Surikarn snatches TQ, Pietsch top in 1:8
In a dramatic final round of qualifying here in Turkey for the Bumod GP it was Team Xray driver Surikarn C. who snatched TQ honours for tomorrow’s one hour main final. The 2002 Electric Touring Car World Champion made the most of the cooler evening track conditions recording 31 laps in 10:14.521 with his OS powered NT1. Running in Group 1, the Thai driver then had to wait nervously to see if his great electric touring car rival Jilles Groskamp who was running in Group 3 could also improve on his morning pace which saw him hold provisional TQ throughout the day. The Dutch lived up to the challenge and was running a slightly faster time but with 1 minute to go some ambitious driving by a slower driver ended the challenge as he pushed the prototype Serpent off the track. The incident was to cost Groskamp approximately 12 second and a certain TQ run.
Surikarn was very pleased with his TQ run saying track conditions were much better in the evening and he was glad he made the most of the run. Asked about his plan for the final he said he will run harder tyres opting for 42 on the front and 45 on the rear but he still feels a tyre stop will be necessary. In terms of the car set-up he will leave it the same. Groskamp, who was justifiably annoyed to have his run ruined, feels he has a slight edge over Surikarn and is determined to give the new Serpent 7XX a win on its debut.
Third in qualifying thanks to his morning run was Dirk Wischnewski. Having started the day so well the reminder of qualifying was to be a nightmare for the Team Xray driver. Following his dramas in the second and third qualifiers he was on for making the most of the cooler conditions in the fourth but ran out of fuel a lap before he was due to pit. Completing the Top 4 who directly go forward to the main race tomorrow is Austrian Gerhard Kandelhardt, he too having to rely on a time set earlier. Running a fast pace in the fourth round the Xray driver pushed too hard and rolled his NT1 which in turn flamed out. Starting on pole for the Semis will be Germany’s Dirk Stammler with a Serpent 720 and DJ Apolaro driver the second of the prototype 7XX making the race debut here this weekend.
In 1:8 Robert Pietsch bettered his earlier TQ time becoming the only driver to break 34 laps. The factory Mugen and Novarossi driver was very happy with his combination and plans no changes, his biggest worry for tomorrow being the tyre strategy. The German found tyre wear much higher today and while all drivers say a minimum of 1 stop will be necessary it may also be necessary to stop for a second set of his own branded RPM tyres.
Second on the grid will be DJ Apolaro who can take some satisfaction from his 1:8 performance on what has been a difficult weekend. The Serpent driver is busy running in both categories but things are going to be even more hectic tomorrow with the US ace set to run around two and a half hours if he can bump his sedan up into the Main. Making it three different cars at the front of the grid is Shepherd’s Patrick Schaefer. The German recorded the fastest lap in the last round of qualifying but flamed out as he came in for his fuel stop ending any chance of improving his time.
Michael Salven, having seen his latest creation robbed of a pretty certain TQ, was dealt another blow shortly afterwards when his receiver battery died as he warmed up for the fastest round of the day. Sabrina Lechner was fifth fastest and will start pole for the Semi A with Swiss driver Pacor Ender’s Motonica heading the grid in the Semi B.
1/10th scale qualifying results
1. Surikarn Chaidajsuriya – Thailand
2. Jilles Groskamp – Netherlands
3. Dirk Wischnewski – Germany
4. Gerhard Kandelhardt – Austria
5. Dirk Stammler – Austria
6. DJ Apolaro – USA
7. Richard Furtner – Austria
8. Scott Rister – USA
9. Arman Maralan – Turkey
10.Gorkem Gur – Turkey
1/8th scale qualifying results
1. Robert Pietsch – Germany
2. DJ Apolaro – USA
3. Patrick Schaefer – Germany
4. Michael Salven – Germany
5. Sabrina Lechner – Germany
6. Pacor Ender – Switzerland
7. Michael Meisinger – Austria
8. Gokmen Cakan – Turkey
9. Boritslav Tranchev – Bulgaria
10.Alparsian Ozanturk – Turkey
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