Classics Round 13: Bugs in Mexico City

Classics Series – Round 8: The Battle of the Bugs

Mexico brought the Classics back down to earth — literally — as Shane and Tiara traded in their sleek Gatsby Mk1s for a pair of humble yet mischievous 1966 Volkswagen Beetles. Identical in every way but color, the cars promised a return to simplicity and driver finesse. What followed was anything but calm.

From the very first lap, tension was high. Tiara, frustrated after a messy start, pushed too hard to recover, her impatience getting the better of her on the long front straight. A poorly timed brake check on Shane set the tone — and fate wasted no time responding. Just six corners later, karma struck back as she looped the car in the tight infield, spinning out and ceding the lead she had fought so fiercely to protect.

From there, Shane settled into one of his most disciplined drives of the season. Lap after lap, his 1966 Bug ran flawlessly — steady, consistent, and smooth through the rhythm of the Mexico circuit. His 7.745 best lap stood unmatched as he built a commanding lead that only grew as the minutes passed. Tiara’s recovery was spirited but ragged; even as she found pace late in the race, her 8.213 best and 8-lap deficit told the story.

After 71 laps of mechanical harmony, Shane crossed the line victorious, further extending his advantage in the Classics standings. The round proved that even in the simplest machinery, control and composure win out over emotion and aggression.

Next stop: Brazil, where the Classics will take a wild detour into history’s fastest lane — a surprise F1 showdown between Shane and Tiara in open-wheel machinery.

Shane now leads 8–5 in Classics victories

Classics Round 12: Gatsby Automotive MK1 T

The Twin Gatsby Showdown

When an engine failure sidelined one of the 2006 Aston Martins just hours before lights out in Singapore, Gatsby Automotive stepped in to save the night — offering up two identical GA Mk1 T road cars for Shane and Tiara to pilot. Sleek, balanced, and distinctly elegant, the race marked a milestone for the brand: the first time two road-going Gatsbys have ever raced head-to-head in official competition.

Determined to bounce back after his 356 Cup heartbreak, Shane wasted no time getting comfortable in his British Racing Green Mk1, immediately finding flow on the tricky Marina Bay circuit. His laps were steady, unhurried, and precise — the kind of calm control that has become his hallmark.

Tiara, meanwhile, came out swinging in her Ocean Blue Mk1, showing immense early pace. Her fresh tires gave her an edge in the opening laps, culminating in a searing 8.602 — the fastest lap of the race. But as the tires faded, so did her composure. A few scrappy offs in the second half of the stint cost her valuable time, and the early momentum slipped away.

With 20 laps remaining, Shane made an unexpected call — voluntarily diving into the pits to remove the Mk1’s hardtop and finish the race open-air. The pitstop wasn’t required, but it made a statement: confidence and control over calculation. Even with the lost time, he crossed the line five laps ahead of Tiara after 62 total laps, sealing one of his most stylish wins of the season.

A defining night not just for the drivers, but for Gatsby Automotive itself — proving its homegrown machines could shine under the bright lights of Singapore. Next stop: Mexico City, where the Classics return to full power and high drama.

Shane Leads 7-5 over Tiara in Classics Races so far

Classics Round 11: 2007 F1 at Monza

Classics Series – Round 11, Monza 2: 2007 F1 Rematch

If the Countach battle was pure 1980s excess, the second Monza showdown fast-forwarded two decades to the cutting edge of 2007 Formula 1. On one side, Tiara strapped into the scarlet Ferrari F2007—Kimi Räikkönen’s championship-winning machine, a car drenched in tifosi mythology. On the other, Shane climbed into the silver-and-red McLaren MP4/22, Lewis Hamilton’s rookie rocket. It was history, rivalry, and pride, all rolled into 53 laps of flat-out speed.

From the drop of the flag, Shane was locked in. The McLaren hugged Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones like it was built for nothing else. Lap after lap he looked smoother, more comfortable, as if he’d found the rhythm of the circuit playing in his head like a metronome. Tiara, meanwhile, fought to keep her Ferrari in line, but the harder she pushed, the more the gap grew. Even the most loyal tifosi would have started sneaking glances toward Shane’s silver streak tearing away into the distance.

By the halfway mark, the writing was already on the pit wall. Shane’s McLaren wasn’t just quicker—it was untouchable. Tiara kept circulating, hoping for a mistake or mechanical drama, but none came. When the checkered flag waved, Shane had built a crushing 10-lap advantage, a total dismantling that left no doubt who owned Monza in the modern machines.

For Shane, it was redemption after the Countach calamity—proof that when given the right tools, he could deliver absolute dominance. For Tiara, it was a long evening in the Ferrari garage, muttering about aerodynamics, Bridgestones, and how Lewis Hamilton probably had it easier.

