It’s become clear that the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup will be a season for the ages. A championship battle like no other, the top 5 are only separated by 86 points after the conclusion of the Red Bull Ring Sprint round.

Returning to Belle Isle for the second time in series history, it will provide a interesting challenge for our championship protagonists.

Belle Isle has the ability to flip the championship on its head in 2023, It’s fast natured, bumpy layout could make or break a championship campaign.

We took the time to look at the current top 5 in the standings after Red Bull Ring, breaking down the state of play as we approach round 7 of the championship.

The state of play heading into Belle Isle is intriguing, 5 drivers well within arms reach of the championship lead. With 200 points up for grabs across the 2 race Super Sprint format there is plenty of opportunities for yet another shake up in the championship order.

Who do you think will reign supreme at Belle Isle? Be sure to tune in on the 9th of August to catch all the action as we go racing at Belle Isle for round 7 of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup!

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Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup drivers ventured across to Europe for round 6 of the series held at Red Bull Ring on Wednesday night.

15 minutes of qualifying would prove to be a mentally draining affair, the limited qualifying time posing a challenge for all 42 entrants to set their competitive times.

It would be Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault setting the benchmark in the early stages of the session, closely followed by Watkins Glen race winner & championship leader Jake Burton. Madison down showed some speed during qualifying, his second run jolting the Trans Tasman Racing driver into provisional pole position with little over 5 minutes remaining.

The final qualifying run proved to be incredibly close, with the likes of Jordan Ross laying down a competitive time inside the top 5 for the time being. Dylan Rudd jumped onto the front row for no more than a split second alongside Madison Down before James Scott shot to the top of the time charts with a blistering lap that saw the driver of the #088 claim pole position for the 60 lap race around the Red Bull Ring Circuit. Scott would share the front row with championship challenger Madison Down, followed by Dylan Rudd, Gilliam & Ethan Grigg-Gault rounding out the top 5. Jordan Ross, Filsell, Burton, Stewart & Shawn McNamara would finalise the top ten in qualifying.

Starting form pole position, James Scott would lead the field towards turn 1 with Madison Down behind. Gilliam showing early aggression, made easy work of Madison Down at turn 6, promoting himself into second position behind Scott on the opening lap of the race. It didn’t take long for Gilliam to show his cards, making an authoritative move down the inside of Scott at turn 3 on lap 2. Ethan Grigg-Gault took full advantage of this manoeuvre on Scott, slicing underneath the #088 machine on the exit of turn 2, moving up into the second position behind new leader Andrew Gilliam.

Down and Scott lead the charge into Turn 1

Gilliam continued to break the air for the cars behind in the early stages, Grigg-Gault, Scott, Down & Jarrad Filsell all sitting behind using the tow to their advantage as the field reached the 10 lap mark of the 60 lap event.

Down the field, incidents started to evolve as drivers got Deep into their first stints. Damien Johnstone & Sebastian Varndell would be the first to have issues, both drivers coming together on the approach to the turn 4 braking zone. Varndell managed to keep his Ford Mustang on the road, continuing on with little positions lost. Damien Johnstone on the other hand, enjoyed a off track excursion that would see the Synergy Sim Racing driver drop back down the order.

Bradley Rattew was another driver who was caught out in an incident on lap 20. A spontaneous move from Luke Rosella at turn 3, saw the 9ine 5ive SimSports driver under attack on the run to turn 4 from Josh Anderson. Braking late, the #36 Trans Tasman Racing Commodore looked like getting the move done cleanly on Rattew, slightly wide of the apex contact was made between Anderson & Rattew, sending both off the circuit.

Rattew and Rosella make contact at Turn 3

As the drivers started to reach the middle portion of the race, Pursuit Sim Racing’s Andrew Gilliam continued to lead the field over Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault. James Scott, Down & Filsell made up the top 5, continuing to take full advantage of the draft, saving fuel ahead of their opening pitstops.

Lap 24 would see the leading pack peel off to take the first of their compulsory pit stops, Gilliam, Scott, Filsell, Ross & Jobe Stewart all opting to take to the lane.

Madison down stayed out behind Ethan Grigg-Gault with Jake Burton also choosing to continue on.

