Volker wins 10th Anniversary DHI Cup
Ronald Volker is the 2010 DHI Cup Champion giving Team Yokomo their first ever win at the prestigious Danish race and also their first big win in Europe since Masami Hirosaka won the LRP Masters 10 years ago. The German, who was champion of the event in 2007, took the win after he claimed his second win of the day in the third Leg. Driving his BD5 the former European Champion looked to have thrown his chances of becoming only the third driver to win the DHI Cup twice when he rolled on the second lap. Mad with himself for the mistake, Volker put in a superb recovery drive battling his way back past Steen Graversen for second from where he rapidly closed in on Top Qualifier and Leg 2 winner Christer Andersson. Unfortunately the 18-year-old made a mistake under the pressure coming on to the main straight allowing the No.2 car through to take the lead, one which he would not relinquish.
Volker was delighted with his second title, joining touring car World Champions Atsushi Hara and Marc Rehinard as the only double winners of the blue ribbon event. He was also really pleased at being able to reward the huge effort made by his Yokomo team this weekend especially Yukijiro Umino who did much of the set-up work on his car.
Andersson, who has really found his form of late, was clearly disappointed that he didn’t convert his TQ honours into victory but the experience is sure to make him a stronger competitor for the future when his big day is sure to come. Afterwards he said that he was still satisfied with his weekend as finishing on the podium was more than he had been expecting coming into the event.
Last year’s Champion Marc Rheinard failed to finish the third Leg but his two third place finishes earlier in the day was enough to see him on the podium once again. The current World Champion, who will defend that title later this year on home soil, said considering his lack of outright pace he was happy to come away with a podium. Teemu Leino, the only other driver along with Volker and Andersson in with a chance of taking the top spot on the podium, only managed 7th in the final Leg to finish the event as the top Xray in 4th overall. Holding up local honours Steen Graversen had superb drive in A-Main no.3 which saw him snatch second from Andersson on the last lap. Overall the former DHI Cup podium finisher took 5th with Corally’s Marc Fisher completing the Top 6.
In Pro Stock the third A Main saw the two contenders clash on the second lap. Top Qualifier Alexander Stocker had a problem with his car running wide with defending Champion Tommy Bergfeldt taking the opportunity to run down the German’s inside but they touched and both fell back down the order. This left Henry Salmen and Yukijiro Umino to battle it out up front with the Japanese driver’s Yokomo ending up with the victory. Bergfeldt came from last to third while Stocker limped around to finish ninth but with both drivers having a win and a second each, the 2010 Champion had to be decided on race times. Stocker, for whom this was his first time to contest the DHI Cup, got it as his victory in the opening leg was 5-seconds fastest than that of his fellow Hot Bodies driver’s Leg 2 win.
So the 10th Anniversary of the DHI Cup didn’t disappoint with the A-Mains producing some thrilling racing. We would like to thank our sponsors Yokomo and LRP for making our coverage of this year’s event possible and commend Kim Bendiksen for having the vision to create this great event 10 years ago.
Modified Overall results
1. Ronald Völker – 2pts (Yokomo/LRP)
2. Christer Andersson – 3pts (Associated/LRP)
3. Marc Rheinard – 6pts (Tamiya/Speedpassion)
4. Teemu Leino – 7pts (Xray/Team Orion)
5. Steen Graversen – 8pts (Tamiya/Team Orion)
6. Marc Fischer – 8pts (Corally/GM)
7. Martin Hudy – 13pts (Xray/LRP)
8. Yannic Pruemper – 13pts (Tamiya/Speedpassion)
9. Alexander Hagberg – 13pts (Xray/LRP)
10. Freddy Südhoff – 16pts (Xray/LRP)
Pro Stock Overall results
1. Alexander Stocker – 3pts (Hot Bodies)
2. Tommy Bergfeldt – 3pts (Hot Bodies)
3. Yukijiro Umino – 4pts (Yokomo)
4. Henry Salmén – 6pts (Tamiya)
5. Tony Streit – 9pts (Hot Bodies)
6. Ola Westholm – 9pts (TOP)
7. Thomas Larsen – 10pts (Tamiya)
8. Carsten Madsen – 13pts (Tamiya)
9. Daniel Horn – 13pts (Xray)
10.Bastian Hennig – 14pts (Xray)
View our event image gallery here.