"Cato Batista" 02/12/2014 4:40:22 ID #710

For the last time in 2014:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We had come to that time of the year when we look back at our season and to face reality: how good are we?

We broke many records this season but let’s be honest, with Mercedes taking 11 one-twos we didn’t have but 2 choices for 1st and 2nd. The average number to win races this year was 11.5 points: the lowest winning GPs were in the 6 to 9 point bracket, (5 races), our best of course was the perfect 18-point by Fernando in China. The remaining 13 GPs were won with figures ranging from 11 to 13 plus one 14 and two 15 point marks. Our CFA season average was 7.37 points per member, that’s only above 2 correct driver-positions each race. At some point we all suffered a 2 or 3 point race during the season, most likely in Hungary or  Australia were we score 96 and 97 respectively out of 432 possible points. Our best collective GP was 269 points in Russia (62.2%) with 79 three-pointers, our lowest was Hungary with a scary total of 4 triples, that’s (24 x 6 / 4 = 2.7%.) pretty bad!.

In case you have not already seen Santiago’s excellent review of the CFA 2014 stats, everything is here. check it out:

http://f1.manbos.com/post.asp?topiccode=m9h74f8sol6h9h1s1s2x1puw6gall0

Our 12 GP winners this year: (victories + tied in first)

Cato /3 (+3)

(r) Iain /3

Maria /2 (+1)

Rodrigo, Sebastian 2

Lou, Joe /1 (+1)

RIcardo, Ian, Matias, Ricky, Fernando /1

Tied in first: Manbos (4 times!) Hector and Santiago (1).  

When it comes to predicting the correct driver-positions our annual average was 26.5%, that was 713 triples from 2688 attempts.  Our best client was ROS, he gave us 186 gold scores, 119 times (!) in second place and 67 times from winning the race. As you'd expect HAM was our second best with 172 triples: 146 in first (!) and 23 in second. Our third most successful driver was ALO with less than half the results we got from the Mercedes drivers: from his 92 triples 36 came from 6th place and 35 from 4th place. Next was RIC, we got him right 76 times, then VET and BOT 56 times. Interestingly we correctly forecasted the Williams driver in third position 40 times! .

Our member’s best gold marks (out of 114 picks) were: Cato /43; Santiago /37; Manbos /36; Lou & Rocco /35; (r) Lorenzo, Rodrigo, Fredrik /32; Maria, (r) Hector, (r) Iain, Joe, Ian, Ricardo /31.

The Pole Position award was won by Santiago & Cato with 26 points, Uwe was third with 24.

Looking back at our 8 Championship years, the modern era of the CFA, there is one statistic that stands out, the one showing our colleagues with the most appearances in the top 3, a clear measure of the most reliable forecasters among us: Santiago and Manbos. With 4 podium finishes each, Manbos has an amazing 4 out of 4 record and of course is Santiago's with 3 Championships and one runner-up finish since 2007. Lou and I are next with 3 podiums followed by Rocco and Fernando with 2.

If you allow me, these are the highlights of the year (in no particular order):

-Fernando’s perfect score in China (3rd time since we switch from pen & paper to digital)

-The three rookies winning 4 GPs and grabbing 3 places in the top 10: Lorenzo 5th, Hector 8th, Iain 10th

-Nineteen members beating the Black Horse’s record

-The three 2014 Podium finishers breaking the 2011 points record (thank you Mercedes!)

I must admit I feel in cloud 9 since winning the title. Back in the beginning of the pool I was supposed to be kind of oddsmaker, but instead you guys had always beaten me up! If you look up my record is rather...forgettable.  I have a collection of awards in every position from 7th to 10th, a couple of podiums in the relaxed-early days of the CFA (including the half-Championship try-out of ‘07), an acceptable record in qualifying and... that’s it, no better than a long survivor of the top 10. So winning the championship has meant a great deal to me, I have to confess how nervous I was in the later part of the season with the Spanish Armada terrorizing me, that’s when I realized for the first time the excitement of leading the standings and the posibility of wiining the big prize. I’m going to be happy for a very long time!

Dear friends, it was absolutely fantastic to have had you for another season.  It’s a pleasure and a privilege for me to compete in this exceptional group, our camaraderie just keeps growing. We’ve found the magic formula to enjoy F1, our participation rate was just under 99% (you’re in probation Matias…) I can’t wait to be with you again next year.

We go into pause for now, only until March... Hang in there, we’ll make it.

Cheers