On October 15, 2024, the penultimate race of the Mercedes-Benz Virtual GP 2024 season took place at the Italian Mugello circuit, one of the most challenging and beautiful tracks in the world. This legendary circuit presented drivers with many challenges, including technical corners and high-speed straights. Once again, simracing fans had plenty to watch, as the race saw numerous dramatic moments, including dangerous crashes and wheel-to-wheel battles.
JJ Racing Team entered the race with both of its drivers, František Kaštovský and Lukáš Uhlík, who were eager to compete for points on this famous track. Qualifying brought mixed results – František Kaštovský delivered a solid performance in his very first drive on this track, securing an impressive 10th place, which gave him a good starting position for the race. On the other hand, Lukáš Uhlík struggled in qualifying and started the race from 17th place.
The race itself, however, was not without obstacles. Despite Kaštovský’s successful efforts to move up the field, fate was not on his side. He collided with a competitor who blocked the track after a mistake, causing Kaštovský’s car to crash into the barriers. This incident meant an early end to the race for František, which was a major disappointment for the team.
František Kaštovský reflected on his performance: “I was a bit nervous about Mugello since I had never raced here before. But I was pleasantly surprised by qualifying, where I managed to secure a decent 10th place, and in the race, I was gradually moving up. Unfortunately, a mistake by another driver literally blocked my path and wrecked my car. It’s frustrating because I felt like I could have fought for a top 10 finish. I hope I have better luck in the final race of the season.“
Lukáš Uhlík also faced challenges. Despite a difficult qualifying session and starting from 17th place, he took advantage of the situations on the track, including crashes and collisions of his competitors, and steadily worked his way up to 13th place. As the race progressed, Uhlík’s tires began to wear down, and the drivers behind him started closing the gap. Still, he fought until the end and finished the race in 14th place.
Uhlík commented on the race: “Mugello has never been an easy track for me, and qualifying just confirmed that. I started from 17th place, which wasn’t ideal, but in the race, I managed to avoid a few crashes and steadily moved up to 13th. Toward the end of the race, I was battling tire wear and trying to maintain my gap over the competitors behind me. I ended up finishing 14th, which I consider a solid result given the difficulty of the race.“
The next and final race of the Mercedes-Benz Virtual GP 2024 season will take place on November 5, 2024, at the famous Suzuka circuit in Japan. Simracing fans can watch this exciting season finale on the Virtual GP YouTube channel or on O2 TV Sport, where a dramatic conclusion to the season is expected.
Photo: iRacing
Race recording: