Kamikawa Wins 2014 Championships and Rapids Invite

Kamikawa Wins 2014 Championships and Rapids Invite
Wins F1 & LMP Races

Mike Lack GTP Victor

The 20th edition of the Rapids Invitational was a fitting end to an interesting season as Everet Kamikawa won the F1 and LMP races to clinch the championships in both divisions.
It is Kamikawa's second F1 title and first LMP title in his career and the first championships he has won of any kind since 2004.
"I had a great second half of the season," Kamikawa said in the post race press conference. I have to acknowledge that even as well as I was driving luck and injuries played into this success.
No one would have known before the season that Mike Fitzlaff would be out with foot surgery and John Wiedemann's cars would blow up at successive races.
Mike Lack had to concentrate on winning the Indyslotcar title. So I kind of feel like Paul Tracy when he finally won the CART title in 2003 after all the big teams like Target and Penske left the series.
Still counts in the record books though so I'll take it!"

Kamikawa's win in the F1 championship wasn't quite as easy as he made it sound.
He, Wiedemann, Lack, and Cory Galbraith had a spirited battle in the first half of the F1 final.
Kamikawa led the first few laps only to be overtaken by Lack. Wiedemann hung close to Kamikawa with Galbraith not far behind in fourth.
Kamikawa and Lack switched places before the halfway pit stops, both switching from the option to prime tires.
Wiedemann and Galbraith had the opposite strategy.

Starting the second half Wiedemann immediately started having engine problems and his car died, the same problem he faced at Turtle Creek.
He was allowed by a special ruling from the commissioner to start a backup car.
Finding that car completely undrivable because it had never been raced before, he was ready to drop out but was allowed to race Kamikawa's back-up car (from right to left in picture above).
He would eventually finish third.
Galbraith was making his fourth start of the season and proved quick, but the handling on his new USF1 Mega G chassis left a lot to be desired and he could never overcome it to mount a challenge to the leaders.
Lack stayed on Kamikawa's six until have a few handling problems towards the end leaving Kamikawa with a one lap victory and the F1 championship.  

The LMP race wasn't as close of an affair. Mike Lack overtook Kamikawa on lap three and led until well into the second half.
John Wiedemann was third with Corey Galbraith in fourth in his new orange and blue Peugot.
Several cautions dominated the last quarter of the race as all drivers except Kamikawa started having handling problems.
Kamikawa gained a several lap advantage  and took the win. The fight for second was close with Lack taking the position at the flag with Wiedemann third and Galbraith fourth.

The field also ran a GTP event with Mike Lack's Tamiya Jaguar beating Wiedemann's Art Sports Mazda, Kamikawa's Shell Toyota, and Galbraith's Scotland Rules Toyota.
With Lack's win the 2014 ISF season came to an end.
It was the ISF's 200th event. Next season will be the ISF's 16th. A schedule and rules will be announced at a future date.

Until next time...It's not bad being in the pits! Steve The Wrench Ratchett

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION Official Finish, Event # 2014-08

Rapids Invitational presented by Too Clean Laundry
April 17, 2014
Rapids International Raceway

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Everet Kamikawa-Ferrari
2. Mike Lack-Jaguar 
3. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
4. Cory Galbraith-USF1

Fastest Qualifier --N/A B Main Winner --N/A

Heat Winners --N/A

 

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final

Pos. Driver Car

1. Everet Kamikawa-Audi Black
2. Mike Lack-Audi R15
3. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
4. Cory Galbraith-Scotland Rules Peugot

Fastest Qualifier --N/A B Main Winner --N/A

Heat Winners --N/A

GTP Category -- 12 Minute Final

Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.comJaguar
3.  Everet Kamikawa-Shell Toyota
4. Cory Galbraith-Scotland Rules Toyota

Fastest Qualifier --N/A B Main Winner --N/A

Heat Winners --N/A