Last Friday was MSR's Season 9 Round 3 in the daunting Spa Franchorchamps. It is a true 24 hours track and it is as hard as Suzuka. Despite the layout, the long fast corners are to be taken at the limit at almost all the time to ensure competitive laptimes.

It was November the 20th with a record 21 drivers on the grid. Muaz pipped Maranello55 for the pole after the latter spun while leading the sprint race. Kelvin maintains his performance from his Suzuka debut with 4th on the grid, only after being overtaken by a faster P1 of Hisham79 who scored 3rd on the starting grid.

None has gave any room for friday fatigue to set in as everyone gave their best.

21 cars on the the grid, Muaz leading the pack on the formation lap. The best of the P1s, Azrink and Bonn2020 started 16th and from the pit, respectively due to the penalty he had taken from Suzuka for driving dangerously. Azrink's 35 seconds penalty has been postponed to the next round. The fast charging Zul, as he had proven on the last 2 races, came back on time from work and started dead last on the grid. He got a 10 grid slot penalty overdued too.

The start shows Maranello55 and pole sitter Muaz running side by side into La Source. At the run down towards Eau Rouge, Muaz who was on the inside line had to make way for Maranello55 who was already a third car ahead and on the racing line, thus Mara snatched the lead. Muaz was quick to realised that he is under pressure from the P1 of Hisham79 and have to try hard to keep himself ahead into Les Combes. Behind him Afif already lost his 5th place to Arnaud. Kenny lost alot pf places to Arnaud, Antonio and Ryugan coming into Les Combes. Antonio tried to pip Afif there but Afif had the top end advantage and kept his track position. Arnaud is on a hot pursuit of Kelvin but lost it coming into Fagnes and Afif took back his 5th place. Arnaud was quick to come under pressure by Antonio into the back straight, Blanchimont and he lost the place to Antonio at the Bus Stop chicane. It was unclear if Antonio had punted him out but the marshals will be on the lookout for that. Good for Arnaud, though, Afif went off there too and had a bad recovery so Arnaud overtook Afif there to be in 11th.

Bonn2020 and EvohaHn, who opted for a safer start from the pit, is out of the pitlane.

Zul made the highest gain for Lap 1 as he jumped alot of drivers to end lap 1 in 8th place. Kamal90 in the P1 managed to hold him back. But on Lap 2, after taking Eau Rouge, Zul was going slow and got RonMD overtaking him with Madnoren close behind. He then ran wide at the Les Combes chicane and down to 13th.

Antonio is ahead of Ryugan coming into Lap 2 but he went abit ouf of shape exiting Eau Rouge and had Ryugan overtake him into Les Combes. Antonio is now being pursuited by Kamal90, on the P1.

Hisham79 is having a ball in his P1. He managed to overtake the second place Muaz into Les Combes on Lap 3 and seems to have the edge but lost it as soon as the exit of Pouhon. He knows the advantage he holds over Muaz and overtook him again in Les Combes on the following lap and kept the position for the whole lap. But he lost it again in La Source Lap 4 after a spin on the exit. Ryugan who had just overtaken Kelvin is now only under 2 seconds behind him. Hisham79 never got to use his advantage again.

Maranello55 leading and set the fastest lap so far with a 2.08.321

Ahmad is the first DNF of the race after suddenly slammning his car to the left, onto the walls after taking Eau Rouge.

Ryugan got the place fro Kelvin by overbraking him into the new Bus Stop chicane but then lost it abit at the exit. Kelvin saw the gap but went out of shape worse on the throttle. 

Madnoren is up to 8th after overtaking RonMD. Just behind him, Arnaud who was down to 10th, lost it big time in Eau Rouge but managed to rejoin the track. Afif overtook him, and Arnaud then lost his car again in the Les Combes braking zone and sent him to the walls. He lost another 4 places to Kenny, Zul, Soze and Bonn2020, and got him down to 15th. Further, Din, Evohahn and Yazid overtook him and put him further into a miserable 18th.

"3rd or 4th lap, I lose control in "Eau rouge" which destroys my car. I still can make it to the pit but so early in the race, I can't even use this pit stop to change my strategy." Arnaud confides.

Championship leader Azink, retires on Lap 5. A heartbreak for him having to end the race prematurely. He raced from a another location which he does not favour. "...something comeup all the sudden.." He said later after the race.

Somewhere in Lap 6, Din overtook Soze for 14th place.

It is Lap 8 and the first to make a scheduled pit stop is Kelvin. Later it was known that he pitted due to his mistakes coming out of Pouhon and decided to retire after re-joining in last place. "Clipped the kerb at the fast double left hander and my car went straight into the wall..." Kelvin was down on spirit this time. As he retired from the race, the headlights are on for the night(mare) phase of the race.