Hagberg clinches DHI Cup TQ
Your first big international race TQ is always going to be something special but when you fend off the might of a double World Champion the occasion is even greater. For Sweden’s Alexander Hagberg the DHI Cup marks such an achievement as he topped the final round of heats to secure the Top Qualifier’s spot on the grid for tomorrow’s 9th edition of the famous Danish race.
Going into the last qualifier only reigning World & European Champion Marc Rheinard could deny Hagberg the No.1 starting spot but the Swede rose to the occasion to top the round by over a second from defending DHI Cup Champion Viktor Wilck. Hagberg said, ‘I’m very happy to take the TQ. I pushed really hard because I expected a strong challenge from Marc (Rheinard) but he wasn’t fast. My car was perfect and I am going to leave the set-up the same for tomorrow.’
Rheinard could only manage fifth for the round and attributes the poor handling of his car down to his tyres going off having run the same set all day. Lining up second on the grid the Tamiya Racing Factory team leader said, ‘My car was sliding around a lot which is down to the tyres being finished, I hope. Second on the grid is fine and I think it will be a very close race tomorrow between Alex, me, Teemu and Jilles.’
Lining up on the second row of the grid will be last year’s Top Qualifier Teemu Leino and 2002 Champion Jilles Groskamp. Leino was denied the victory last year by Wilck who started second but should be able to mount a serious challenge from third. Groskamp, who suffered traction roll in the last qualifier, cannot be ruled out either.
For defending Champion Wilck it is going to be a tough job to retain his title from fifth, a feat that has only been achieved by Atsushi Hara who did so in 2006. The Tamiya driver fitted a new rear diff for the last run & copied Rheinard’s set-up and was much happier with his TRF416 now so he cant be totally ruled out.
Sixth on the grid will be the Corally of Marc Fisher. The German switched to Corally additive for the last round which transformed his new RDX Phi 2 but a mistake on the last lap meant he took 6th for the round when a Top 3 was on the cards. Jonas Kaerup takes the honour of being the leading local on the grid putting his Tamiya seventh on the grid.
The drive of the final qualifier came from up & coming talent Yannic Pruemper who is sure to be a name we will be hearing a lot more of in the future. The 15-year-old German set the third fastest time at the controls of his Tamiya to secure 8th spot in the A-Main, much to the delight of his mentor Toni Rheinard.
Completing the grid and bringing the total number of manufacturers to be represented in the final to five are Kyosho’s Steen Graversen and Team Associated’s Christer Andersson. There will be no Hot Bodies in the final with 2006 Champion Ronald Volker just missing out to take unenviable BQ. A-Main drivers will get a practice final in the morning before its down to the serious business of racing over three legs with the best two to count.
Final Modified Standings
1. Alexander Hagberg (Xray/LRP) – 465pts
2. Marc Rheinard (Tamiya/Speedpassion) – 459pts
3. Teemu Leino (Xray/Team Orion)- 458pts
4. Jilles Groskamp (Tamiya/Speedpassion)- 456pts
5. Viktor Wilck (Tamiya/Speedpassion) – 453pts
6. Marc Fischer (Corally/GM) – 449pts
7. Jonas Kaerup (Tamiya/GM) – 448pts
8. Yannic Prumper (Tamiya/Speedpassion) – 446pts
9. Steen Graversen (Kyosho/Team Orion) – 444pts
10. Christer Andersson (Associated/LRP) – 443pts
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