Esko
Elite Season 86
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With a longer than usual break all drivers were keen to get back on track and start this very new season. New league host and two new tracks, plus the very first season for a MotS award and these season write ups.
The first race seen last years Constructors and drivers champion Esko taking pole with Bry taking 2nd and 3rd and Sandeep taking the last spot in the 2nd row but none of these ended up with the win, the first race was won by Shanthen taking 1st and 3rd using a one stop strategy with Sandeep taking second place on the podium.
Darren also scored very well on the first race moving themselves into 3rd place on the table.
In Malaysia once again a one stop strategy was the winner, Bry taking the top spot with Shanthen and Esko close behind
With a wet race in China Shanthen took the maximum points with Sam and Sandeep finishing off the podium, the following race in Bahrain was won comfortably by Sam
Last years champ didn't get his first win until Spain where he only just pipped Shanthen to the post and this tightened up the top between 4 different managers.
Monaco gave Bry a 1-3, once again making the top of the league a very competitive season so far.
Canada was a new track this season so a first for all managers, and with a pole position and 2 Ferrari's behind him Esko managed a 1-2 here and for the first time this season last years winner was in first place but this didn't last for long! The next race in France was taken by Shanthen moving him back to the top spot and the next race in Turkey we seen Esko make mistakes that cost him gaining any points and Shanthen taking the win and holding on to the lead.
In Britain Esko managed to continue his fine form with this track and got himself a 1-2 pushing him back into the lead and with Sam taking the win in Germany the battle for the title was still very tight. Unfortunately Hungary was the last race for Sam and he shocked everyone by leaving the league.
Hungary and Europe were both won by Esko and in Belgium it was Smoky who got the win, his first win this season at this point it was basically a two horse race for the title, would Esko get his 4th championship or would long term member Shanthen get his first title?
Italy seen Bry take the top spot on the podium and also seen Shanthen gain many points on Esko making the fight look like it could go down to the very last race as it did last season.
Singapore was won by Smoky, getting his 2nd win of the season and once again showing his strength in the latter stages.
With another win in Japan for Esko the title looked like it was going his way again and it was going to take something special for that to change.
The final two races of the season were won by Smoky and Shanthen managed to hold onto second place even though a very consistent Sandeep who hadn't won a race all season he was only 25 points behind the second place!
Sadly this was also Shanthen's last season due to a busy schedule but he has reassured us that he will be returning as he has unfinished business here!
So Esko takes the title for the second year running, can he go for three on the trot? Will Sandeep return to his title winning ways? Can Smoky or Darren make that jump up? Will a big champion in Bry be able to miss less races this season and mount a serious challenge? Or will Lamont or Dean shock us all?
Season 87 will tell all :)
Wow!