Sunday, August 18, 2019

Formula 1: Tire problems cause Richard Torres to trail in series first event at Spa

Richard Torres picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Red Bull Formula One Series career in the Season 2 Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps when his #5 Scuderia Ferrari completed all 6 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 11th career start, was his first on the circuit since the Grand Prix of Monaco at the Circuit de Monaco when he was involved in a single-car crash without completing any of the 8 laps, 3 races ago. In the SCRL Red Bull Formula One Series, it's the 3rd for car #5 and the 9th where the car was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 14th for the #5 and the 219th where the car was still running. After trailing in the series most important event, Richard would continue to struggle with a 14th at Silverstone before surviving to finish 11th in the last round at Magny-Cours.

On race day, Richard rolled off starting in the final spot and would hold it till the field entered Turn 3 when Monza last-place finisher the #22 McLaren-Honda F1 Team of Trevor Collins tried to make a move on his teammate, the #14 McLaren-Honda F1 Team of Rodger McLaughlin, sending Collins for a spin. As Collins got back onto the track, he did so right in front of the #7 Scuderia Ferrari of Sebastian Torres, damaging his car and sending Sebastian into Zandvoort last-place finisher the #26 Scuderia Toro Rosso of David Solomon, sending Solomon for a spin into the gravel trap and bringing out the Virtual Safety Car.

As the field was about to get back to racing, Richard, who had climbed to 18th, began to slow entering Turn 8, before stalling, a result of a flat left front tire, as the rest of the field drove by. Due to a lack of communication between the officials, the pace car would pull back into the pits and the race was given the green flag. Torres's car would be pushed back to the pits by a safety truck despite safety concerns, with Richard making it to his pit stall, the team would change all four tires before sending their driver back out onto the track, and would never have a chance to gain a spot, finishing more then two minutes behind when the checkered flag was waved.

Rounding out the Bottom Five were: 21st was the #19 Williams Martini Racing of Patrick Smith, 20th was the aforementioned #22 of Trevor Collins, 19th was the #77 Williams Martini Racing of Bryson Hill and 18th was the aforementioned #7 of Sebastian Torres.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #5 had finished last at Spa.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #5-Richard Torres / 6 laps / running
21) #19-Patrick Smith / 6 laps / running
20) #22-Trevor Collins / 6 laps / running
19) #77-Bryson Hill / 6 laps / running
18) #7-Sebastian Torres / 6 laps / running

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