View source for 2010 F1RWRS German Grand Prix

{{Infobox Race Report
|name               = [[File:Flag of Germany svg.png]] 2010 German Grand Prix
|Race_No            = 1
|Season_No          = 9
|year               = 2010
|series             = F1RWRS
|Circuit            = File:Hockenheimring.png
|date               = 25 April, 2010
|official name      = 2010 Lufthansa Grand Prix von Deutschland
|location           = Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany
|course             = Permanent racing facility<br>4.574 km (2.842 mi)
|distance           = 30 laps, 137.22 km (85.26 mi)
|weather            = Raining
|pole driver        = [[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Dave Simpson]]
|pole team          = [[JLD Motorsport|JLD-Porsche]]
|pole time          = 1:05.16
|fastest lap driver = [[File:Flag of Spain svg.png]] [[Phoenix McAllister]]
|fastest lap team   = [[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]
|fastest lap time   = 1:03.48
|first driver       = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Ashley Watkinson]]
|first team         = [[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]
|second driver      = [[File:Flag of Hungary svg.png]] [[David Koczo]]
|second team        = [[Prospec]]
|third driver       = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Sammy Jones]]
|third team         = [[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]
|}}
'''The 2010 F1RWRS German Grand Prix''' was the first race of the [[2010 Formula 1 Rejects World Race Series season|2010 F1RWRS season]] held in Hockenheim, Germany. [[Ashley Watkinson]] won the race.

==Race Report==
===Build-up===
In late-2009, [[Frank Zimmer|Frank]] and [[John Zimmer]] were unhappy about the way Formula 1 was being run. Frank had recently been fired by Brawn, and the siblings spent the year setting up the [[Formula 1 Rejects World Race Series]], aided by like-minded Formula 1 constructors. The series was to be a direct rival to Formula 1, and was to include nine contructors: [[Calinetic]], [[Prospec]], [[Club Bangelia]], [[KQ]], [[Kahama]], [[West Cliff]], [[JLD]], [[Rosenforth]] and [[CR]], all of them with two drivers.

The series was open to any drivers who wanted a shot, but it still attracted top-line international drivers. The first team to apply was [[West Cliff Racing]], and the selected drivers were NASCAR driver [[Douglas Mann]] and former Formula 1 driver [[Sammy Jones]]. [[Rosenforth Engineering]] was next to apply, and they would be represented by series founder and Formula 1 driver [[Frank Zimmer]] and fellow Formula 1 driver [[Thomas De Bock]]. [[KQ Motor Sports]] would be third to pick, and they ended up with relative unknowns [[Adam Lewis]] and [[Hagane Shizuka]], who stated a dislike for the team's hybrid engine. [[Team Calinetic]] picked F1 driver [[Phoenix McAllister]] and [[Gary Cameron]], [[JLD Motorsport]], with the support of Mercedes, chose multiple F1 champion [[Daniel Melrose]] and versatile racer [[Dave Simpson]], [[Prospec]] chose [[Nathanael Spencer]] and [[David Koczo]], [[Club Bangelia]] plumped for NASCAR driver [[James Davies (F1RWRS driver)|James Davies]] and the team's founder, [[Dan BH]], [[CR Motorsport]] picked BTCC driver [[Ashley Watkinson]] and pay-driver [[Darren Older Jr]]. [[Kahama Motor Sport]], however, was unable to fins a second driver in time for the race, and was left with Formula 3 driver [[Kay Lon]], who stated that he would become 'Big In Japan'. The manufacturers were joined by privateer [[Luca Pacchiarini]], driving a curious car powered by a mix of engines dubbed the Coswojuddhartlambo. This left the series with 18 drivers, four of which would be doing double-duty over the course of the season alongside a full time Formula One campaign; Jones, Simpson, the defending F1 champion Melrose and McAllister, who had just scored a two year contract with Ferrari in Formula One during the off-season.

Hockenheim would hold the first race of the series, which would use several circuits that would seem surprising for such powerful cars, such as Oschersleben, Adelaide or Eastern Creek, while also using some circuits used by Formula One, meaning that most drivers were unfamiliar with at least one track.