Classics Round 10: Countachs at Monza

Classics Series – Round 10, Monza 1: Countach vs Countach

The air at Monza trembled with the roar of twin Lamborghini Countach V12s, two wedges of Italian excess that looked more at home parked outside a disco than hurtling down the Temple of Speed. Shane wasted no time in showing who had the cleaner cassette tape deck, settling into a rhythm that saw him stretch a commanding 4-lap lead in the early going. The Countach was singing, Shane was composed—and for a brief moment it looked like this might be a cruise.

But then came disaster. A front blade issue sent him diving into the pits, mechanics scrambling around the car as if it had shown up asking for an oil change and a perm. Every second lost was blood in the water, and Tiara pounced. While Shane’s pit crew tried to wrestle the Countach’s stubborn nose back into shape, Tiara drove like a woman possessed—steady, ruthless, and perfectly consistent. The gap closed, the deficit evaporated, and before long she had not only reeled him in but powered past, her Countach screaming in triumph.

By the time the checkered flag dropped, Tiara had flipped the tables completely, finishing 4 laps clear. Shane, left to brood over what might have been, found a sliver of consolation: a lightning-quick 7.466 fastest lap, easily outshining Tiara’s 8.104. A hollow victory perhaps, but at least he proved that when his Countach stayed in one piece, it was the quicker disco machine.

Classics Round 9: Cats at Spa

The big cats took to the forest as Shane and Tiara lined up in identical Jaguar XJS coupes for a 44-lap contest at Spa. Though better known for its grand touring comfort, the XJS has a surprising motorsport legacy—including a class win at Spa in 1984 under Tom Walkinshaw Racing during the European Touring Car Championship. This race brought that history full circle.

Tiara’s #2 car showed flashes of brilliance, setting the fastest lap of the race with a 9.456, but her aggressive push proved costly. Mistakes crept in as she tried to keep up with and overtake Shane, and by the time the checkered flag dropped, she had completed only 36 laps.

Shane’s #4 XJS ran faultlessly. He never reached Tiara’s outright pace, but lap after lap, he stayed on track and in control—completing all 44 laps and finishing 8 laps clear. His steady hand once again proved the winning formula in the Classics Series. Shane is also now 4-0 to Tiara when it comes to Jaguars.

Next up: Monza, where the howling V12s of identical Lamborghini Countachs will take center stage, followed by a high-stakes rematch in the 2007 F1 cars.

Classics Round 8: 2007 F1 at Laguna

Race 2 shifted the Classics Series into an entirely different universe — the high-tech, high-downforce world of 2007 Formula 1 machinery. For the first time, Tiara found herself in a single-seater, entrusted with none other than Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari F2007, the very car that carried the Iceman to a World Championship.

From the moment she left the line, Tiara looked composed and unflustered. The leap from GT cars and classics into the razor-edge sensitivity of a Formula 1 car is a daunting one, but she adapted quickly. Lap by lap, her confidence grew. She kept the car neat and tidy, and by the midpoint of the stint she was stringing together consistent laps, setting a best of 7.924 while keeping the Ferrari clean and mistake-free.

On the other side of the garage, Shane strapped into Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren MP4/22 — a car renowned for its raw pace. And the speed was undeniable. He delivered the fastest lap of the race with a blistering 7.176, proving the McLaren’s sheer power. But with the speed came risk, and across the run, mistakes began to creep in. Pushing the limits of grip and braking zones, Shane’s McLaren never quite found the same stability Tiara had mastered.

By the checkered flag, Tiara’s measured drive in the Ferrari earned her the victory, while Shane’s struggles left him 4 laps adrift despite his outright pace advantage. The result underlined a key lesson of endurance competition: sometimes precision and control outweigh raw speed. For Tiara, it was a breakthrough performance in her first ever single-seater race — and for Shane, a reminder of just how punishing Formula 1 machinery can be when not perfectly tamed.

Classics Round 7: Big Cats at Laguna

Race 1 of the weekend transported the Classics grid back to the era of polished chrome and gentleman racers, as Shane and Tiara lined up in a pair of magnificent Jaguar Mk 1s. The cars gleamed under the lights with their unmistakable curves, ready to relive a time when saloon car racing was raw, demanding, and unforgiving.

From the very first lap, Shane looked calm and composed behind the wheel. His Mk 1 flowed through the corners with precision, each lap building on the last as he found a steady rhythm. By the midpoint of the race, he had established himself as the benchmark, ultimately clocking a best lap of 8.005 — smooth, efficient, and controlled.

Tiara, however, was determined to keep him honest. Matching Shane’s pace almost blow for blow, she laid down a best lap of 8.025, just two-tenths shy of his mark. But while her outright speed was impressive, the Mk 1’s narrow handling window demanded perfection. A few early mistakes — small slips that cost her momentum — allowed Shane to edge away.

Still, Tiara pressed on with grit, refusing to let the race slip into a runaway. The gap never widened into comfort, but Shane’s consistency proved decisive. At the checkered flag, he had completed all 28 laps, with Tiara crossing 3 laps behind. It was a contest that captured the essence of 1950s saloon racing: style, resilience, and the relentless chase for precision.