Grigg-Gault would make his way to the lane a lap later on lap 25, along with O’Shea, Liyanage & McNamara who’d also make a trip to the pit lane for the first time. Down would be the final lead driver to transit pit lane on lap 29, rejoining behind stablemate Brady Meyers.

The field would cleanse on lap 33. Andrew Gilliam again would retain the lead with Ethan Grigg-Gault behind. Difficulty’s on pit entry for James Scott would see Filsell move into 3rd position, James falling to 5th behind Pursuit Sim Racing’s Jobe Stewart.

Madison Down elevated himself to 2nd in the Championship

Jarrad Filsell & James Scott shocked the field laps later when they decided to split from the pack and make their final scheduled pit stops on lap 41. This call was questioned by many, unsure wether traffic would come into play for the SSR duo.

Grigg-Gault would be the next contender to blink, opting to try cover Filsell & Scott. Andrew Gilliam & Jobe Stewart would make their move together one lap later on lap 44, also trying to maintain their respective track position.

After completing his final compulsory pit stop, Grigg-Gault put in a contender for pass of the season on James Scott at turn 3, diving deep under brakes creating a 3 wide situation on approach to the hairpin. Excellent traction on the exit of turn 3 would see the Evolution Racing Team driver move into effective second position behind Jarrad Filsell on lap 46.

10 laps to go would mark a turning point in the race. It was clear at the front of the field the aggression level had lifted. Filsell now lead the train, with Grigg-Gault close behind. Team tactics came into play on lap 51, Filsell managing to hold Ethan Grigg-Gault wide at the turn 3 hairpin allowing James Scott to make his move down at turn 4. Grigg-Gault would find himself shuffled off line again, demoting the #7 Commodore back into 4th position. It didn’t take long though for Ethan Grigg-Gault to strike back though, putting on a passing clinic at turn 3 again, charging back into a podium place with only a handful of laps remaining.

Series leader Jake Burton was already suffering from a difficult night after making contact with the pit exit wall earlier in the race when things again went sour for the #8 TTR Commodore. On lap 58, Dylan Rudd would make a uncharacteristic mistake on the approach to turn 4, locking the rear tyres and sending himself into a self spin on the apex. In a rush to rejoin the field, Rudd found reverse at the wrong time, moving into the path of Rehan Liyanage & series leader Jake Burton, collecting the pair in the process. Falling to 18th, Burton is left wondering what could of been, now relinquishing his championship lead.

A spun Dylan Rudd makes contact with points leader Jake Burton

Filsell would lead Scott home in a dominant display for the SSR pair. After a difficult season to date, Filsell has finally broken through for victory, as he now sets his sights on making up as much ground as possible in the championship. Madison down would collect the final place on the podium after a late race penalty for Ethan Grigg-Gault, ensuring he keeps himself well and truely in the title fight. Meyers would collect a strong points haul in 4th, with Gilliam rounding out the top 5 after 60 laps of intense racing.

James Scott has now bounced back to the championship lead after Burton’s Misfortune, taking control as we look ahead to Belle Isle in little over 2 weeks time. Madison Down has been promoted into 2nd, only a mere 22 points away from the championship lead.

As the series moves closer to Belle Isle, the focus now moves to the championship battle at hand. Can James Scott hold on and prevail at Belle Isle heading into endurance season?

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The Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup is set to go racing around the Red Bull Ring circuit on the 19th of July. Synergy Sim Racing’s Jordan Ross has been tapped on the shoulder to take us through his 5 key Points for the Red Bull Ring circuit presented by Panta Race Fuels. 

A podium finisher in the 2022 instalment of the race, Jordan Ross is the perfect driver to explain the key to getting around the Red Bull Ring Circuit fast & efficiently.

Jordan Ross’s Red Bull Ring 5 key points:

Qualifying

Every single track we visit, it’s vital to qualify well if you want to have a good result. My qualifying hasn’t been up to scratch this year, but some improvements last time out at Watkins Glen gives me confidence to go better at red bull ring. A strong lap will require timing your run with a drafting partner well and staying on sync with the field. Also starting your lap of well with a strong and clean turn 1 will give you the confidence to press on with your lap.

Drafting

Because the track is at high altitude, the draft affect is not as strong as it can be at other tracks. But the draft will dramatically improve your ability to fuel save and also rest your tyres. People making moves early in the race will split the draft train line up, so it will matter who is around you in the early part of the race.