Coming up to the first race, the Prospecs looked like the cars to beat, followed by [[Frank Zimmer]]'s Rosenforth, as his teammate [[Thomas De Bock]] was surprisingly off the pace throughout pre-season testing. Time would tell if the order would stay the same for the season, though the restricted regulations (implemented to reduce costs at first) would mean that results would be very inconsistant.

There would be controversy as well, as [[Pacchia]] were being investigated by the police due to allegations of fraud by team head and driver [[Luca Pacchiarini]], who had allegedly conned Dunlop into providing tyres to the team. The team intended to hire former F1 driver [[Andrea Montermini]], but he refused and Pacchiarini would drive the car himself. The team was welcomed by Zimmer, but the Australian doubted the team's capability, saying that his 'only concern is if his engine (...) will hold up for an entire race.', while [[Douglas Mann]] stated that he hoped that the Pacchia would be easy to pass.

===Qualifying===

The session was marked by rain, and the first pole position of the series was taken by F1 driver [[Dave Simpson]] in the [[JLD]], the fastest car in qualifying period, as [[Daniel Melrose]] qualified fourth. This was something of a surprise, as the German team was expected to be around third despite having by far the strongest driver lineup on the grid. An even bigger surprise was the [[Pacchia]], with Pacchiarini somehow dragging the Pacchia to a front row grid spot.

The [[Prospec|Prospecs]], who were expected to be on the front row, were at both ends of the grid, with [[Nathanael Spencer]] in third place while his team mate [[David Koczo]], who had shown impressive pace in pre-season testing, was way down in 16th position.

The biggest disappointment of the session for drivers, however, was [[Thomas De Bock]], who was down in 17th and second last, while his [[Rosenforth]] team mate [[Frank Zimmer]] was up in sixth. The slowest team, however, was undoubtedly [[KQ]], with Shizuka 15th and Lewis 18th. The Japanese squad's hybrid engines were seemingly having trouble staying on the pace of the conventional petrol engines.

As a whole, the field was very close, as was expecting, with just two seconds separating Simpson and Lewis, ensuring that the race and the championship as a whole would be incredibly close throughout the season.

===Race===

The start was very eventful, Pacchiarini quickly dropped down the order, leaving [[Gary Cameron]] to chase down Simpson. Several drivers spun in the first few laps, including Cameron, who lost a fair bit of time. Unfortunately, [[Thomas De Bock]] got the worst of it, being forced to pit for a new front wing.

Cameron then made his way back up to second, although he lost it again after temporary engine woes, while Watkinson was having a very inconsistent race, spinning whenever he was making up significant amounts of time. [[Nathanael Spencer]], meanwhile, was having a superb race, and passed Simpson for the lead on lap 9, just as the first drivers were beginning to pit. On lap 10, Spencer led from Simpson, with a gap back to Cameron and [[Douglas Mann]], who had been having a quiet race.

The race then started to heat up spectacularly, drivers quickly gaining then losing places, with Pacchiarini quickly making his way up to second place, with Mann dropping back. The race then settled down a bit before a spin by [[Kay Lon]] marked the return of the early pitters, whose fresh rubber was enabling them to gain massive amounts of time on the leaders. Spencer and Simpson were battling for the lead at the halfway point, but Spencer had to come in for new tyres, as well as [[Daniel Melrose]], [[Gary Cameron]] and [[Phoenix McAllister]].

This left [[Douglas Mann]] in the lead, as he had yet to pit. In second place, however, [[Ashley Watkinson]]'s race was turning out brilliantly as he had already pitted for tyres! He duly took the lead on lap 20, leaving Mann behind, with [[Frank Zimmer]] third ahead of Simpson and [[Sammy Jones]], who had worked his way back towards the front after an early stop.

Zimmer, Simpson and Mann were now experiencing serious tyre problems, and were losing heaps of time. In the end, they pitted too late and lost at least five places each, while [[Adam Lewis]], who had had an anonymous race, pitted last. Lon eventually had another spin late in the race, and so did Watkinson, on the final lap. However, that didn't stop him from winning the first race in F1RWRS history ahead of [[David Koczo]], who had overcome engine problems and a bad start and [[Sammy Jones]] who showed that an early stop can be very rewarding.

