2008 World Champions of Online Racing
Topping a year of more than 22,000 race entries from more than 60 countries, Pete Bunce, Conor McCarrell and Allen Cotton have been crowned the 2008 World Champions in the first-ever Championships of Online Racing sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association!
Bunce, of the United Kingdom, scored one win, one pole and an average finishing position of second en route to the Touring Car World Champion title in the six-round finals, which were contested over four different sims, car types and tracks.
McCarrell, of the United States, claimed the top step of the Sports Car World Champion podium with two wins, one pole and an average finishing position of second in the finals, which featured three different sims, four car types and six tracks.
Cotton, of the United Kingdom, placed on the podium in all six events of the Open Wheel World Champion finals to claim the title, notching one win and an average finishing position of second in contests that spanned two different sims, four car types and tracks.
"The sport of online racing is more than just one sim," Race2Play cofounder Todd Weiss said. "Sims are the 'equipment' of online racing. The Championships are designed to test the overall racer, the Mario Andrettis who can step into different forms of equipment and drive them for what they're worth."
Drivers qualified for the Open Wheel, Sports Car and Touring Car Championships by placing in select qualifying series during the first three seasons of the year. The worldwide field of racers narrowed to 43 drivers from 13 countries for the Touring Car finals; 40 drivers from 15 countries for the Sports Car finals; and 35 drivers from nine countries for the Open Wheel finals.
"Race2Play salutes Pete Bunce, Conor McCarrell, Allen Cotton and all the competitors who rose to the challenge of a true World Championship representing the sport of online racing."
Upon completion of the Touring Car championship Bunce had 86 wins and 54 poles in 369 career starts at Race2Play, making him the fourth most prolific driver in the community. Bunce has claimed 12 individual series championships over the last two years, and holds 17 track records.
Pablo Martinez of Spain finished second in the Touring Car championship finals. Omar Gonzalez of the United States rounded out the top three.
Along with teammate Martin Mraz of Slovakia, Bunce's Over The Hill Racing team handily captured the 2008 Touring Car Championship team title. Gonzalez's Scuderia Internazionale, with teammates Joco Gorenc of Slovenia and Ryan Ansoon of the United States, finished second. Martinez and Pablo Garcia, also of Spain, brought Pro Sim Racing home third in the team standings.
Upon completion of the Sports Car championship McCarrell had 106 wins and 81 poles in 301 career starts at Race2Play, making him the third winningest driver in the community. McCarrell has claimed 12 individual series championships over the last two years, the only driver to win at least one in every season of competition at Race2Play. McCarrell holds 27 track records.
Samuel Krueger of Finland took the second podium step in the Sports Car championship finals. Pablo Garcia of Spain finished third.
Led by Krueger's consistently strong finals run, GTNDC wrapped up the 2008 Sports Car Championship team title with Claus Juel of Denmark and Kent Welker of the United States also contributing. Garcia brought Pro Sim Racing home in second place, with contributing runs by teammates Ivan Iglesias of Spain and Richard Johnstone of the United Kingdom. McCarrell's SoCal Motorsports finished third in the team standings.
Upon completion of the Open Wheel championship Cotton had 15 wins and 10 poles in 340 career starts at Race2Play, making him the ninth most active driver in the community. Cotton has captured seven series championships over the last two years, and holds three track records.
Heinz Petzold of South Africa captured second place in the Open Wheel championship finals. Ryan Robbins of the United States took third.
Cotton led Pinnacle Motorsports to the 2008 Open Wheel Championship team title, with Maurice Claessen of the Netherlands and Brian Fairley of the United Kingdom contributing runs. Petzold solo'd Apex Predator Racing to second place in the team standings. Brothers Barrett and Mike Erickson of the United States put Bad Voices Racing on the final step of the podium.
