Savoya’s quest for 4 in a row is over
European Champion for the last three years, Renaud Savoya’s quest to lift a fourth consecutive title is over after the French ace suffered a broken steering servo horn in the 1/4 final while running in a bump up position. Starting from fourth on the grid for the 20-minute encounter, Savoya looked on target to progress to the Semi but as the race came up on mid distances his buggy lost steering ending his long reign as Europe’s top buggy racer.
Having bumped up from the 1/8 final, the race was eventually won by Durango team-mate Joern Neumann from 2008 Finalist Borja Hernandez and Riccardo Rabitti who made the final in Austria in 2009. Securing the final bump position of the 1/4 B finals was Austrian Team Agama driver Martin Karner.
In the 1/4 A final last year’s third spot podium finisher Miguel Matias, who also bumped up from his 1/8 Final, took the win with hs JQ buggy ahead of former finalists Hupo Honigl and Riccardo Perin. After a great battle with Daniel Vega, Joseph Quagraine snatched fourth spot from the Spaniard on the last lap to claim his third bump up of the day having started out in the 1/16 Final.
Three of last year’s finalists who will play not further part are Tamiya’s Lee Martin who pulled up after 15-minutes in his 1/4 Final with a servo problem and Serpent duo Rodrigo Luis and Alberto Garcia who failed to progress from the respective 1/4 and 1/16 Finals.
Semi A line-up
1. Jérôme Aigoin (FR)
2. Darren Bloomfield (UK)
3. Robert Batlle (ESP)
4. David Ronnefalk (SWE)
5. Teemu Leino (FIN)
6. Yannick Aigoin (FR)
7. Carsten Keller (D)
8. Neil Cragg (UK)
9. Miguel Matias (PT)
10.Hupo Honigl (A)
11.Riccardo Perin (IT)
12.Joseph Quagraine (FIN)
Semi B line-up
1. Marcel Guske (D)
2. Daniel Reckward (D)
3. Simon Willetts (UK)
4. Elliot Boots (UK)
5. Martin Bayer (CZ)
6. Jérôme Sartel (FR)
7. Ignacio Candel (ESP)
8. Carlos Durães (PT)
9.Joern Neumann (D)
10.Borja Hernandez (ESP)
11.Riccardo Rabitti (IT)
12.Martin Karner (A)
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