==Classification==

===Qualifying===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|-
! Pos
! No
! Driver
! Constructor
! Time
! Gap
|-
! 1
| 13
| [[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Dave Simpson]]
| [[JLD Motorsport|JLD-Porsche]]
| 1:05.16
| -.--
|-
! 2
| 20
| [[File:Flag of Italy svg.png]] [[Luca Pacchiarini]]
| [[Pacchia-Coswojuddhartlambo]]
| 1:05.33
| +0.17
|-
! 3
| 14
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Nathanael Spencer]]
| [[Prospec]]
| 1:05.35
| +0.19
|-
! 4
| 12
| [[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Daniel Melrose]]
| [[JLD Motorsport|JLD-Porsche]]
| 1:05.56
| +0.40
|-
! 5
| 9
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Gary Cameron]]
| [[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]
| 1:05.64
| +0.48
|-
! 6
| 5
| [[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Frank Zimmer]]
| [[Rosenforth Engineering|Rosenforth-Jaguar]]
| 1:05.74
| +0.58
|-
! 7
| 2
| [[File:Flag of the Isle of Man svg.png]] [[Douglas Mann]]
| [[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]
| 1:05.88
| +0.72
|-
! 8
| 3
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Sammy Jones]]
| [[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]
| 1:06.08
| +0.92
|-
! 9
| 18
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Ashley Watkinson]]
| [[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]
| 1:06.16
| +1.00
|-
! 10
| 8
| [[File:Flag of Spain svg.png]] [[Phoenix McAllister]]
| [[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]
| 1:06.22
| +1.06
|-
! 11
| 17
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[James Davies (F1RWRS driver)|James Davies]]
| [[Club Bangelia Racing|Bangelia-Alfa Romeo]]
| 1:06.50
| +1.34
|-
! 12
| 11
| [[File:Flag of Germany svg.png]] [[Kay Lon]]
| [[Kahama Motor Sport|Kahama-Ford]]
| 1:06.54
| +1.38
|-
! 13
| 16
| [[File:Flag of the United States svg.png]] [[Dan BH]]
| [[Club Bangelia Racing|Bangelia-Ala Romeo]]
| 1:06.57
| +1.41
|-
! 14
| 19
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Darren Older Jr]]
| [[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]
| 1:06.71
| +1.55
|-
! 15
| 7
| [[File:Flag of Japan svg.png]] [[Hagane Shizuka]]
| [[KQ Motor Sports|KQ-Hyundai]]
| 1:06.91
| +1.75
|-
! 16
| 15
| [[File:Flag of Hungary svg.png]] [[David Koczo]]
| [[Prospec]]
| 1:06.94
| +1.78
|-
! 17
| 4
| [[File:Flag of Belgium svg.png]] [[Thomas De Bock]]
| [[Rosenforth Engineering|Rosenforth-Jaguar]]
| 1:07.08
| +1.92
|-
! 18
| 6
| [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Adam Lewis]]
| [[KQ Motor Sports|KQ-Hyundai]]
| 1:07.25
| +2.09
|}

