Lines takes well earned top seven finish in IAME X30 Euro Series season finale

IAME X30 Euro Series – Round 4 – Mariembourg, Belgium

The season finale at Mariembourg was always going to be intense with huge grids and close margins – and Finlay rose to the challenge with a weekend full of progress and strong racing.

Qualifying:

Finlay managed the traffic well and delivered solid laps in the wet. However, his final lap was impeded by contact from behind, causing him to drop down the order. With his competitor receiving a penalty, Finn was disappointed with qualifying P11 in group. Giving him lots of work to do in the three heat races against some of Europe’s fastest juniors.

Heat Races:

Across the three heats, Finlay showed great race craft, gaining positions with clean overtakes and avoiding trouble in the packs.

Heat 1: P7

Heat 2: P4

Heat 3: P13

These consistent results secured a good grid slot heading into Sunday’s Super Heat.

Super Heat:

A strong launch and decisive opening laps put Finlay straight into the fight. Starting P6, smart defending and late-race pace meant he crossed the line in P2, keeping momentum alive for the all-important Final.

Final:

Lining up against the best in Europe, in P8, Finlay gave it everything in a hard-fought race. He managed to hold position through the opening chaos in the mixed conditions and pulled off some brave moves in the slipstream zones, and kept pushing right to the chequered flag. Ultimately choosing the slick tyre option was the favourite as the 14-lap race progressed, as Finlay had to concede places gained early in the race to drivers who had chosen the slick tyre. Finishing a well-earned P7.

Plenty of positives to take from the weekend: consistent pace, improved qualifying execution, and solid wheel-to-wheel racing in one of the toughest paddocks around.