With three of the top 10 qualifiers not attending and six drivers who did not get into the top 10, it was decided that there would be no Last Chance Qualifier and the final would be run all-in, with the six non-qualifiers ordered by points scored and then race number if they had 0 points. Therefore, the 13-strong 2018 Unlimited World Final grid was as follows (reigning champion denoted by the italic C in gold brackets next to their name):
606 Jon - - - - - - - - - - 66 Colin
870 Looney (C) - - - - - - - - 616 Jam
669 Mr. Perfect Jr. - - - 474 Miniman
539 GoodHabits - - - - - 786 Brett
312 Mr. T-Bone - - - - - 47 Michal
385 Jonesy - - - - - - - - 337 Spook
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 386 Lukey
The race for the title saw a monumental battle between two Dutchmen that lasted the whole race, but coming out on top was a driver who amazingly had never won a title before...
2018 UNLIMITED WORLD FINAL
1st: Miniman
2nd: Lukey
3rd: Colin
Other finishers: Spook, Mr. T-Bone, GoodHabits, Jam, Looney, Mr. Perfect Jr., Brett
As reigning champion Looney was taken out of contention due to a lag collision on the very first lap, that guaranteed a new champion. Colin, promoted to pole owing to the absences of Rik and Cap, took an early lead but was hunted down by Team Bandicoot teammate Miniman and surprisingly young Cornish driver Spook, with the former taking the lead on lap 10 after #870 did #66 on oppo. #474 then suffered the same fate on lap 15 from Brett but retook the lead 2 laps later before Colin went back in the lead on lap 18. Tragedy struck for #66 as he was done head-on by 786 and then caught up in Jam's hit on GoodHabits with 3 laps to go which allowed Miniman back through for a lead he never relinquished for his first ever LFS Bangers title. Lukey had sneaked through the field and overtook #66 due to a tyre problem to claim second (which means back-to-back 2018 World Final seconds for the Ashton-Jones brothers) while Colin eventually got over the line in third for his second 2018 World Final bronze in succession. As always, commiserations to those who finished the 22 lap race but got nothing for it, especially Spook who was the only driver on the lead lap not to finish in the top 3.
Like his former Team Bandicoot teammate Pepino, Miniman has always been a rated driver who has always been respected, but until this evening was never able to back it up with an actual title. That monkey is now firmly off his shoulder for good.
The 2018 Unlimited World Final replay can be found here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/co9y2g
Here are the results from the other races that took place tonight, which were all non-points. Well done to all the winners:
Heat 1: Michal, Jam, Lukey, Brett, Jon
Heat 2: Jam, Michal, Lukey, GoodHabits, Spook, Looney, Jon
Heat 3: Michal, Jam, Lukey, Looney, Jon
Heat 4: Michal, Jon, Jam, Looney
Heat 5: Jam, Spook, Looney, Michal, Brett
Heat 6: Jam, Spook, Looney
DD: Looney
So, to conclude:
CONGRATULATIONS TO 474 MINIMAN - 2018 UNLIMITED WORLD CHAMPION!
The top 3 in the 2018 2 Unlimited World Final (from L-R: Lukey (2nd), Miniman (1st), Colin (3rd)).