===Race===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|-
! Pos
! No
! Driver
! Constructor
! Laps
! Time/Retired
! Grid
! Points
|-
! 1
| 18
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Ashley Watkinson]]'''
| '''[[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]'''
| 30
| 33:59.45
| 9
| '''10'''
|-
! 2
| 15
|[[File:Flag of Hungary svg.png]] '''[[David Koczo]]'''
| '''[[Prospec]]'''
| 30
| +9.90
| 16
| '''9'''
|-
! 3
| 3
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Sammy Jones]]'''
| '''[[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]'''
| 30
| +27.45
| 8
| '''8'''
|-
! 4
| 9
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Gary Cameron]]'''
| '''[[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]'''
| 30
| +31.97
| 5
| '''7'''
|-
! 5
| 7
|[[File:Flag of Japan svg.png]] '''[[Hagane Shizuka]]'''
| '''[[KQ Motor Sports|KQ-Hyundai]]'''
| 30
| +33.67
| 15
| '''6'''
|-
! 6
| 14
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Nathanael Spencer]]'''
| '''[[Prospec]]'''
| 30
| +34.53
| 3
| '''5'''
|-
! 7
| 17
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[James Davies (F1RWRS driver)|James Davies]]'''
| '''[[Club Bangelia Racing|Bangelia-Alfa Romeo]]'''
| 30
| +48.71
| 11
| '''4'''
|-
! 8
| 8
|[[File:Flag of Spain svg.png]] '''[[Phoenix McAllister]]'''
| '''[[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]'''
| 30
| +52.93
| 10
| '''3'''
|-
! 9
| 20
|[[File:Flag of Italy svg.png]] '''[[Luca Pacchiarini]]'''
| '''[[Pacchia-Coswojuddhartlambo]]'''
| 30
| +56.68
| 2
| '''2'''
|-
! 10
| 16
|[[File:Flag of the United States svg.png]] '''[[Dan BH]]'''
| '''[[Club Bangelia Racing|Bangelia-Alfa Romeo]]'''
| 30
| +59.80
| 13
| '''1'''
|-
! 11
| 12
|[[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Daniel Melrose]]
| [[JLD Motorsport|JLD-Porsche]]
| 30
| +1:01.42
| 4
| &nbsp;
|-
! 12
| 19
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Darren Older Jr.]]
| [[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]
| 30
| +1:04.53
| 14
| &nbsp;
|-
! 13
| 2
|[[File:Flag of the Isle of Man svg.png]] [[Douglas Mann]]
| [[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]
| 30
| +1:07.86
| 7
| &nbsp;
|-
! 14
| 13
|[[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Dave Simpson]]
| [[JLD Motorsport|JLD-Porsche]]
| 30
| +1:09.13
| 1
| &nbsp;
|-
! 15
| 5
|[[File:Flag of Australia svg.png]] [[Frank Zimmer]]
| [[Rosenforth Engineering|Rosenforth-Jaguar]]
| 30
| +1:16.94
| 6
| &nbsp;
|-
! 16
| 6
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] [[Adam Lewis]]
| [[KQ Motor Sports|KQ-Hyundai]]
| 30
| +1:41.30
| 18
| &nbsp;
|-
! 17
| 11
|[[File:Flag of Germany svg.png]] [[Kay Lon]]
| [[Kahama Motor Sport|Kahama-Ford]]
| 30
| +1:42.94
| 12
| &nbsp;
|-
! 18
| 4
|[[File:Flag of Belgium svg.png]] [[Thomas De Bock]]
| [[Rosenforth Engineering|Rosenforth-Jaguar]]
| 30
| +1:51.89
| 17
| &nbsp;
|}

*Fastest Lap: Phoenix McAllister: 1:03.48

==Standings after the race==
*'''Bold text''' indicates who still has a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.

;Drivers' Championship standings
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Driver
! Points
|-
| 1
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Ashley Watkinson]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 10
|-
| 2
|[[File:Flag of Hungary svg.png]] '''[[David Koczo]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 9
|-
| 3
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Sammy Jones]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 8
|-
| 4
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Gary Cameron]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 7
|-
| 5
|[[File:Flag of Japan svg.png]] '''[[Hagane Shizuka]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 6
|}
;Constructors' Championship standings
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Constructor
! Points
|-
| 1
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[Prospec]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 14
|-
| 2
|[[File:Flag of Spain svg.png]] '''[[CR Motorsport|CR-Ford]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 10
|-
| 3
|[[File:Flag of Jamaica svg.png]] '''[[Team Calinetic|Calinetic-Ford]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 10
|-
| 4
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png]] '''[[West Cliff Racing|West Cliff-Chevrolet]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 8
|-
| 5
|[[File:Flag of South Korea svg.png]] '''[[KQ Motor Sports|KQ-Hyundai]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 6
|}
*<small>'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.</small>

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 900px; text-align: center; font-size: 95%"
| width="35%"| Previous race:<br>'''None'''
| width="30%"| '''[[Formula 1 Rejects World Race Series]] Championship<br>[[2010 F1RWRS season|2010 Season]]'''
| width="35%"| Next race:<br>'''[[2010 F1RWRS Luxembourg Grand Prix|2010 Luxembourg Grand Prix]]'''
|-
| width="35%"| Previous race:<br>'''None'''
| width="30%"| '''German Grand Prix'''
| width="35%"| Next race:<br>'''[[2011 F1RWRS German Grand Prix|2011 German Grand Prix]]'''
|}

{{2010 F1RWRS season}}