap from Callan (Calibra) & Rhys’s (Mercedes 190e) battle over 5th & 6th. Both ended up on 77 laps, but it was Rhys who took the place on track from Callan in 6th.
The new Mercedes C class of Phil showed some promise & will improve no doubt from this weeks 76 lap 7th place.
Dave Schofield was next in line in 8th with his 72 laps, ahead of Dave Gray in 9th on 69 laps.
In 10th & 11th on a competitive 68 laps, was Ben & Tom with Ben pipping out Tom for the final top 10 place on track position.
2 years on since the DTM series was last run, and it was good to see some new models take to the start line with the introduction of the new Mercedes C Class on show for the first time.
However, this excitement was soon tempered once Adrian Gray took to the track with his tried & true Alfa 155 & showed that nothing has changed in 2 years and that his car will still be the standard to which all others are judged….and will no doubt come up short.
Adrians lap total of 82 was 3 clear of 2nd place this week, and no obvious challengers to this position were forthcoming . We’ll see in the upcoming weeks if anyone else can rise to the challenge.
In 2nd this week a very tight battle with the Calibras of both myself & JB finishing on 79 laps. It came down to the last corner & as the final heat finished I managed to coast down the laptimer hill past JB to grab 2nd by a whisker from JB in 3rd.
Another good showing from DB in his Alfa the 2nd series of the week saw him notch up 78 laps which was clear in 4th by a lap from Callan (Calibra) & Rhys’s (Mercedes 190e) battle over 5th & 6th. Both ended up on 77 laps, but it was Rhys who took the place on track from Callan in 6th.
The new Mercedes C class of Phil showed some promise & will improve no doubt from this weeks 76 lap 7th place.
Dave Schofield was next in line in 8th with his 72 laps, ahead of Dave Gray in 9th on 69 laps.
In 10th & 11th on a competitive 68 laps, was Ben & Tom with Ben pipping out Tom for the final top 10 place on track position.
Round 2 - Mornington Park - 21/1/25
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell
Race Report - Round 2
Round 2 of the DTM series, and in a very magnanimous gesture Adrian decided to not turn up on his home track & therefore allowed the opportunity for someone else to win a round of this series.
Turns out it was myself…….just. With a good 42 lap first heat & mediocre heats 2 & 3 my 120 lap total was just enough by 1 lap to hold off Callan in 2nd with his more even performance over 3 heats leading to his 119 laps. In 3rd on 115 laps, a 3 way battle with Phil, Rob & DB all finishing on the same lap. However it was Phil who took 3rd place on track, from Rob & DB not far behind in 4th & 5th.
Another tight battle for the next 2 places was fought between Caine & Rhys as they notched up 114 laps each before Caine eventually took 6th from Rhys who had to settle for 7th this week.
2 laps back in 8th & on 112 laps was JB all on his own in 8th, with Dave Gray (109 laps) & dave Schofield (108 laps) rounding out the top 10 in 9th & 10th respectively.
Scotts 107 lap total was enough to grab 11th from Ben (105) in 12th & Tom finishing up in 13th with his 99 laps to end the evening.
Round 2 of the DTM series, and in a very magnanimous gesture Adrian decided to not turn up on his home track & therefore allowed the opportunity for someone else to win a round of this series.
Turns out it was myself…….just. With a good 42 lap first heat & mediocre heats 2 & 3 my 120 lap total was just enough by 1 lap to hold off Callan in 2nd with his more even performance over 3 heats leading to his 119 laps. In 3rd on 115 laps, a 3 way battle with Phil, Rob & DB all finishing on the same lap. However it was Phil who took 3rd place on track, from Rob & DB not far behind in 4th & 5th.
Another tight battle for the next 2 places was fought between Caine & Rhys as they notched up 114 laps each before Caine eventually took 6th from Rhys who had to settle for 7th this week.
2 laps back in 8th & on 112 laps was JB all on his own in 8th, with Dave Gray (109 laps) & dave Schofield (108 laps) rounding out the top 10 in 9th & 10th respectively.
Scotts 107 lap total was enough to grab 11th from Ben (105) in 12th & Tom finishing up in 13th with his 99 laps to end the evening.
Round 3 - Sorell Creek - 4/2/25
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Bruce Thomas
3rd - Scott Wayman
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Bruce Thomas
3rd - Scott Wayman
Race Report - Round 3
Round 3 of the DTM series already (it seems to a snuck up on us quickly) and in the blink of an eye we are almost halfway through the series.
