Tebo takes Q4 to go top of ranking
Jared Tebo claimed his first ever TQ run at a 1:8 World Championships here this evening in Thailand when he set the fastest time for Q4. The Kyosho driver topped the round ahead of Losi’s Billy Fischer and leaves the Pattaya track tonight at the top of the qualification ranking from Adam Drake.
Rain just as the last of the lower heats was about to start brought a short 30-minute delay to proceedings sending the top drivers scrambling for tyres but due to the hot conditions the track dried quickly leaving conditions very similar to earlier in the day. Watching the track dry Tebo ended up changing tyres three times before finally taking to the track with soft compound AKA I-beam on the rear and Cityblock on the front of his Orion powered MP9. A clean, crash free run, the American was happy with his car and even more happy to bag maximum points with his intention clearly set on taking the overall TQ honours for these championships.
Finishing behind his team-mate Fischer, who again ran the second fastest time, Drake finally broke into the Top 3. Fourth in the opening three rounds he said the balance of his car was the best he had had after moving the rear hubs back on his Novarossi powered 8ight and going with a lighter oil in the rear shocks for the run. Running green compound Losi Kingpin tyres he said it was not the correct choice and that red compound would have worked better but with four strong points hauls in the bag the former US Champion is happy and now plans to use tomorrow’s final two rounds of qualifying to test tyres and try a slightly more aggressive driving style.
Fourth fastest for the round Cody King described it as the ‘luckiest run ever’, the Kyosho driver getting out of shape five times and landing rubber side down on each occasion. Having prepared 10 sets of tyres after the rain he ended up running soft AKA Impacts with the company’s new red foam and Evo wheel with stiffener which he said worked out well. Despite the result the 23-year-old, who is coming off the back of two big race wins back home, only lies 36th overnight and so needs another good run tomorrow if he is to secure himself a place in the all important Semis.
Top Qualifier at this year’s European Championship Yannick Aigoin set the fifth fastest time despite one big crash. The French racer said his Novarossi powered Losi 8ight has been getting better and better with each run and he is happy where it is now. Having broke a front shock in Q1 he said he still needs another good run and so will being playing it safe in the morning’s penultimate qualifier.
Team Associated’s Ryan Cavalieri completed the Top 6 saying he just tried to be as consistent as he could. Having two lucky escapes following incidents during the 10-minute run, the 24-year-old said his Orion powered RC8B felt good this time round and that the plan for tomorrow was to continue to work on consistency. Behind the American ace, Team Losi’s Darren Bloomfield enjoyed his best round with the seventh fastest time. The British Champion felt his car was a little too hard at the rear but driving the track in sections rather than as a full lap helped him to string together a good run.
Elsewhere it was a bad round for the only other two drivers to TQ a round. Ryan Maifield was running a good pace until a bad landing knocked the bone of the rear centre shaft out of the diff cup. With the RC8B back in the pits his crew clicked it back into place before sending the Associated driver back out, but the round was ruined dropping him from being the provisional TQ holder after Q3 down into a Quarter Final position. Fastest in Q3, Atsushi Hara was in trouble before the heat even started, his Hot Bodies landing on a rock causing his OS engine to cut. Back on track the defending World Champion tried to run the full 10-minutes without refuelling but fell short and also drops outside the magical Top 16 in the Qualification ranking for now.
Day 5 of the 2010 IFMAR 1:8 Off Road World Championships sees the final qualifying action with drivers having two more opportunities to improve their positions. Supported by Team Durango, LRP, Reds Racing and Team C, we will bring you reports after each round as things start to get serious here in Thailand.
Qualification Ranking after Round 4 of 6
(Best 4 to Count)
1. Jared TEBO (USA) – Kyosho/Orion – 13/10:01.509 – 727
2. Adam DRAKE (USA) – Losi/Novarossi – 13/10:04.684 – 725
3. Renaud SAVOYA (FRA) – Mugen/RB – 13/10:04.366 – 705
4. Ryan CAVALIERI (USA) – Associated/Orion – 10:11.734 – 705
5. Billy FISCHER (USA) – Losi/Novarossi – 13/10:12.322 – 699
6. Darren BLOOMFIELD (UK) – Losi/NR – 13/10:16.116 – 683
7. Yannick AIGOIN (FRA) – Losi/NR – 13/10:11.614 – 681
8. Tyler TESSMANN (CAN) – Hot Bodies/OS – 13/10:16.407 – 674
9. Teemu LEINO (FIN) – Xray/Orion – 13/10:18.660 – 673
10.Jeremy KORTZ (USA) – Hobao/Werks – 13/10:18.046 – 671
11.Matthew CASTELLANO (USA) – Losi/OS – 13/10:12.324 – 661
12.Miguel MATIAS (POR) – Losi/RB – 13/10:12.694 – 656
13.Mark PAVIDIS (USA) – Kyosho/OS – 13/10:16.701 – 656
14.Lee Martin (UK) – Tamiya/Novarossi – 13/10:25.317 – 649
15.Tyler VIK (USA) – Kyosho/RB – 13/10:20.067 – 645
16.Elliot Boots (UK) – Mugen/RB – 13/10:11.516 – 64021.Atsushi HARA (JPN) – Hot Bodies/OS – 14/10:44.154 – 627
27.Ryan MAIFIELD (USA) – AE/Reedy – 14/10:35.283 – 606
View the official event results here.
View the event photo gallery here.