Chinese Grand Prix, October 2006

Race Report from Zhuhai

A light drizzle failed to dampen spirits as the hot favourite, teenage sensation Jock Saway, took pole on the starting grid as part of a Team Flamers one-two with Antonio Wasp.

The race didn't start well for Damien Dash though as he stalled and Jock led into the first corner, with the pack bunched up in his wake.

Jock pulled away from the pack as, at the rear, Damien finally pulled back a place overtaking colleague Whitey Whitehouse; then Whitey turboed into the second bend - the so-called "Crazy Corner" - and just avoided a collision with Mehatte.

Damien overtook Wasp coming out of the second, with Mehatte on his tail, elevating him to third place after his embarrassing start. In one fell swoop Mehatte's daredevil driving saw him take both the third corner and second place!

Whitey showed his metal by following Mehatte and stealing third. Mehatte then shifted into top gear and closed the gap with Jock at ridiculous speeds. Whitey followed, but wasn't able to match the young Indian's skill and was overtaken by Antonio Wasp.

Coming out of the third bend, Paddy dropped from second place to last as cars tore past him. The fourth corner saw the pack finally spreading out and Wasp took the lead going into the fifth.

By this stage Paddy was already out of brake fluid and engine lubricant - and his tyres had seen better days - even before the end of the first lap. Zhuhai is notorious as a punishing track for drivers, who frequently unestimate the demands it puts on their cars.

Wasp pulled away from Jock and the Team Flamers boys began the final lap with a commanding lead. Whitey's engine took a hammering as he reached the end of the first lap. Damien came into the third bend and third place, before being rammed in the rear by Paddy as they exited the bend.

The pack spread out again as the two Flamers jostled for the lead, but Paddy was making his way through the pack and snuck into second as he came out of the fourth bend, where he was neck-and-neck with Jock behind Wasp.

For a moment, Damien stole first, before Jock punched through the pack and took back pole. Then Paddy burst out of the corner and took first. The crowd were on their feet as the pack bunched up for a knife-edge, neck-and-neck, four-pronged battle for second place.

Paddy exploded across the line for a decisive win and at the post-match press conference Mehatte admitted that if he hadn't got so wound up in the final tussle for second place he could have used his turbo to secure a Team Clover one-two finish, rather than having to settle for third.

This means that going into the season's final race - in Sepang - the constructor's championship is still wide open, but the driver's competition is a two-horse race between Mehatte and Wasp!

Chinese Grand Prix, October 2007

Race Report from Zhuhai

A new team entered the arena this month - Team Classic Rock, owned by Steve Delves, with drivers Mario Speedwagon and Dee Purple.

Purple started the race in pole position, then managed to stall before veering across the track to block Damien Dash, setting the tone for a very heated contest. Mehatt Mecoate roared into second place as the pack headed towards the first turn, before being boxed in by Team Zerro. Whitey Whitehouse used this momentary advantage to slimgshot himself into the lead with Mehatt on his tail followed by fiesty Jock Saway in fifth gear.

Jock stole the lead until Mehatt snuck back ahead going into the second bend with a crafty turbo boost. Whitey got pranged by Paddy O'Doors, while the new boys of Team Classic Rock were bringing up the rear. Then Mario Speedwagon surged forward clawing back two places.

Damien got hit by Antonio Wasp going into the second bend as Jock tore away into the lead, until Mehatt blazed past him in fifth gear going into the third bend and proceeded to take the next bend in sixth gear - leaving Jock breathing his exhaust fumes!

Mario continued to make his way up through the pack, slipping by Whitey, then Dee Purple leap frogged them both leaving a red-faced Whitey in last place. The race had split into two contests by this stage - the first five duelling it out while the three stragglers (Whitey and Team Classic Rock) fought their own battles someway back.

Damien Dash got blocked by heavy traffic and forced to grind down three gears, then Jock burst out of the last bend on his wheel rims and headed into the pits.

Mehatt continued to extend his lead while Jock suffered a slow tyre change in the pits, then Paddy crashed his car out of the race going into the first bend of the second lap due to excessive speed and a lack of brake fluid.

The pack spread out for the second lap with Antonio is second place and Jock, on fresh tyres, closing behind him. Mehatt's lead suddenly didn't look so secure as he seemed to lose speed pottering out of the second bend as the drivers of Team Flamers closed on him like sharks sensing blood in the water.

Damien wove his way past Purple, but Whitey and Mario remained stuck at the back. Damien then took Antonio but Purple roared past both of them in sixth gear.

Jock took the lead coming out of the fourth bend, followed by Purple who gave a text book example of fifth gear use. Jock extended his lead as Mehatt continued to slow.

Mario came roaring up from the rear in fifth gear, reclaiming a place, but totally misjudging his corner and ending up in the sand trap on his roof!

Jock took the flag.