BDG Sim Racing Adds to Ranks, 'Alpha' Takes Zolder Double
Heusden-Zolder, BE - In a surprising move to bolster its ranks, BDG Sim Racing expanded its driver lineup from two to four in advance of the inaugural AOR Tier 2 GT4 Super Series. The announcement came as BDG exited a successful outing in the AOR GT3 Tier 5 Series and at a time when few were aware of their overtures in free agency. With the ink barely dried, the cousin teams of sister cars stormed the track in Belgium en route to a double victory, double podium, and split squad points to be shared between the drivers.
Representing the BDG 'Alpha' team for the series will be
@BernoR_21 of the Netherlands and
@Archie619 of the Scottish Isles, teammates from the Tier 5 GT3 championship both making the move from Porsche to Audi for the GT4 special series. Across from them now flying the banner of BDG 'Bravo', the newly formed team of KielAlexander the American and
@turborat from Kenya could be seen commenting on their matching firesuits and laughing at masking tape nametags the team fashioned on the back of their matching helmets. The former Bentley boys both seemed excited for the new opportunity, though cameras did catch KielAlexander attempting to enter the passenger side of the #38 Audi at least once. Spirits were high in the team paddock ahead of the practice session, as BDG team principals brought the four drivers together to pose for pictures and introduce them seemingly to one another and to the gathered press. The global reach of the sport was on full display as the men traded race stories and joked on one another's accents before getting to the business of the day.
As the day gave way to race time, levity gave way to seriousness on pit lane. Following strong qualifying efforts,
@BernoR_21 and
@turborat took their positions at the head of the grid to the delight of engineers and crews of both teams, with Archie and Kiel in place to fight from the back. Starting from pole in both Race 1 and 2, Berno paced the field in his new R8 with confidence. Despite the challenges of a new series and a new car, intimate knowledge of the Zolder circuit proved to be the difference as Berno maintained his lead from turn one through the checkered flag for his very first AOR-sanctioned victory. Behind him, the inverted colors of the BDG 'Bravo' #420 driven by
@turborat turned in its own personal best performances, as Turbo locked in podiums number one and two on the season and of his AOR career. Deeper in the field, Archie and Kiel struggled at times to keep pace amidst the nervousness of the pack, narrowly missing trouble in some instances and becoming collateral damage in others. Both Archie (12-9) and Kiel (16-17) look to improve on their respective outings, however spirits remained high in the BDG pits following the race.
With a 1-1 from Berno and 3-2 from Turbo, BDG Sim Racing sits atop the driver and team championship standings heading to Brands Hatch. Archie rounds out the top 10, with Kiel hanging on in 19th and desperately seeking a better result.
