Session reports from day two of the second round of the 2020 VARS season, from Punta del Este in Uruguay. Logan James started on pole yesterday but slipped to the third at the flag as Carl Sandholm won from Henri Ruotsalainen, but can he convert the pole today? Race TwoIn an effort to combat his previous starts, Logan James launched from the lights with conviction, pulling away from front row partner Toby Evans, who was overtaken by Chase Newfield and Ruotsalainen. Not much changed further back, with the grid almost maintaining the same order, with race one winner Carl Sandholm making his way through the grid. Towards the back, Andrew Wright and Juana Martinez retired after engine troubles, but both managed to park in a safe place so the race continued. Teofilo Guerrero continued his retirement streak at Uruguay with another fatal meeting with the chicane at turns three and four. As the race settled, the crowd were treated to 3 amazing amazing overtakes by last event's star of Ellie-Mae Theodoulou as they made their way up the grid, obviously now coping with the previous braking issues from race one. Unfortunately, the attention was stolen from the Cypriot driver as towards the front Toby Evans crashed heading into the last turn, with the driver complaining of suspension issues after losing out on second position earlier in the race. The latter part of the race saw an exciting conclusion to what was a slightly mediocre race so far, with Logan James and Henri Ruotsalainen battling wheel to wheel. Nonetheless, the exciting conclusion saw Logan James miss out on yet another race win, with the Finn moving past him on the last lap to claim victory in race two. Chase Newfield completed the podium positions as rookie Robin Best finished a spectacular fifth. Race ThreeRace three saw the grid half-flipped as always, with a starting front row of Carl Sandholm alongside Antonio Felix. As the lights went out the crowd saw a near-perfect star from rookies Alex Allen and Antonio Felix, leaving Carl Sandholm to third place after lap one. As the race progressed Chase Newfield and Elon De Minassi had meetings with the barriers at turn four and nine respectively. From there saw the much faster Sandholm overtake the quick starters of Allen and Felix, pulling off effortless moves consecutively on the starting straight. Ellie-Mae Theodoulou's previous demons of brake problems seemed to catch up with her, the aforementioned part of the car completely giving up into the quick left right chicane. Mike Campbell ended an unlucky weekend at even unluckier means, with the engine giving up with four laps of the race to go, with the American racing in a hefty fifth position. From there, the race saw experienced veterans like Henri Ruotsalainen make their way through the reversed grid, taking both the fastest lap and third position. The third race also proved fruitful for fellow American Alex Allen, who ended convincingly in P2 after Antonio Felix was dropped from the leading pack to finish fifth. The third race saw a return to the top step of the podium for none other than Carl Sandholm, who pulled off a calm collected drive to collect two wins and an amazing second in the championship standings. StandingsAfter amazing weekends for Henri Ruotsalainen and Carl Sandholm saw them take first and second retrospectively in the VARS championship, a consistent Freddie Hayward emerged as third in the standings, with a 100% finishing and scoring rate. After a exciting and successful debut, a terrible weekend featuring a retirement in race three saw Ellie-Mae Theodoulou drop to
fourth in the standings. Logan James would have hoped for a better weekend considering the Brit started two of the three races on pole, but only came away sixth in the championship after a unsuccessful weekend in Argentina and Uruguay, the Brit seemingly unable to lead a race.
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