Jason Smyth and Rory O’Shea both got off to winning ways in Round 1 of the RTA Virtual Motorsport F4 Championship in Brazil.
As Tuesday arrived, a new era was about to begin for RTA Virtual Motorsport. Almost 40 FIA F4 cars had been polished, tonnes of new Pirelli rubber shipped, GantryTV graphics upgraded and anticipation to go racing had reached an all time high. Maintaining previously built reputations was the order for most, while revenge, a dish best served cold, was at the top of the menu for others.
Smyth was able to secure pole position with a brilliant lap. Robbie Callaghan lined up alongside him on the front row. All was set for battle to commence.
Heat 1
Smyth got off the line best and pulled away from the pack immediately. Ronan Doherty was able to challenge Callgahan from the offset. It was not a clean start to the season for some however. Through the famous ‘Senna Esses’ on the opening lap, the returning Jason Cooper got caught up in an incident with Darragh Halley, Joao Castro, Martin McGonagle and Sergej Grabun.
After getting through the start phase, O’Shea picked up the pace. First getting past Callaghan and then Doherty. Sean McClements put his foot into the fight, demoting Callaghan a further place. O’Shea clawed in Smyth and made multiple overtake attempts, but Smyth persevered, taking the first heat win of the season.
Heat 2
Heat 2 continued on the fight between Smyth and O’Shea and a similar theme arose. Smyth held onto the lead no matter what O’Shea threw at him. Cooper started fantastically after his poor Heat 1, gaining eight positions on the opening lap.
LMP2 Cup champion Dylan McClements started to make his impact on the evening by getting involved in the front fight. He overtook Callaghan and made inroads towards his brother Sean, teammate Doherty and Brandon McCaughan. Newcomer Theo L’estrange, a young karting prodigy from Dublin, got immediately involved in the podium battle on his debut.
All five had an incredible fight, extending over multiple laps, in a dramatic duel for the final podium position. It ended disastrously for the three of the four Antrim natives however. McCaughan got out of shape in Turn 1 and collected both McClements brothers with him. L’estrange was narrowly able to avoid the collision by cutting across the runoff.
Smyth held on up front, with O’Shea once again coming home in second and Doherty in third.
Heat 3
A ‘reverse top 8’ grid for Heat 3 saw Callaghan on the front row alongside Shaun McGoldrick. Both battled for race lead in the opening five minutes, as well as trading places with Cooper in third. O’Shea latched onto this fight immediately, Smyth not far behind. Sean McClements, fuelled with rage, drove the wheels off his F4 car in this same opening phase and gained almost 20 positions.
Callaghan’s tenure in the lead of the race came to a premature end with a spin through the ‘Bico de Pato,’ handing the reins over to O’Shea, Cooper and Smyth. In an ironic turn of events, it was now O’Shea’s turn to fend off Smyth.
The Wexford man did just that. Any attempt from Smyth or Cooper behind was swiftly dealt with and he fist pumped his way past the chequered flag to take his RTA first race win since May 2024. Both Doherty and Smyth lost their spots on the podium due to them both picking up late race drive-through penalties. This allowed for two comeback performances, with Cooper and McCaughan filling the rostrum.
A night of what could’ve been for some, but one thing is for definite. We have a battle on our hands. Donnington Park is next up for the drivers, which can be viewed on February 18th from 9pm on GantryTV.
By Evan Dalton
Photos Sean McClements
