Johno3 Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 (edited) Thanks very much to Dazza for the following Dutch Championship Preview. The Dutch Championship takes place tomorrow night at Sexberium, start time 8pm. It is set to be a fantastic meeting, as the final is gridded 3 a breast, with a clutch start. Bookings are being taken on the forum. UkDirt rFactor Dutch Open 2009 Welcome to shortish! preview of the 2009 UkDirt F1 Dutch Open. Plenty of drivers are expected for what is a big meeting across the water in Cloggy Land. Lets get the low down on some of the drivers. TomD Tom is the first driver this year to get a mention. Tom has been in outstanding form this year which has resulted in him being at the top of the National Points chart. Tom has had 3 final successes this year at Sheffield, Belle Vue and Knockhill, the latter carrying the coveted Scottish Championship. This also proves the he is very comfortable on both surfaces so will more then likely start as one of the pre race favourites, and maybe the driver to catch in the speed stakes. Kruiz Kruiz is having another good year this year despite by his own admission having a poor grading period last time out. Kruiz has shown this year that he too is comforatable on both tarmac and shale by taking a win at Bradford (tar) and at this years World Venue Kings Lynn. Currently lying second in the National Points table, Kruiz will again be going into the Dutch race a pre race favourite. MoR MoR is the current National Series leader after a year of more consistent starts and finishes and could well be the driver to watch in the big race. MoR however is the only driver in the top 4 of the National Points chart who is yet to take a final win this season and would love that to change here. MoR Certainly one of the quicker drivers on the loose stuff, I for one am expecting a good finish for MoR here. Lee Young gun Lee had a very promising start to the year and has currently settled into his Red grade and 4th place in the National Points table. He won the opening meeting of the season at Buxton and followed that up with a final win at the Clutch Start Classic at Sheffield. Yet to take a title in UkDirt F1’s but with his hard hitting style temperament could be the difference in him doing so or not. JK Leading the Dutch charge this year is JK who for me is having a stormer of a season so far. Currently sitting 5th in the National points table with an average of just over 20, JK will be looking to put in a good performance on his home turf. JK for me is a better tarmac driver which may mean that he will struggle a bit around Sexbierum, but still however will be one to keep an eye out for. Johno Certainly one of the most improved drivers in the consistency stakes over the last couple of years who went from a yellow grade driver up into Red territory where he seems more then happy. Despite taking a very healthy 8 wins this year, none of them have been in a final, a fact which Johno will sure to be looking to change. Similar to JK, I rate him as far better tarmac driver which may hold him back a little in his quest for the gold stripes. Walker Blue top Walker has certainly gone from strength to strength this year after a decent winter series and currently finds himself sat in a respectable 7th in the Nation Points table. A win in the final at Ipswich is his only final win to date but Walker is the kind of driver to turn on the consistent performances at meetings which matter so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name near the top of the leader board heading into the final few laps. IronMac Iron for me is one of the most under rated drivers out there. Started the season at red which then saw a downgrade to blue and then finally yellow, but after a couple of super meetings at Cowdenbeath and Hednesford he has seen himself back In amongst the blue grade. No stranger to final wins this year with an impressive 3 but by his own admission doesn’t like the shale as much as tarmac so may struggle to land the big one. Mike (315) Mike will be hoping to repeat his final success of earlier on in the season at Sexbierum, but other then that success and another decent drive at Skegness to take the Uk Open title it could be classed a disappointing season for the Dutch man. However, a title on home soil maybe what he needs to give him that boost that could kick start the rest of his season, and maybe a decent bet for a top 3 finish in the big race. Tosh Similar to Mke, I think Tosh will be disappointed in how his season has turned out thus far. Was a real danger man at the start of the year with some blistering pace but has seemed to lack those consistent finishes, despite that he has picked up a final win on the tarmac of Skegness. From memory, Tosh goes well at Sexbierum, so if he can get a good start and avoid too much contact could be another who is in the running for a decent finish. Mike (2) Previous heat World Champion Mike has made a very successful switch to rFactor F1’s, boasting an impressive 23.5 average over the 12 meetings he has raced. Has tasted final success at Baarlo earlier on this season, and may prove to be another dark horse if he races on Thursday due to his consistency when in amongst other cars and knowing what it takes to get the right result. Murf Murf is another to have a really decent year with 7 race wins already including 2 finals. His average of just short of 20 should maybe see him in amongst the red grade drivers which is where I think he belongs. Is a driver who tends to get through scrappy races well which could be an advantage for him if he gets a good start in the main race. Grasser Grass was earmarked as one of the danger men at the start of the year, unfortunately limited appearances have hampered his National Points position. Saying that , he has picked up a final win at Skegness and then followed that up with up with a final at Birmingham, maybe slightly better on tarmac but is certainly talented enough to win here providing he gets some luck. and he attends! Aub Aub will probably be very disappointed with his season, despite racing 15 meetings he is averaging just 10.33 which may have something to do with him being stuck at red due to his British Title win last year. Aub however is a much better driver then statistics may suggest and if he chooses to race may well have a real blast round and end up finishing in a good position. Travel Ever present Trav has picked up 3 wins this year, unfortunately not a final but it could well be a matter of time. Struggled on shale earlier on in the year, but has remained one of the more consistent yellow grade drivers. Maybe an outside bet for the win but he certainly wont go down without a fight! FastTrack A very similar story to Trav with Fasttrack, he is averaging slightly better but hasn’t raced quite as often. Has managed to finish at the front of the pack on more then one occasion and, providing he races will be looking to do so again. Would be nice to see him with a top 10 finish Matty Matty is another of my most under rated drivers. For me should be a lot higher up the grid then he is, but will start , if he chooses to race on Thursday from Yellow. His best performance has come on Shale at Sheffield so will be looking to improve recent results here, again would be nice to see Matty walk away in the main race with a decent position. Hooty Despite only a handful of starts Hooty has shown some promise with an average of just short of 20. From pre release testing it was obvious hooty was decent on shale and a turn out from him could throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the main race. Other drivers to keep an eye out for. More drivers which are capable of grabbing the headlines in the rFactor F1 newsletter are Dode, MadCowie and Munis, all of whom are more then comfortable at the wheel of an F1. Munis has gained a 25 point average from his starts and if he chooses to race will certainly be a favourite amongst the lower graded drivers. Dode has not raced this year as much as expected but is another who is able to get breaks using the bumper and then pressing home the advantage. Cowie has got a very respectable 17.5 avearge from his meetings this year and has gained a red roof for his efforts, although that may hinder him if he makes an appearance here at Sexbierum. Prediction: It will surely be a hard fought race where anything will go, but Sexbierum traditionally is favoured by the higher graded drivers so here goes. 112, 136, 137, 8, 531, 3, 363, 288, 315 Edited June 24, 2009 by Johno3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kruiz 136 Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 (edited) Top stuff Dazza My prediction: 290, 2, 137, 8, 3, 531, 16, 363, 288, 315. Edited June 24, 2009 by Kruiz 136 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoR137 Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Top review Dazza, thanks for the comments. I won't be out tomorrow (fancied a week off, best to keep things fresh ). My prediction is that 288 will finish off his stint at yellow in style, reclaiming a title he won previously (?) on heat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munis Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Nice review, they always add spice to a meeting. And yes, I will be racing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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