Eurard 'ZAR Eries' Roode has taken first place in the Forza 4 DGL 2012 first leg, sharing the podium with Robert 'Gr1m' Da Silva and Gerhard 'xGerhardSAx' Rautenbach, who took second and third respectively.
But over just half-way in the leg it looked like Eries might not get there. While he enjoyed podium finishes all the way up to the fourth race on Circuit de Catalunya, the elements turned against him on the fifth race on Hockenheimring, earning him an eight spot and knocking him to Group B for race number six.
“I had a connection that came from the GROOT trek. It was horrible and basically ruining everyone else’s race. I rather pulled off track and stayed there, which later due to some rule unclarity resulted in me not making the cut for the next Group A race.
“Rules needs to be crystal clear. If it ain’t in the rules you can’t enforce it. If I knew that I would have stayed out on the track, which then no matter where and what I did would have secured me a position in group A. But as stated it was said and done, and I had to put some racing in group B to get back to Group A,” he says.
Indeed, Eries worked hard to get a top place in his Group B race (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) so that for the seventh race of the leg (Suzuka Circuit) he could once again compete in Group A. Robert 'Prior1ty' Prytz prevented him from taking first place in that race, but Eries’ points, thanks to his brilliant performances throughout the leg, got him the top spot.
Out of the whole leg, Eries says his favourite race was Mugello Autodromo Internazionale (race 2) which he won with Gr1m coming second.
“I was constantly looking what the guys behind me were up to. It’s a nice track and I pushed hard each lap to see how perfect those sweeping corners can be taken,” Eries says.
He adds that Prior1ty was his strongest competitor this leg.
“We both know what we can do on track and if the cars were equal there would have been more paint on each other’s cars. He is a fast guy, has a lot of talent and will get far with Forza. Unfortunately we in SA are not part of the world scene and that is a pity,” he says.
He also says he was very taken aback with Gerhard.
“I must admit that [he] clearly impressed me with the times he got. Not because he is a bud but he constantly made my mouth hang open with the times he achieved. Had it been for equal cars, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have sprayed some champagne with the lads!” he says.
Eries has quite a good history in the Forza scene of South Africa, having been internationally involved with Forza racing since 2005. He and two American partners are responsible for starting the International Forza Club Association (IFCA). After returning to South Africa in 2008, Eries looked to set up tournaments in South Africa the next year. With this background he says he was more than pleased with the Do Gaming League (DGL) approach.
“On the point of racing and the racers involved, some shoulders were scrubbed in the beginning and it turned out to be a very welcomed event. I really enjoyed having sweaty palms again with the likes of Robert etc. It all makes for a healthy community where all we want to do is have fun with a competitive racing edge,” he says. “I think we have a bright future in SA for racing online and we have some very fast drivers out there: Robert, SuperDave, Gerhard, etc. to name a few. Then we have the guys who are slightly slower who are having a close battle every time they hit the track.”
