BEMC – Indian Summer – Mosport
ELLIS WINS VALLIS CUP BY ONE POINT AS ELLIS AND IAMUNDI CONTINUE THEIR EPIC SERIES BATTLE
Ali vs. Frazer, Habs vs. Leafs, Yankees vs. everybody else, and now Ellis vs. Iamundi can be added to that list of epic sports battles. The F1200 rookie and the veteran have slugged it out head to head, side by side, nose to tail, lap after lap during the last half of this season’s F1200 Championship Series.
During the Ted Powell weekend at Calabogie, Iamundi wins the first two races edging out Ellis by a nose each time, then, Ellis beats Iamundi at the wire for the trophy by a mere .003 seconds. BARC at Mosport mid August, Iamundi wins the first two races edging out Ellis at the line, then, Ellis beats Iamundi by a nose for the trophy race. BEMC Indian Summer-Vallis Cup, Ellis wins first two races by a nose to Iamundi, then in the final trophy race, Iamundi edges out TLM’s Greg Brenzil by .09 second with Ellis in tow for P3. This gave Ellis the Vallis cup over Iamundi by a single point.
You know something special is happening when the track marshals and officials, who see it all, week in and week out, come back to the F1200 paddocks pumping racers hands and exclaiming how thrilling the F1200 races had been all weekend.
There was much more to the show than just Iamundi and Ellis. Second year veteran Rob Tronchi has to be awarded the rising star for his performances at the BEMC weekend. Tronchi won the pole for the final trophy race and in each and every race all weekend, stepped into the fray with the front-runners, landing two 3rd place podiums during the weekend’s events. Tronchi will now be called only “Roberto” as he has both earned it and every series needs a great Italian guy! Eric Barrett, 2006 Rookie of the Year, also stepped it up, lead the trophy race at one point, showing a renewed competitive fire and desire to run at the front. Phil Wang, another second year driver, finally got his car sorted and was in the hunt in all 3-race events, showing great form and tenacity.
The second pack battles were as exciting as the front, as all weekend the series was literally split into two races with two separate consolidated packs at all times. Veterans Eugene Cartini and Dave Aird had their hands full with rookie Sam Ashtiani, who after 4 series events is coming up to speed very quickly. Aird and Cartini were all smiles as Cartini had been away first 3 events of the season, but now back, he and Aird resumed their ongoing, friendly but competitive weekend battles. Rookie Kyle Kosir entered into his very first F1200 race at BEMC and it was noted that he ran well and was coming up to speed with the second pack as the weekend’s events progressed.
2007 Rookie of the Year Andrew McMurray was barely able to hang on to a 4th place, first race, as he suffered from mechanical issues, then after running the second race pulled out of competition to save his engine.
Team Grote/TLM Racing’s Greg Brenzil won the hard charger award after hitting the wall early Sunday morning during practice, missing race two, then starting in last position and literally hard charging his way to the front, leading various laps of the trophy race and missing the win by just .09 seconds to Iamundi at the wire.
Meanwhile, Team Grote/TLM pilot Dylan Gibson was involved in a solo crash during practice in turn 9. Gibson, the tough hard charging up and comer, after being checked out at Oshawa General, arrived back at the TLM paddocks later that afternoon and the entire F1200 Series was relieved to see him ok and smiling.
Although it is 99.99% confirmed that Alex Ellis will win the 2008 Rookie of the Year, he will now miss the final race weekend of the season, as he will be heading back to Valencia Spain for the final round of the Formula BMW scholarship run offs. Mathematically it does look like Iamundi will take the Championship, but, both Ellis and Iamundi would have preferred to have the title come right down to the wire as both drivers are very much equal and have enjoyed the intense competition between them during the season
The F1200 series appears for its final event of the season at CASC Celebration Sept 27th & 28th
Photo Credit: Teresa Matkovich - Photo Arts International // Finish line shot is (left to right) Michael Iamundi, Alex Ellis, Greg Brenzil, Rob Tronchi // Duo shot is Ellis in the lead with Iamundi
From Gerry Merz
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