Live: Southern Open Championship 2023 - Race 2
In the Vietnamese Go-kart racing scene, the Southern Open Championship 2023 is a highly anticipated event. This is the second leg of the championship and is scheduled to take place on June 25, 2023. With the participation of talented racers, anticipation is high for this event.
1. What's exciting about Race 2 - Southern Open Championship 2023 for the drivers?
The second race of the Southern Open Championship 2023 brings notable differences compared to the first race. Let's explore the highlights of this race:
Early practice and focus: To prepare for Race 2, drivers have started focusing on training early. On Friday and Saturday, they dedicated a lot of time to hone their driving skills and familiarize themselves with new aspects of the track.
Track layout changes: A significant difference is the change in track layout. Race 2 has changed to run clockwise, creating an entirely new challenge for the drivers. This requires them to adapt to driving in the opposite direction and find ways to optimize speed in new corners.
The new layout is considered easier: Despite the change in track layout, many drivers find it relatively easy to navigate. With familiarity from the previous race and pre-race training sessions, they have mastered the techniques and appropriate strategies to tackle new corners and achieve good performance on the new track.
Exciting 2-hour endurance race category: Race 2 also introduces a new excitement to the championship. It is the 2-hour endurance race category. In this category, drivers will compete on the track with the brand new FOX cars from FRV. This is an opportunity for drivers to demonstrate endurance and strategic skills in a prolonged racing challenge.
Race 2 of the Southern Open Championship 2023 promises to bring excitement and thrills for both drivers and spectators. The changes in track layout, the new endurance category, and early focus from the drivers ensure that this race will be an unmissable experience in the world of speed racing.
List of drivers participating in SOC 2023 - round 2:
2. Live coverage of the Go-kart races
8:00
On June 25, 2023, at Dai Nam racetrack, the sun's rays spread across the space, creating a tropical atmosphere filled with heat. Drivers are making relentless efforts to prepare their race cars, ensuring that everything goes according to schedule set by the organizers.
At Dai Nam racetrack, on the 25th of June 2023, the scorching sun is a daunting challenge but also an integral part of this fiery race. Drivers not only compete with each other on the track but also have to overcome this harsh weather to claim the championship title.
Under the blazing sun and dramatic atmosphere, the Dai Nam racetrack witnesses the enthusiasm and determination of the drivers. They know that only with courage and relentless spirit can they overcome any obstacles and truly become champions on this fiery go-kart track.
8:30
The practice session for the F7 and F8 categories at Dai Nam racetrack concludes, and the relentless sun cannot defeat the determination and passion of the drivers. On the contrary, the blazing sun only fuels their enthusiasm even more.
After the practice session, drivers have a few minutes to repair and check their cars before entering the Qualifying session for the F7 category.
The signal has been given, and drivers start to move their cars to the parc ferme area to prepare for the start of the first official race session.
Unfortunately, a regrettable incident occurs on the racetrack, forcing the young driver Tim Dupire - who lifted the championship trophy in the first race of SOC 2023 - to stop his race. The audience and other drivers all look towards him with regret and concern.
Qualifying results - F7 Sprint Cup category:
The end of the Qualifying session for the F7 Sprint Cup category also marks the start of the Final round for the F8 Endurance Race category. Drivers participating in the Endurance Race category prepare their safety gear and listen to the instructions from the Race Director.
9:30
Drivers have prepared on the track from the Endurance Pit area and moved onto the track with their cars.
The Final round of the Endurance Race begins, and drivers line up their go-karts and start in a Le Mans-style.
During the time the F8 Endurance Race teams are competing, F7 drivers and their technical teams are making every second count to check, adjust, and change tires to prepare for Heat 1 in the afternoon.
12:00
The final seconds have passed, and the Nyny racing team (Nguyen Truong Hai Yen and Thanh Nhon) has completed the most laps. Following them are the DT racing team (Hai Dang and Quoc Thinh) and the SOBEK DNK Team (Tsai Yi Chen and Chen Wei Chih).
However, according to the observations and decisions of the referees along with the Race Director, the Nyny racing team and the DT racing team must accept a penalty of 3 laps for not following the Race Director's brief.
Overall: The SOBEK DNK TEAM racing team with two drivers, Tsai Yi Chen and Chen Wei Chih, emerges as the winner in the Endurance Race category. Second place belongs to the Nyny racing team with drivers Thanh Nhon and Nguyen Truong Hai Yen. Third place goes to the DT racing team with young talents Hai Dang and Quoc Thinh.
The Final round of the Endurance Race has also come to noon. Drivers can rest in the tents and have lunch.
1:00
F7 Sprint Cup drivers prepare to go on track to start Heat 1. Heat 1 will be a crucial precursor to the final two race sessions of the championship.
As forecasted, the weather in the afternoon has started to rain. The drivers will participate in Heat 1 under wet weather conditions, with wind and light rain.
It seems that sudden changes in weather between race sessions remain quite a challenge for the drivers. They must maintain safety while keeping distance and speed with other drivers.
In this session, Rookie driver Tim Dupire has regained his form and position on the overall leaderboard.
At the end of the racing session, the cars return to the pit area for the technical team to check the cars and review the race results as follows:
2:00
Similarly to Heat 1, F7 Sprint Cup drivers will continue racing in rainy weather conditions, but it seems that the weather is worsening.
Racing in the rain is always one of the toughest challenges not only for go-kart drivers but also for the cars themselves.
Driver Mat Donald had to stop, unable to continue the remaining race sessions in Race 2 due to car failure and safety reasons.
The Pre-final race takes place, with Alex Sawer leading the pack, a young talent with a very standard and professional racing style. Following him are the Taiwanese team with two names who have won many awards nationally and internationally, Tsai Yi Chen and Chen Wei Chih.
In the 4th and 5th laps, drivers David Nguyen Parker and Doug Pham closely chase and surpass driver Tsai Yi Chen. Ultimately, in the Pre-final round, the leading driver remains none other than Alex Sawer.
Pre-final round results:
As the Pre-final race ends, the rain has started to pour heavily. To ensure the safest conditions possible for the drivers, the Race Director has decided to postpone the Final round for about 1 hour.
4:30
The Final session of Race 2 - SOC 2023 - Final round of the Pro category officially begins. Similar to the Rookie category, drivers start with a Rolling Start.
Before the track lights turn off, some drivers move out of formation and receive penalties from the Race Director.
Leading the Pro race is still driver Alex Sawer. With experience competing in international arenas as well as the Dai Nam racetrack many times, Alex quickly familiarizes himself with the track, despite it being a new layout.
Alex has demonstrated his racing prowess in every second on the track. From a 1-2 second lead over the second-placed driver, this gap gradually increases with each racing lap.
Following Alex Sawer is driver Chen Wei Chih. Living up to everyone's expectations, Chen Wei Chih in Race 2 has shown his expertise and extensive racing experience.
The third position is the most attractive, in the early laps, drivers David Nguyen Parker and Doug Pham were battling for this position. But in the 3rd lap, driver Doug Pham encountered a car issue and had to end the race session early.
From the 5th lap onwards, driver Jules Meyer has risen and fiercely competed for the third position with David Nguyen Parker. By the 7th lap, driver Jules surprisingly took the lead in a spectacular manner near the 5th corner. From there, Jules Meyer rose and led ahead of David Nguyen Parker.
Overall, the winning driver in this race is Alex Sawer. Second place goes to driver Chen Wei Chih, and third place goes to driver Jules Meyer.
Once again, congratulations to the drivers who have won and the prestigious trophies today. Hopefully, in Race 3, the drivers will be even more energetic, passionate, and determined.