Classics Round 6: 2020s Le Mans

The 2020s showdown marked the first time this season that Shane and Tiara went head-to-head in modern machinery — a pair of cutting-edge Cadillac V-Series.R prototypes. With no technical advantage to lean on, this race promised to be decided purely on skill, consistency, and nerve.

From the very start, Shane came alive in the Cadillac. Settling into a rhythm early, he strung together a series of sharp, controlled laps that allowed him to inch clear of Tiara. But she was never far behind — relentlessly pushing, searching for every ounce of pace to reel him back in. The pair exchanged fastest laps as the tension mounted, the gap fluctuating but never stretching beyond striking distance.

As the final laps counted down, the race hung in the balance. Tiara threw everything at the challenge, pressing Shane to the very limits of his concentration. When the checkered flag fell, only 7.262 seconds separated the two Cadillacs — the closest finish of the season so far, and a race that showcased just how fierce the battle has become in the Classics Series.

Classics Round 5: 2000s Le Mans

The 2000s round delivered the season’s first night race, a spectacle under the lights that brought the modern diesel prototypes to center stage. Tiara climbed into the cockpit of the legendary Audi R10 TDI, while Shane strapped into the equally formidable Peugeot 908 HDi FAP — rivals that once defined an era of endurance racing.

As the race went green, the circuit shimmered in the glow of floodlights, and Tiara immediately found her stride. The Audi looked planted and confident through every corner, and lap by lap she refined her lines with metronomic precision. By the time the clock ran out, she had completed the full 24-lap distance, setting the tone for how to master racing at night.

Shane, however, wrestled with the quirks of the Peugeot. While the 908 showed flashes of speed, he never quite settled into the same rhythm Tiara had found, struggling to match her relentless consistency. When the checkered flag waved, the Peugeot trailed 5 laps down, giving Tiara another decisive victory and further proving her adaptability across eras and conditions.

Classics Round 4: 1960s Le Mans

The 1960s duel brought one of motorsport’s most iconic rivalries to life: Ferrari versus Ford. On the grid, Tiara took the wheel of the sleek and nimble Ferrari 412 P, while Shane lined up in the thunderous Ford GT40 — a machine built for exactly this kind of showdown.

But just as the race was set to ignite, disaster struck for Shane. A mechanical issue on the GT40 left him stranded at the start, forcing him to watch as Tiara roared away and built up a commanding 13-lap lead. By the time the Ford finally got rolling, the Ferrari was already deep into its rhythm, lapping with poise and consistency.

Shane fought back hard once underway, showing flashes of the GT40’s legendary pace as he carved through the laps with determination. Yet the mountain was simply too steep to climb. At the flag, Tiara’s Ferrari crossed the line a full 10 laps ahead, securing a decisive victory and etching her name into the Classics record books with one of the most dominant performances of the weekend.

Classics Round 3: 1950s Le Mans

The 1950s showdown at Le Mans brought a pair of breathtaking Jaguar D-Types to the grid, evoking the golden era of endurance racing. From the drop of the flag, Shane launched into an early lead, his D-Type running smooth and steady as he settled into the rhythm of the 24-lap contest. Lap after lap, he kept the pace sharp and the car composed, ultimately recording a best lap of 10.571 — a benchmark for precision and control.

But Tiara was never far behind. Matching Shane’s consistency with determined driving of her own, she kept the gap close all the way to the checkered flag. When the race finally ended, just 11.058 seconds separated the two D-Types — making it the second-closest finish of the entire weekend. The roar of the 1950s machines, the relentless chase, and the razor-thin margin at the finish cemented this duel as one of the standout moments of the Classics season so far.

Classics Round 2: E types at Monaco

Shane Holds On in Monaco for a Gritty Classics Victory

The second round of the Classics series at Monaco was a dramatic endurance test that came down to the final lap. Shane stormed ahead in the opening phase, pulling out a 15-lap lead as Tiara struggled to get comfortable in her E-Type. But with each fastest lap, Shane unknowingly pushed his car too far—damaging the engine and slowing to a crawl by lap 43.

With the car barely running, Shane pitted and began tearing it down to improve cooling. Tiara took full advantage, claiming the lead and building a 2-lap buffer. But as Shane rejoined with a fragile engine limited to 50% power, Tiara’s own race unraveled. Consistency slipped, and with just laps to go, Shane’s wounded Jag closed the gap and crossed the line first— just 6.331 seconds ahead.

The Classics series is now tied 1–1. Next stop: La Sarthe, where Shane and Tiara will go head-to-head in four eras of Le Mans legends.

Classics Round 1: 911 RSRs at Suzuka

Tiara won the first Classics race of the 2025 season. Driving her Valiant liveried Porsche 911 RSR to victory over Shane’s Jäegermeister liveried RSR. Tiara gained an early lead with a tire advantage of a new chassis. Shane struggled to get heat into his tires, and repeatedly fell off in the early stages. As the race progressed Tiara’s tires did start to go, but her gap was too large.

The next classics race will see Shane and Tiara racing Jaguar E-Types on the streets of Monaco