The former venue of the Pacific Grand Prix, Okayama, hosted round eleven of iRacing’s World Championship Grand Prix Series. The prime gridslot was filled by championshipleader and Coanda’s Martin Krönke, with teammate Mitchell deJong alongside. The other Coanda drivers, André Böttcher and Martti Pietilä started thirteenth and seventeenth, while Krönke’s nemesis, Redline’s Greger Huttu, lined up third, ahead of ineX’s Joni Törmälä.

Upon lights out, Krönke struggled off the line and shielded Huttu, who had a far superior start but was unable to profit from it as deJong’s car was also blocking the way passed. Instead, deJong shot into the lead, as Krönke slotted in second, ahead of Hutt.

The whole field got to complete the opening lap, but there was drama on the second lap, as there where three cars going into the hairpin, fighting over a piece of tarmac that wasn’t big enough for them all. It meant Radical’s Yuta Saito’s race was over, as ineX’s Robin Friskopps and Apex’s Antoine Higelin collected damage and delay.

DeJong initially led, even though Krönke was slightly faster. The two swapped positions on lap 10, aided by Krönke’s DRS and deJong’s willingness not to put up a massive fight. Krönke then started to eke out a slight lead, as deJong played the tailgunner to Huttu.

But in the first half of the race, DeJong seemingly worn out his tires at a rapid pace, and he was passed by Huttu, who had superior traction out of the Attwood Curve. DeJong subsequently pitted and rejoined halfway the pack, all on lap 22. While Krönke was initially faster than Huttu, also Krönke’s tires worn faster than those on the Redline’s machinery, forcing the German to pit before the halfway point of the race, too, on lap 31 out of 83. It was then unclear whether Krönke was opting for a two-stopper or a massive undercut, while Huttu remained out, opting to pit on lap 43, comfortably set for a one-stopper.

The vagueness of who was going to make another stop veiled the second half of the race. For deJong it seemed inevitable, since he made his stop very early, and sure enough the American came in again on lap 51. Yet whether Krönke was to pit again was a mystery, perhaps even for himself. The tension rose as Huttu slowly closed in, and so, with a five seconds lead, Krönke pulled into the pits on lap 63, as Huttu remained out.

From fifth place and on fresh rubber, Krönke instantly took the fastest lap and quickly overtook Patrick Hollzman and Törmälä. The German then had an eighteen seconds disadvantage on Huttu, which always seemed difficult to close in the remaining twelve laps. Regardless, Krönke was willing to put up a fight.

Further back, it was deJong who was also ascending through the field. He came up on the unusual pack of Vortex’ Michael Dinkel, who put up a fantastic fight with Redline’s Olli Pahkala, Radical’s Kazuki Oomishima and Orion’s Riley Preston. There was some nudging and barging among all of them, but deJong escaped unharmed and passed each of them.

Then, with mere laps to go, deJong closed in on ineX’s Joni Törmälä who occupied the final podium spot. DeJong pulled alongside with his DRS open on the backstraight as the Finn moved over to cover the inside line. Törmälä then moved into deJong during braking, sending the Coanda driver into the gravel. DeJong rejoined in fourth, where he would finish the race.

Ahead of the field, Huttu dragged his worn tires to the finish to comfortably win ahead of Krönke. Pietilä brought home his Coanda car in twelfth, Böttcher in seventeenth. Krönke still leads Huttu in the championship, with 396 points to 387.

Five races remain left in the season. Next up is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 6th. Via this link you can view the live broadcast on iRacing Live, with coverage by RaceSpot TV. For a full season’s calendar, click here.