[RACE RECAP] DDRL Navigates Rain-Soaked Weekend at Hungaroring
the DDRL teams at the start of the hungaroring race.
The DDRL race weekend at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary, presented significant challenges as heavy rain persisted from practice through to race day. Teams arrived to light rain on Thursday, which intensified to heavy downpours by Friday morning. With limited experience in wet conditions, several drivers struggled throughout the weekend. Despite an initial rain delay before practice, race control proceeded as the forecast indicated the rain would continue for the entire event.
Qualifying took place under difficult conditions, with Cullan Putney from CPRacing securing pole position by managing the track effectively. Adam Krukowski followed in second, and Steve Danger qualified in third. Strathmont Racing’s Ben Roehlke faced difficulties and was unable to post a valid lap, placing him at the back of the grid for the start.
Photo one: Krukowski looses control of his car and collides with Putney.
Photo Two: Patel sends Roehlke into the barriers.
Photo Three: DAnger deliberately collided with Patel.
Race day saw a dramatic start with Ryder Thunderbolt having to serve a penalty immediately, putting him in the pits at the green light. Just three turns into the race, Adam Krukowski lost control of his car due to the slick conditions, sending him into a spin and colliding with race leader Putney. Race control determined the incident was unavoidable in the heavy rain. Later, Darren Patel misjudged his braking and collided with Roehlke, sending the Strathmont Racing driver into the barriers. Patel was handed a drive-through penalty for the incident, while Ryder Thunderbolt also had to serve a penalty for exceeding track limits. As the race progressed, tensions flared. On lap seven, Steve Danger, frustrated by his position and the persistent rain, deliberately collided with Patel, an action that sparked an ongoing investigation by race control. The outcome of the investigation remains unclear, and fans are awaiting word on potential consequences for Danger’s actions.
Patel and Ryder serve Drive Through penalties.
Despite these early incidents, both Patel and Ryder worked to recover. Patel, after serving his penalty, re-entered the race and focused on gaining positions. Ryder, who had started in the pits, faced multiple minor collisions but steadily made his way up the field. Though the conditions were difficult, he managed to find consistency as the race progressed.
Krukowski and Tramontana leave the pits with dry compound tires.
In the final stages of the race, both Krukowski and Tramontana experienced setbacks in the pits. Adam Krukowski faced delays as his team identified minor repairs that needed to be made while making a pitstop. a critical error saw Krukowski's team fit his car with dry compound tires, a costly mistake given the flooded track conditions. Tramontana from Grease Monkeys Racing suffered a similar fate with his pit crew, both drivers losing significant time and traction on the wet track. Taking advantage of these errors, Roehlke, who had started last, secured a strong position at the front for the remainder of the race.
Roehlke secures first win as a Strathmont Racing Team driver at Hungaroring.
After starting from the back of the grid, Roehlke managed to secure the win. Patel’s recovery allowed him to finish in second, while Ryder’s persistence through multiple challenges earned him a third-place finish.
The DDRL will head to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in two weeks, where teams will look to apply the lessons from the rain-soaked Hungaroring race.
