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Tackling rFactor 2 F4 at Monza Barcade’s “Race Like Iñigo (Anton)” Event

Oct 17

3 min read

What an incredible weekend of sim racing! We want to extend a massive congratulations to all the winners and to every single driver who took to the grid. The competition was fierce, the racing was respectful, and the atmosphere on-site made for an unforgettable event.

A very special thank you to Monza Barcade for hosting such a fantastic competition, our team had an absolute blast! Monza Barcade stands out as probably the only sim racing venue in the Philippines we’ve experienced so far that offers a truly high-end setup equipped with 21 Nm Fanatec direct drive wheelbases and Heusinkveld load cell pedals. If you haven't dropped by yet, you are missing out. Go check out their top-tier rigs, soak in the awesome ambiance, and grab some of their incredible food while you're there!

Here is how all the action unfolded on track at Sepang International Circuit in the Formula 4 cars on rFactor 2:

Intermediate Category: Edward Mamuyac’s Charge Through the Pack

Edward Mamuyac represented the team in the Intermediate class, facing a tough starting position after qualifying 11th out of 12 drivers.

Race 1: Edward put on a masterclass in spatial awareness and racecraft right from the green light. Dodging chaos in Lap 1, Turn 1, he sliced through the field and systematically gained positions throughout the race, eventually charging all the way up to an impressive 5th place finish at the checkered flag.
Race 2 (Reverse Grid): Starting near the back of the grid once again, Edward was primed for another comeback drive. Unfortunately, an early-lap collision dealt damage to his car, making it tough to catch up to the lead group.

Despite the bad luck in Race 2, Edward’s brilliant recovery drive in Race 1 highlighted a strong, resilient overall performance.

Expert Category: Dominance, Team Strategy, and a Last-Corner Thriller

The Expert category saw Gerald and Johann take on the grid in a high-stakes, action-packed round.

Qualifying

Gerald set the benchmark early, putting down a blazing 2:02.654 to secure P1 Pole Position and maximum qualifying points. Johann delivered a solid performance as well, setting a 2:04.477 to lock in P5.

Race 1

Gerald: Capitalized on his pole position immediately, pulling away from the field and building a massive 8-second lead over P2 to take a comfortable 1st-place victory.
Johann: Maintained a clean, steady pace throughout the session, defending well to lock in a solid 5th-place finish.

Race 2 (Reverse Grid)

With the top finishers inverted for Race 2, both Gerald and Johann had to fight their way up from the back.

The Recovery: Both drivers carved through the field with precision. By the time 4 laps remained, Gerald had climbed to 4th with Johann right behind in 6th.
Restart: A major pileup behind them triggered a race stoppage and restart with 4 laps to go. On the restart, Johann immediately moved up to 5th.
Team Strategy: Team orders were issued for Johann to hold position behind Gerald to allow Gerald to focus on pushing for a podium spot. With 2 laps remaining, Gerald climbed into P2. Johann (in P4) was instructed to play it smart, stay within striking distance of the tight wheel-to-wheel lead battle ahead, and capitalize on any incidents.
The Last-Corner Victory: Gerald kept relentless pressure on the leader all the way to the final lap. In a dramatic finish at the very last corner, Gerald executed a decisive move to secure P1, capping off an incredible reverse-grid victory!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/9a9ab6_069709d234f84de1ac962f8fc3bca589/480p/mp4/file.mp4

The Last-Corner Victory!

What’s Next? The Nürburgring Challenge!

With points awarded across Qualifying, Race 1, and Race 2, every lap mattered for the overall podium standings. Between Gerald's double P1 victories, Johann's smart tactical execution, and Edward's mega charge in the Intermediate class, it was a super rewarding event for the team.

Hats off again to all the competitors, and huge thanks once more to Monza Barcade in Arcovia Pasig for setting the standard for sim racing venues in the country.

The momentum doesn't stop here, the team is already shifting focus to our next big test! We are currently preparing for the Nürburgring Challenge organized by Sim Racing Philippines. This online endurance event features a 24H Nürburgring format compressed into a grueling 2-hour and 40+ minute endurance race. Taking on the Green Hell for the team will be Gerald Garcia, Johann Villena, and Kris Sanceja.