Again the format saw points reset with Job moving down to 100 and those behind reduced proportionately – resulting in a now 16-point lead. Drivers would be required to hit a magic 160-point mark to enter “Finalist Mode”, giving them the title upon their next race victory. Whatever had been ailing Rogers on day one, he’d seem to have recovered for the final day as he took victory in more than half of the races.
Wins at Spa, Hockenheim, and Road Atlanta – a race also notable for an equipment failure on Jiri Toman’s driving rig saw the Porsche man take the points lead for the first time this season, just ahead of Job and McCormack. McCormack though would be the first to hit Finalist Mode after a second-place finish in race seven tipped him over the 160-point mark.
The Williams driver couldn’t break through a Porsche blockade as Rogers won again ahead of team-mate Warren, and Job passed McCormack on the final lap too. That now meant Finalist Mode for Rogers and Job alongside McCormack going into race nine at Spa – where Rogers had already won twice. Unsurprisingly perhaps, Rogers captured pole position, then immediately saw his competition drop to two as McCormack was tagged into La Source by Warren. However, he still had Toman to contend with, as the R8G driver took the lead twice.
On the penultimate tour though, Toman suffered yet another equipment failure and speared off the track, leaving Rogers under little pressure from behind and with a two-second gap to Job who’d just got past countryman Ellis. The British racer couldn’t close the gap at all, leaving Rogers to scoop his first ESL R1 title with Job second and McCormack third.
ESL R1 Fall Major Final Race Results:
1 – Joshua Rogers (Porsche Coanda) - Porsche 911 GT3 R - 7 laps
2 – Sebastian Job (G2 Esports) - BMW M4 GT3 - +2.565s
3 – Kevin Ellis Jr (ART) - Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo - +3.192s