Dropped point round will come into play after next week, and there will be a couple of drivers very interested in this having missed a round early on.
As usual, being a magnabraid track, there was magnet testing in place as cars were brought to the start line. This worked well & there were no discrepancies found at all…….right up until the designated tester disappeared inside to prepare supper. This left a slight gap in the magnet testing for a few heats, the outcome of which we shall read about later in the report.
In the meantime, drivers in the early heats put their best foot forward, and it was mainly the early starters that filled many of the top placing this week. With a touch of luck involved, it was the writer who took out a win this week with a total of 108 laps, which was just 1 lap clear of first time series runner Bruce Thomas. Bruce’s debut looked very promising & it will be interesting to see how far up the points table he can move by the time the series ends after having missed the first 2 rounds. Just 2 laps back each on 105 was a tight battle for 3rd between Scott & JB, and it was Scott who jumped into the final podium position for the round on track position. JB in 4th.
Another 2 drivers shared 104 laps & in the wash up for 5th& 6th it was Callan grabbing the place from Caine in 6th. Good drive from both drivers. Rob Golley once again stood on his own in 7th with his total of 102 laps, which was just 1 lap ahead of yet another two way battle for the places. Phil & Schoee once again finished on the same lap (this is becoming far too regular) but it was Phil who pipped Schoee for the place on the 101 lap total…..another scenario that is becoming far too regular for Schoee!
In 10th & rounding out the top 10, Ben on 99 laps, 1 lap ahead of Dave Gray in 11th on 98.
12th place went to Arian Gray, in his 2nd technical disaster of the night. A new motor will be the solution for this rather more serious issue though.
*Stop press, reports suggest a new motor is already flying in, with Adrian hoping to have it fitted in time for next week round. He will also be hoping that it has the same grunt that his old motor had*
Finally in 13th – Rhys Filbee blasted around for a great 27 lap total in red & was well on his way to a similar or better total in blue. Comments came from around the track marvelling at the wonderful handing of his Mercedes 190e…….until the penny dropped. Rhys had started his heat at the same time as the magnet tester was otherwise engaged, and, yes……his magnet was still in place! Oh dear.
I can see I’ll need to train a backup magnet tester!
Round 3 of the DTM series already (it seems to a snuck up on us quickly) and in the blink of an eye we are almost halfway through the series.
Dropped point round will come into play after next week, and there will be a couple of drivers very interested in this having missed a round early on.
As usual, being a magnabraid track, there was magnet testing in place as cars were brought to the start line. This worked well & there were no discrepancies found at all…….right up until the designated tester disappeared inside to prepare supper. This left a slight gap in the magnet testing for a few heats, the outcome of which we shall read about later in the report.
In the meantime, drivers in the early heats put their best foot forward, and it was mainly the early starters that filled many of the top placing this week. With a touch of luck involved, it was the writer who took out a win this week with a total of 108 laps, which was just 1 lap clear of first time series runner Bruce Thomas. Bruce’s debut looked very promising & it will be interesting to see how far up the points table he can move by the time the series ends after having missed the first 2 rounds. Just 2 laps back each on 105 was a tight battle for 3rd between Scott & JB, and it was Scott who jumped into the final podium position for the round on track position. JB in 4th.
Another 2 drivers shared 104 laps & in the wash up for 5th& 6th it was Callan grabbing the place from Caine in 6th. Good drive from both drivers. Rob Golley once again stood on his own in 7th with his total of 102 laps, which was just 1 lap ahead of yet another two way battle for the places. Phil & Schoee once again finished on the same lap (this is becoming far too regular) but it was Phil who pipped Schoee for the place on the 101 lap total…..another scenario that is becoming far too regular for Schoee!
In 10th & rounding out the top 10, Ben on 99 laps, 1 lap ahead of Dave Gray in 11th on 98.
12th place went to Arian Gray, in his 2nd technical disaster of the night. A new motor will be the solution for this rather more serious issue though.
*Stop press, reports suggest a new motor is already flying in, with Adrian hoping to have it fitted in time for next week round. He will also be hoping that it has the same grunt that his old motor had*
Finally in 13th – Rhys Filbee blasted around for a great 27 lap total in red & was well on his way to a similar or better total in blue. Comments came from around the track marvelling at the wonderful handing of his Mercedes 190e…….until the penny dropped. Rhys had started his heat at the same time as the magnet tester was otherwise engaged, and, yes……his magnet was still in place! Oh dear.
