Formula De features many colorful tracks ... like Montreal.	Or perhaps you prefer Monte Carlo?
Or why not LA?	Apparently the Mafia likes sand ... Bahrain anyone?

End of the Mini-Streak ...

Once again the tournament brought drivers from across the globe to the board game racing capital of the world; Lancaster, PA. This is one event where making the Final is its own reward. GM Githens and Co-Gm Bryan Collars go to great efforts to provide a huge scale track every year for use in the championship race that provides quite a visual spectacle.

Players were allowed to sit at any table of their choosing, eliminating lengthy randomization, while also allowing players to sit with their friends a la Slapshot. The 2012 Final again took place on an eye-popping enlarged track. This year the track of choice was an advance copy of the upcoming Baltimore Circuit. I would like to offer special thanks to Asmodee Games for providing, not only the Final track, but additional prizes for the finalists.

In the year Bruce Beard's seven-year 18XX streak came to an end, all eyes were on Jason Levine as the likely successor to WBC's longest winning streak. But no! Five-time champion Jason Levine saw his three-year winning streak end as he was reduced to a spectator for this year's Final, meaning a new Formula De champion would be crowned. It was like Aryton Senna's reign coming to an end. Will he be back to avenge the lost season?

The starting grid was filled with ten unique race winners. The 1:64 scale GT style cars were a big favorite again. The field was comprised of everything from a 1972 Chevelle SS to 2011 Mini Cooper to a Mazda Furai Concept. The pit boxes were chosen in order of qualification.

The Racing was tight through the opening lap, which ended up with no casualties but had five drivers take a Quick Pit stop to stay competitive. Lap 2 saw everyone come into the pits as the mean streets of Baltimore wore down those precision machines. Five of the remaining seven drivers needed to Long pit to reassemble their cars with the other two drivers using a fast stop strategy.

Lap #2 was more treacherous; the South Howard Street corner claimed both Jeff Finkeldey and Thomas Vickery and the West Pratt Street Corner was too tricky for perennial contender Roderick Lee to navigate, but whose crash still earned 6th place laurels. By the official count that left only five racers to cross the finish line.

It was a long race, playing out over almost four hours (perhaps more).

Jason seems a tad pensive. Could be the beginning of the end.	And my plane landed right about here.
The toy cars are always the real attraction.	Asmodee Games provided many prizes.