SS3 Round 2 Race 1: Pelser denies Absmeier victory

Revlimit Racing’s Steven Pelser, who after fighting teammate Jason Absmeier to the death of the race, took his first victory of 2014 SA simSS 3 Series by winning Race 1 of Round 2 at the legendary Imola circuit.

SH Racing’s Denis Mitchell started on pole position but lost the lead under braking to a hard charging Steven Pelser. Pelser took advantage of the frantic four-way battle for 2nd position between Mitchell, Basheer Jadwat, Jonathan Bentz and Absmeier, opening up a sizeable early lead. Pelser’s lead was further bolstered when on lap 2 contact between Jadwat and Mitchell forced them off the track and recovering from the Rivazza gravel trap.

Absmeier managed to avoid the chaos emerging from the dust in 2nd position immediately starting an offensive consistently chipping away at Pelser’s lead.

Lap 3 saw Jadwat begin his comeback through the field  dispatching both Hippo Rock Racing’s Dean Rautenbach and Craig Hume under braking into Traguardo and Villeneuve. Craig Hume was able to re-take his position briefly but went on at the Alta chicane handing the 10th position back to Jadwat. Jadwat continued his recovery passing JVR GhostworX’s Johannes Coetsee for 9th position in a breathtaking move around the outside of the high-speed Piratella corner.

NAV Gaming’s Robert Hart was able to pass Hume on the run to Rivazza after Hume ran wide exiting the Alte chicane. Unfortunately Hart fell back to 13th after running wide at Traguardo.

The excitement carried on to the last corner of the race as an error by Pelser exiting the Alte Chicane allowed Absmeier to make a pass on the run to Rivazza, however Pelser reacted well claiming the inside line to deny Absmeier of victory.

Race 1 video:

Race 1 results: