Zandvoort, The Netherlands
The aftermath of a controversial season finale finally reaches closure as the final reports are in following the end of Season 7 Round 10 of the NLRL Sunday League, with it, comes the heavy implications for Tylor Vermaak and the NEW PRO Division Champion, Fake Galaxy.
ROUND SUMMARY:
Round 10 opened to a pole position for all 3 sprint races for Patrick Leger, at a home race he told TRTN he had been dreading for the greater part of the season, in AM, it was pole in qualifying for Sean Phillips.
The championship title clash for PRO in both drivers and teams championship had come down to these last 3 races, in the Drivers' Championship, it was Tylor Vermaak against Fake Galaxy, and in the Teams' Championship, it was 5Star Esports against defending champions Euro Titans Endurance.
Race 1 kicked off with immediate drama as Cas Van Velzen collided with Tylor Vermaak at the end of a hectic opening lap, sending the #8 Bentley down the order, handing advantage to the #55 of Fake Galaxy. In front of this was a commanding lead by Declan Anderson after gaining an early lead off of Patrick Leger. A lead he would go on to retain throughout Race 1, taking victory for the second time in his Sunday League career. Finishing behind him on the PRO podium was Patrick Leger and Fake Galaxy. In AM, Sean Phillips claimed victory ahead of Reuben Lewis and Luca Tamborini.
Race 2 followed much in the same footsteps as Race 1, with immediate drama that saw a collision initially between Vermaak and Anderson spiral into a further collision between Vermaak and Carlos Diesch, spinning the #8 around at Turn 1. Patrick Leger led the charge ahead of Fake Galaxy and Cas Van Velzen after lap 1, in AM, Phillips led over Rivera and Acquati. Galaxy and Leger continued to fight for the lead throughout Race 2, with Galaxy gaining an advantage under strategy. Fake Galaxy would secure his tenth career victory at the end of Race 2, with Carlos Diesch gaining 2nd over Patrick Leger, who finished a reluctant 3rd.
Race 3 represented the flashpoint of the entire Season 7 rivalry between 5Star and ETE, as Tylor Vermaak stormed to an early lead while Patrick Leger and Fake Galaxy went side by side into turns 2 and 3, running eachother out of ground, resulting in a catastrophic pileup at Turn 3, Vermaak led at the end of Lap 1, with Van Velzen and Anderson behind, further trouble ensued for Fake Galaxy as into Sector 2, they would suffer another catastrophic pileup, ultimately resulting in a DNF. Vermaak would hold the lead all the way until the last lap, where by which a difference in pit strategy allowed a narrow escape to the lead by Cas Van Velzen, one that was ultimately short lived, as around turn 1, the two would collide, spinning Van Velzen into the gravel. This incident is widely regarded as the playing factor in Round 10's overarching controversy, Vermaak would cross the line to take another win, however, a post-race investigation would open almost immediately, and over roughly 2 weeks of scrutineering, this win would be ultimately revoked, along with the points that would've otherwise led Vermaak to his second Drivers Championship win. The race win went by proxy to Declan Anderson, securing what stood as their third career victory, behind them after penalties was Carlos Diesch and Zsolt Beefgartner.
AFTERMATH:
Find below the full list of penalties issued to Tylor Vermaak after R10:
RACE 1: +15s penalty RACE 2: +20s penalty RACE 3: +15s penalty
All investigative findings and the remainder of penalties can be found via the NLRL Discord Server
Ultimately, the cost of this lengthy investigation has led to a sizeable ripple effect in the championship. Fake Galaxy is now the Season 7 PRO Drivers champion, and 5Star Esports retain their Teams championship title in PRO.
Season 8 of the NLRL Sunday League kicks off this weekend in South Africa, in a brand new system right here on XCLusive Racing. Broadcasts are available via the TRTN Twitch channel, and on demand via the TRTN YouTube channel.