I can see I’ll need to train a backup magnet tester!
Round 4 - Stratton Valley - 11/2/25
1st - Bruce Thomas
2nd - John Batich
3rd - Adrian Gray
1st - Bruce Thomas
2nd - John Batich
3rd - Adrian Gray
Round 5 - Mornington Park - 18/2/25
1st - Adrian Gray
2nd - Bruce Thomas
3rd - Mal O'May
1st - Adrian Gray
2nd - Bruce Thomas
3rd - Mal O'May
Race Report - Round 4 & 5
So, first up many apologies from the race correspondent, it appears that not only did I not get around to race reports form last week, but I also managed to miss out on posting the tope 3 & photos for both classes as well!. A monumental failure & one which I’m sure will have many calling for my head…and rightfully so. All I can offer in my excuse what that I got distracted by looking at the yearly calendar & trying to work out which of all the excellent series should be the 2 that were to be postponed to the following year.
As it turned out I didn’t mange to do a very good job at organising this either as it appears as though Trucks are still on the agenda !
Anyway, I think things are slightly under control now, so I will offer up a very quick summary of both weeks racing in the DTM series.
Round 4 – Stratton Valley
The fast flowing track at JBs was an excellent platform to showpiece the DTMs at their best, and as expected it was the smoothest drivers who shone, although with only 4 laps separating the first 9 places it was a very close round indeed. Bruce took the top place in his Alfa on 81 laps, which continues to surprise by its pace. What is never a surprise is the smooth driving & lack of mistakes from the driver though. In 2nd & with a great result on his home track, JB also on 91 lap, rose to the top with similar strategy & very few de-slots. Finally the 3rd driver to finish on 81 laps, Adrian Gray came back from the motor disaster of the previous round to grab a very solid 3rd place.
In 4th, and alone on 80 laps was the writer, just 1 lap ahead of another 3 drivers on 79 laps. Phil, Schoee & Callan all finishing withing a lap of each other, and this was the order in which they finished…much to Schoees disgust at yet again being pipped by Phil !
8th place went to Rob on 78 laps, from Rhys in 9th on 77. Rounding out the 10 was DB (74), from Dave Gray in 11th on 72, Tom in 12th on 71 (with a couple of very solid heat drives) & Ben in 13th on 70 laps. Scott had technical issues to end up 14th on 53 laps for the night.
Round 5 – Mornington Park
With Dave Gray unable to make it this week (all the best Dave) track hosting duties fell to Adrian, and he made the most of it as his motor disaster of round 3 was but a distant memory. A promising comeback last week was fully confirmed this week as he took out the round with his 120 lap total, however with 2 rounds left in the series now, he may have left his run 1 round too late. The battle for 2nd & 3rd was a close one, but it was the form driver Bruce Thomas who took the 2nd place on offer with his 119 laps, half a lap in front of yours truly also on 119 laps, but relegated to 3rd.
4th spot went to Phil on 118, 1 lap ahead of Schoee this week (a change from recent results!) with Schoee in 5th on 117. Rob Golley put in another solid performance with 116 laps for 6th, 3 laps clear of Rhys in 7th on 113 laps.
JB took out 8th on 112, same laps as Scott who ended up in 9th. Ben Lewis rounded out the top 10 with a 108 lap effort. Tom continued with his recent good driving form in the DTM & his 101 laps was good enough for 11th and newcomer Blair 2 laps back in 12th.
DB was the unlucky driver this week with a lead wire issue, and this meant that his round was severely compromised and a 13th place resulted.
Round 6 - Gotham Park - 25/2/25
1st - Bruce Thomas
2nd - Mal O'May
3rd - Adrian Gray
1st - Bruce Thomas
2nd - Mal O'May
3rd - Adrian Gray
Race Report - Round 6
My how time flies, it only seems like last week that we started the first new series of the new year with the running of round 1 of the Slot-it DTM series. All too quickly we are up to the penultimate round – round 6 and with only 1 round to follow before the introduction of the next new series.
In the race towards the end of the series it appears to be more a case of last man standing in the results table. Past series winner Adrian Gray had 1 missed round, and an unfortunate motor disaster in round 3 to put him behind the 8 ball. His 2 wins & 2x3rd place results probably not quite enough to overcome these 2 rounds. Bruce Thomas had an even harder obstacle to overcome, in that he missed the first 2 rounds entirely. Very difficult to win a series based on only 5 rounds even if his current form is the best of all the drivers with 2 wins & 2x2nds in the last 4 rounds.
