Speedcar Series promises thrilling end to the season
Speedcar Series' second season has proved to be unpredictable thus far with the Drivers' Championship standings changing hands a few times through the first 4 rounds. The table is currently led by Gianni Morbidelli with 47 points, followed by Johnny Herbert in second with 40, Jean Alesi on 38, Heinz Harald Frentzen with 36 and Vitantonio Liuzzi in fifth place with 29.
Season 2 is expected to come down to a dramatic finish with the drivers battling over the two day race weekend for the final 20 points allotted to the race winners – 10 points per race.
If Morbidelli should win the first race in Bahrain on Saturday he will eliminate most of his competition in that Alesi, Frentzen and Liuzzi will have no chance of catching up. Herbert will be the only one in the top 5 that will still have a chance at closing the gap with the points leader. If however Gianni Morbidelli should fail to win Race 1, it will leave the competition wide open for any of the top contenders.
The Season began on 5 December, 2008 at the opening race in Dubai with Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi making a spectacular debut in Speedcar Series by winning both the qualifying session and race 1. The second race of the two day race weekend was abandoned due to torrential rain that flooded the track.
Round 2 was held in Bahrain in January where Jean Alesi had his first win on the first race day and Season 1 Champion Johnny Herbert came out on top on day 2.
Speedcar Series ran its first night race in February at the Losail International Circuit where Gianni Morbidelli took the top spot on the podium after race 1 and Liuzzi had his second win the following day.
The Series then returned to Dubai for Round 4 on 27-28 February, 2009 where Jean Alesi had sensational back to back wins over the two race days.
Across the season Alesi has had 3 wins, the highest number among the top 5 drivers and trails the current leader by just 9 points. Johnny Herbert and Gianni Morbidelli both have 1 win each and only 7 points separate the Briton in second place from taking the lead to defend his title.
Heinz Harald Frentzen has not managed to win a race this season but has had two second place finishes. Liuzzi on the other hand has had 2 wins but still has a long shot at the title in fifth place.
Four teams are also in contention for the teams' championship title including current leader JMB with 49 points, UP Team with 45, HPR in third with 44 and Team Lavaggi on 30.