Bomb dive

This track has multiple areas which encourage the bomb dive as there are long straight into heavy braking areas with multiple lines open to navigate in the corner and off the exit. There will be people bombing at turn 2 and 3, those people may split the draft train up and if you don’t have your wits about you, it will be easy to be facing the wrong way.

Off track usage

There is a lap time advantage to be had at turn 1 by getting an off track on the exit. Utilising your 30 off tracks tactically may come in handy later in the race to either attack or defend a position.

Strategy

Depending on your qualifying position, pit strategy and trying to run in a group that prioritises lap speed over battling for position will be key to getting a result. You may choose to short fill in your first stop to vault yourself into a different draft group, however if you short fill too much and come out at the front of a group, you will get run down and use more fuel than those behind, so there will be a tricky strategy to maintain through the race in order to keep clear of the battling. Overall, car speed is king!

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The Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup will head back to Europe as we turn the corner for the run home in the 2023 championship. On the 19th of July, we go racing for round 6 of the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup at Red Bull Ring.

Having featured on the calendar in 2022, Red Bull Ring makes a return in 2023 with drivers set to tackle the 10 corner 4.318km circuit on the 19th of July for 60 laps of close quarters racing.

Originally founded as Österreichring, it was built as a replacement for the Zeltweg Airfield Circuit in 1969. Situated in the Styrian Mountains, The Österreichring Circuit visually was one of the most spectacular & challenging circuits for drivers, providing fast flowing sweeping corners, consisting of elevation changes throughout the lap.

Österreichring would host the Austrian Gran Prix from 1970 through to 1987, before being shorted, rebuilt & re named to the A1-Ring, hosting the Austrian Grand Prix from 1997 to 2003.

When Formula One outgrew the Österreichring circuit, plans where drawn up to extend the layout. Multiple Parts of the circuit, including the pit lane section & main grandstand, were demolished. Construction work was eventually halted & the circuit remained unusable for several years before it was purchased by Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz, rebuilt and reopened on 15 May 2011 before re establishing itself on the Formula One calendar in 2014.

2022 Red Bull Ring Broadcast Replay

With V8 thunder set to light up the Red Bull Ring virtually for a second consecutive year, all eyes will be fixed on the championship battle that has evolved over the course of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup.

Trans Tasman Racing’s Jake Burton is the man drivers are chasing, currently leading the championship after an entertaining victory at the Watkins Glen Sprint. Burton’s emphatic victory sees him 24 points in the clear of James Scott heading into the 6th round of the championship.

For James Scott, a strategy blunder for Synergy Sim Racing at Watkins Glen saw the driver of the #088 Commodore forced to salvage a top 10 result after dominating the early stages of the race. With this in mind, Synergy Sim Racing & James Scott will look for a mistake free race with hopes of standing on the top step at the conclusion of the 60 lap event.

It won’t come easy for either driver though, as you can never discount Madison Down. Only 38 points back, Down has been on the claw back since a difficult round or Phillip Island, which saw the Trans Tasman Racing stalwart off the circuit through turn 12, ending what looked like a positive night for the #77 Commodore. Now back on track with strong results, Madison will definitely be looking to make a dent in the points deficit at the Red Bull Ring.

Although these 3 drivers are leading the title fight, it’s hard to discount Jarrad Filsell. A season of what could of been, Filsell has nothing to loose for the remainder of the championship, a podium in 2022 at this very event firmly putting him in the conversation for top honours in 2023.

It’s fair to note a number of drivers who are showing a turn of speed at the currently, drivers such as Bradley Rattew, Thomas Freeman & Dylan Rudd all showing they have the potential to get amongst the action at the front of the field.

Another talking point is the form of Jordan Ross. The SSR driver suffering from difficulties throughout his 2023 campaign to date. Ross will look to turn things around at Red Bull Ring, the same circuit he scored his only podium in the 2022 championship.

Jordan Ross will be looking to return to form at Red Bull Ring

It’s fair to say, July 19 will provide another action packed round of racing as drivers search for results as the season begins to take shape.

Who will come out on top at Red Bull Ring? Will it be Jake Burton? James Scott? Or will the likes of Madison Down or Jarrad Filsell deliver a blow to the championship fight?

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