Round 10: Even Playing Field

Buttonwillow Circuit – Nov 9, 2025

It's a rare event for 86 Challenge: a new track. Not a new layout, but a new Circuit altogether.

Almost everyone was laying eyes on this pavement for the first time. Luckily, thanks to Speed Ventures, 86 Challenge had a dedicated run group and plenty of opportunities to set clean laps without traffic.

Would the same folks stand atop the podium? Or would everyone’s lack of prior experience level the playing field and cause an upset?

In Stock class, the lineup was small but strong. All 5 contestants were multiple podium winners. Going into session 3, Saurabh, Ivan and Thiago were within a single tenth of each other — a testament to the precision and skill of these drivers.

With 1 session to go, Saurabh let slip that he had "fixed" his misfires by unplugging his O2 sensors, in violation of the rules. He needed to plug those sensors in and set a lap, and he did: a 2:05.249 (2:07.749 adjusted). Enough for P1, and an inaugural Gen 2 record. Ivan had to be satisfied with a P2, a Gen 1 record of 2:08.124 set on overheated tires, and data to suggest that a 2.5 second handicap might be insufficient. Thiago rounded out the podium with a 2:05.722 in his Gen 2 (2:08.222 adjusted).

Two of the top contenders in Street class were MIA, making some midfielders lick their chops in anticipation of a big points haul. Brian #900 took P2 with a solid 2:04.372. Warren corded his front tires just before the event, but managed to find a pair of discarded SX2s and outdrove the stagger to grab P3, setting a 2:07.074. But the benchmark was set by Timur: 2:03.730, 6 tenths faster than his competition.

Will, in Touring class, had great ambitions for a clickbait video. SUB2 IN THE FIRST LAP?? He spun out heroically and debeaded his tire in the process instead. He was able to get the tire back on later and set a scorching 1:59.490, taking P1 and the record uncontested. Miles came in with a 2:04.305 for a distant P2, still using SX2s. Tor the Retiree switched to drift mode and took P3 with a 2:05.592, another 1.3 seconds behind — also on SX2s.

Unlimited class was surprisingly tight, with about a second between first and second place. Newcomer Bartosz Barakonski set a 1:58.277 with a supercharged Gen 1 for the win and Daniel Quinones, though still dialing in his turbo Gen 2, set a 1:59.355 for P2. Brian Kao was P3 with a 2:04.359.

Full results: https://86challenge.us/events/nov-09-2025-buttonwillow-circuit

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Published by Saurabh Kulkarni on December 18, 2025 19:32

#results #buttonwillow