Which leaves the writer currently sitting on top of the points tally pretty much only due to the fact that I’ve run every round & had no disasters (as yet). Tortoise & hare anyone?
Anyway, on track this week, as mentioned above it was hometown hero Bruce taking the bikkies with his 108 lap total for the win. Very tight for 2nd, with a matter of inches separating Adrian & the writers cars at the end of 107 laps. Both drivers suffered some delays during their heats so it was ironic that the final margin should be so minuscule. Lucking (for me) it was the writers car that snatched 2nd this week from Adrian in 3rd.
Callan Thomas has been right up there as well during the series, and as current equal 3rd place in the series has had good results mingled with some in the middle of the pack. This week his 106 laps was enough to lock him into 4th, 1 lap ahead of DB in 5th on 105 laps. DB has had some good rounds in the 4th & 5th range but unfortunately a couple in the 10 & 13 range has seen his series points suffer.
Phil in 6th has battled with a slightly hard to handle new car this series & his lap total of 102 laps was shared with the other equal series 3rd placeholder, JB. It was Phil who took the place on track however & JB is now in a huge battle with Callan for 3rd with just 1 round to go.
Rob took out 8th with 98 laps, with Dave Gray 9th on 96. Tom rounded out the top 10 with a very good 94 lap performance. Tom finished equal on laps with Rhys, but took 10th on track in the end. Which was very well deserved as in heat 9 of the night it was a massive drive from Tom, taking out the heat win, that put him on the road to this result.
Rhys, as mentioned 11th on 94 laps also, with Ben in 12th on 85 & Blair in the very quick, but skittish Jager bomb Alfa 13th on 82 laps for the night.
My how time flies, it only seems like last week that we started the first new series of the new year with the running of round 1 of the Slot-it DTM series. All too quickly we are up to the penultimate round – round 6 and with only 1 round to follow before the introduction of the next new series.
In the race towards the end of the series it appears to be more a case of last man standing in the results table. Past series winner Adrian Gray had 1 missed round, and an unfortunate motor disaster in round 3 to put him behind the 8 ball. His 2 wins & 2x3rd place results probably not quite enough to overcome these 2 rounds. Bruce Thomas had an even harder obstacle to overcome, in that he missed the first 2 rounds entirely. Very difficult to win a series based on only 5 rounds even if his current form is the best of all the drivers with 2 wins & 2x2nds in the last 4 rounds.
Which leaves the writer currently sitting on top of the points tally pretty much only due to the fact that I’ve run every round & had no disasters (as yet). Tortoise & hare anyone?
Anyway, on track this week, as mentioned above it was hometown hero Bruce taking the bikkies with his 108 lap total for the win. Very tight for 2nd, with a matter of inches separating Adrian & the writers cars at the end of 107 laps. Both drivers suffered some delays during their heats so it was ironic that the final margin should be so minuscule. Lucking (for me) it was the writers car that snatched 2nd this week from Adrian in 3rd.
Callan Thomas has been right up there as well during the series, and as current equal 3rd place in the series has had good results mingled with some in the middle of the pack. This week his 106 laps was enough to lock him into 4th, 1 lap ahead of DB in 5th on 105 laps. DB has had some good rounds in the 4th & 5th range but unfortunately a couple in the 10 & 13 range has seen his series points suffer.
Phil in 6th has battled with a slightly hard to handle new car this series & his lap total of 102 laps was shared with the other equal series 3rd placeholder, JB. It was Phil who took the place on track however & JB is now in a huge battle with Callan for 3rd with just 1 round to go.
Rob took out 8th with 98 laps, with Dave Gray 9th on 96. Tom rounded out the top 10 with a very good 94 lap performance. Tom finished equal on laps with Rhys, but took 10th on track in the end. Which was very well deserved as in heat 9 of the night it was a massive drive from Tom, taking out the heat win, that put him on the road to this result.
Rhys, as mentioned 11th on 94 laps also, with Ben in 12th on 85 & Blair in the very quick, but skittish Jager bomb Alfa 13th on 82 laps for the night.
Round 7 - Sorell Creek - 4/3/25
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell
Slot-It DTM 2025 - Final Series Top 3 (4)
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell & John Batich
1st - Mal O'May
2nd - Callan Thomas
3rd - Phil Kalbfell & John Batich
