Qualifying again would be a tightly contested affair, Spa-Francorchamps living up to expectations, proving draft would be the key to a successful qualifying position. Defending champion Jarrad Filsell would be the driver coming out on top in the 15 minute qualifying session, setting a 2:16.593 for pole position with Synergy Sim Racing stablemate James Scott alongside him on the front row, just .043 of a second behind. Brady Meyers continues to impress in qualifying, ending up third alongside Ethan Grigg-Gault. 2022 Spa-Francorchamps pole sitter Marcello Rivera would complete the top five.  

Jarrad Filsell would make use of pole position, converting it to a perfect launch on the run down to La Source. Brady Meyers would also make a solid start from 3rd, Jumping Synergy Sim Racing’s James Scott, quickly making his presence known, launching his attack on the race lead. Lap 2 would prove to be critical for Brady Meyers & the race result, contact between the pair being made at the end of Kemmel Straight entering Les Combes sending Meyers off the Circuit & well outside the top 20. Filsell would be handed a 15 second penalty for the infringement, failure to serve during racing conditions resulted in the unserved penalty being applied to the post race results, dropping Filsell down towards the back of the top ten. Failing to complete the penalty during racing conditions, Filsell would go in to lodge an appeal against his 15 second infringement post race, results from the official hearing will be heard on Monday the 15th of May. Until then, the race results from Spa-Francorchamps on the 10th of May will remain provisional.  

Filsell would continue to lead the pack for the time being over Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault & James Scott over the opening laps with Josh Anderson & Marcello Rivera continuing to hold places inside the top five.  

It didn’t take long for more incidents to unfold further down the field, with a battle between Jamie Dike, Brad Rattew & Tom Freer starting to unfold. All came unstuck on lap 4, Freer careering into the back of Jamie Dike on entry to the final chicane, taking Brad Rattew with him. A 15 second penalty would follow, inflicting more pain on what was a already difficult night.  

Richard Hamstead also found himself in a difficult situation early, being caught out in an incident at La Source with teammate Madison Down and Pursuit Sim Racing’s Andrew Gilliam. An opportunistic move from Down, forced Gilliam to open the wheel, pushing the #201 Mustang wide into Hamstead resulting in a spin for the #28 on the exit of turn one. Hamstead would rejoin the race, although with a lot of ground to make up.  

A hot lead pack would continue to be the story of the race, Filsell holding the lead over James Scott who made his way back into 2nd position ahead of Ethan Grigg-Gault. Brady Meyers was continuing to impress, climbing back through the field from outside the top 20 to sit in 15th position after the opening 10 laps, showing he was capable of still producing front running pace although being bottled up in the pack of cars racing for the top ten.  

Drama would strike again on lap 11 in the battle for the top 5, Dylan O’Shea being off loaded on the exit of La Source by Marcello Rivera. Dylan Rudd would also find himself the innocent victim in this incident, finding himself with nowhere to go, collecting his 9ine 5ive SimSports teammate in the process. For Rivera, his night would only get worse from this moment on, with an internet dropout ultimately putting an end to his night.  

Brady Meyers would be the first of the heavy hitters to enter the pit lane on lap 12, hoping to make up ground on the cars still choosing to circulate. Jake Burton would be the next contender to hit the lane on lap 20, producing a solid pit stop which would throw him into contention in the middle portion of the race. 

Leaders Jarrad Filsell, James Scott & Ethan Grigg-Gault would follow suit on lap 21, all choosing to pit with one another. Burton would split the trio, the undercut along with a lighter fuel load allowing the Trans Tasman Racing driver to place himself perfectly behind SSR cars of Scott & Filsell.  

Grigg-Gault wouldn’t waste any time though, making the move on Burton on lap 23 for third position, as he set out to chase after James Scott & Jarrad Filsell before the second Compulsory pit stop.  

The race would remain rather quiet throughout the middle portion of the race, many drivers settling into a rhythm counting down the laps until their final pit stops.  

Moloney’s recovery drive took a hit as he completed his final stop of the night, a mistake on cold tyres in pit exit saw the driver of the #29 TTR Mustang facing the wrong way in pit exit. He would resume the race, slotting himself down in the mid to low teens. 

Ethan Grigg-Gault would make a critical pit stop on lap 31, rejoining the race in prime position to take control of the race. Scott & Filsell would pit one lap later on lap 32 to complete the final of two compulsory pit stops, resuming the race behind Ethan Grigg-Gault, who masterminded an excellent strategy call to promote himself into the lead in the dying laps. 

Filsell still with the impending 15 second time penalty hovering over him, would make light work of catching Grigg-Gault, providing a challenge for the race lead with only a handful of laps to go. The move would eventuate on lap 34, with a bold pass around the outside of the final chicane, re taking control of the race lead. Grigg-Gault put up a strong fight with James Scott only moments later, unfortunately unable to fend off Scott, who made his was past entering Les Combes on lap 36. 

Filsell would cross the finish line on lap 39 in the lead, but would drop to 8th position with post race penalty’s applied, leaving James Scott to cross the line for his first victory in the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup, followed by Ethan Grigg-Gault & Josh Anderson, who put on a clinic of strategy and driving to complete the podium in 3rd position. Jake Burton & Madison Down would complete the provisional top 5, making it 3 Trans Tasman Racing cars inside the top 5.

With provisional results now recorded, freshly of a race win, James Scott also takes command of the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup championship standings on 540 points, ahead of Jake Burton on 524 points.

3 rounds, 4 races, 4 different winners. It’s fair to say 2023 is creating an excellent spectacle. The championship is tight at the top heading into round 5 set to be held at Road America on the 7th of June. Who will reign supreme? Join us for round 5 to find out!