2007D Complete - Congratulations!

The GMWC 2007D season is concluded (a summary of the standings is included below, in the extended portion of this post).

This was the league's 4th official season, and the first under the Grid Motorsports banner.  As expected, the improved funding and marketing afforded by the league's new governing body vaulted the series into unprecedented international prestige.  New drivers have swelled the league's rank and file, as brash up-and-comers and wily veterans alike saw an opportunity to hone their talents and pursue motorsports excellence on a world-wide stage.

Driver Championship

AJ won his third Driver Championship, though it was his narrowest victory in terms of points.  This was due in large part to the new schedule format introduced this season which helped insulate drivers from event absences and also forced drivers to succeed consistently across the full variety of venues on the schedule if they wished to contend for the cup.  AJ was the very portrait of that consistency, winning the last 6 (of 10) races and missing the podium only twice all season.  He put his signature on the season by taking pole position in 8 of the 10 races.  AJ showed once again that he is undaunted by the influx of brash new talent to the league's roster.

In a remarkable rebound from a disappointing 2007C, Doug put together an impressive string of performances to take the silver spot on the DC podium.  This is the second straight season to see the #2 DC driver winless for the season (Tom, 2007C).  But despite not winning a single feature race, Doug clung to his chances for the cup longer than any other driver, only being eliminated from contention for the DC win in the season's final region.  This being his career best DC finish, we're left to wonder which Doug will show up in 2008A, the podium contender, or the human pinball, or both!

The bronze DC finish went to last season's rookie phenom, Abe, who picked up where he left off last season and significantly upped the ante!  Abe parlayed his 2007C success into a position as founder and engineering lead on Team Antares, giving him both the means and the opportunity to challenge the league's elite performers with a vehicle custom tailored to his style.  And indeed he looked poised to not only challenge, but to execute a coup d’état, as he notched 3 wins in the first 4 events of the season.  But a mix of absences and difficulty taming his new 4-wheeled thoroughbred would see Abe on the podium only once in the last 6 events of the season.

Just outside the DC podium, in 4th place, was Celso, whose finish is even more impressive considering that he didn't even get to participate in the North American region.  But his early season success coupled with a strong return to the grid in Europe put him right in the thick of things at the end.  In fact, his assault on the field after his return in January catapulted him all the way to the #2 spot in the rolling rankings.

Matt found himself in 5th place, which doubtlessly is disappointing given his pre-season aspirations and the promise of a schedule format that would better accommodate the travel restrictions associated with the terms of his parole from a 2006 misdemeanor conviction for public nudity.  To his credit, he did manage to stay out of the negative limelight this season, but the problem was that he didn't find himself in the positive limelight much either.  He showcased his usual mastery of the streets of Monaco, but his hopes for DC glory were scuttled by chronic absences.  We'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was merely prioritizing his responsibilities as president of Team Ridgefield over personal season accolades as a driver.

Tom and Bill were neck and neck in DC points, with Tom edging out for a 6th place finish based on gross points earnings.   Tom  was unable to recapture his 2007C form (#2 DC) but represented himself and his team well all season long.  Bill seems to be either a marked man or have some kind of voodoo curse on his head, as he again seemed to suffer from an inordinate amount of accidental clobberings at the hands of his fellow gridmates.

The remainder of the DC points ladder was populated by a mix of rookies, both young and old, and league stalwarts seeking their niche in an increasingly impressive field.  Particularly noteworthy was Todd, who was the only driver out of the top two who scored points in every region of the season, and Mike, who earned points in 3 of the 4 events in which he participated.

Team Championship

2007D was the inaugural season for the revamped Team Championship, which now showcases teams formed according to their own philosophies, each competing not only on the track but for the hearts and minds of the drivers as well, since the rosters are built solely through driver-initiated affiliation.  Three strong league personalities staked out their territories in the pre-season, forming teams Antares, Ridgefield, and Rusyn.  Their methods differed, and the factory vehicles seemed to capture the nature of each team founder's personal style.  But it didn't take long to prove that they were all three the competitive equal of each other.

Team Antares rode a strong roster and consistent attendance to a decisive victory in the TC, in addition to putting two drivers on the DC podium (Doug, Abe).  Team Ridgefield benefited from a very accommodating vehicle design and the league's largest roster to earn a clear 2nd place finish.  Team Rusyn scored very well in 3rd, but it lost the recruiting game early in the season and suffered the consequences.

Team Ridgefield sowed the seeds of future success with the acquisition of multiple rookies during the course of the season, setting the stage for a strong 2008A.  But Antares now has a reputation to trumpet, and Rusyn can't help but benefit from the continued proven success of its founder and lead engineer (AJ).  And there'll be at least one new flag waving as well, as the newly-formed Team CPS assumes a customer relationship with Team Ridgefield, with former Ridgefield standout Tom at the helm.

Summary

The 2007D season was another chapter in the GMWC success story.  As we move swiftly into the next season, we want to thank all the drivers for participating, contributing, sharing, and joining in our dream of establishing the best sim-racing environment we can imagine.  We also want to welcome all of the new drivers that have arrived over the course of the season and encourage all of the drivers, both old and new, to continue to nurture the kind of community that lets us not only pursue sim-racing excellence but to thoroughly enjoy the pursuit itself.

- Grid Motorsports Administration

Pole Position

Fastest Lap