Wiedemann Wins Wallaby Tail 2013

JOHN WIEDEMANN GETS TAIL
Wallaby Tail Trophy First for "W"

Ev Kamikawa Wins First Career LMP Race

John Wiedemann took the win in the first ISF F1 race to use Mega G chassis and won
the coveted trophy. It was also another night of firsts as Everet Kamikawa won his
first career LMP race, which also happened to also be the first race of the new era
of Mega G race cars in the ISF.

While it was the smallest field in the history of the invitational, it by no means lacked competition.

The F1 event saw the Mega G race cars handle themselves quite well as the drivers agreed that they were fast and agile in the corners, but you needed to think when you drove them because there was no margin for error if you went over the edge. Drive the car too hard and you were in the wall. The rear wings and supports also shown that they needed some support if they are to withstand the grueling ISF season.

Kamikawa led the first few laps of the F1 race using the faster option tire in the slower of his two lanes. Wiedemann used the faster tires in his fastest lane. That extra grip and speed allowed him to overtake Kamikawa early on and was never seriously challenged after that. Kamikawa withstood a challenge for second by Mike Lack and then Mike Fitzlaff to hold on for second with Fitzlaff finishing third and Lack fourth and Mark Walczak fifth.

The LMP was a similar affair only with Kamikawa using Wiedemann's strategy from the first race to take his first career LMP victory. Mark Walczak gave serious chase but would come up short. Fitzlaff crashed out and Lack and Wiedemann experienced handling problems to never seriously challenge the leaders. The LMP division will be the second division throughout 2013 after spending many seasons as a support series.  

The next event is the tight and twisty turns of Raven Raceway and the Brookfield Grand Prix.

Until then...it's not bad being in the pits.

Steve "the wrench" Ratchett

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2013-01
18th Annual Rapids Invitational
December 28, 2012
Rapids International Raceway

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1  John Wiedemann Jaguar
2 Everet Kamikawa Super Kamikawa
3 Mike Fitzlaff Jordan-Peugeot
4 Mike Lack Jaguar
5 Mark Walczak Red Bull

Fastest Qualifier -- Fitzlaff 4.463 seconds
B Main -- Kamikawa

LMP Prototype Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 Everet Kamikawa Audi R15
2 Mark Walczak Peugot
3 Mike Lack Audi R15
4 Mike Fitzlaff
5 John Wiedemann Jaguar 53 Off

Fastest Qualifier -- Lack 4.714 seconds
B Main -- Kamikawa