Touring Car Semi Finals Update

The 6 drivers to join the Top 4 direct qualifiers in the 40-minute Main of the Touring Car class at the European Nitro Challenge has been decided with the running of the 20-minute Semis at the Hockenheimring, Germany.  First up was the B Semi which was won by the Shepherd of Patrick Nahr from the Serpent of Sweden’s Mikael Fransson who started on pole.  With the Top 2 from each Semi bumping up and the final two spots on the grid for the big event being determined on next two fastest race times it was Sebastian Kunz and Andreas Weyhoven, who both ran in the first Semi, that secured the 9th and 10th starting positions.  It was a good morning for the Xray driver Weyhoven who after qualifying 20th yesterday has worked his way into the Main from the 1/4 finals.

In the second of the finals, the Semi A, there was terrible luck for Kyosho driver Dominic Greiner who was on target to take the win and progress to the Main but on lap 35 of 57 he crashed into a marshal which resulted in a track rod popping off.  Able to fix the car, with over a minute lost the race was effectively over for the 18-year-old.  Greiner’s demise moved former World Championship Top Qualifier Francesco Tironi into the lead but the factory Capricorn driver saw his race ended when his car broke after collecting a stranded car at the chicane.  In the end Serpent driver Rene Pupke took the win which puts him 5th on the grid as he had the fastest winning time of both Semis while defending Champion Patrick Schafer claimed second to put his Shepherd 8th on the grid for this evening’s final.

Grid for 1:10 Touring Car Main Final
1. Eric Dankel – Capricorn/Novarossi
2. Dirk Wischnewski – Xray/Orcan
3. Mark Green – Serpent/Novarossi
4. Daniele Ielasi – Shepherd/Sonic
5. Rene Pupke – Serpent/Xceed
6. Patrick Nahr – Shepherd/Sonic
7. Mikael Fransson – Serpent/Orcan
8. Patrick Scahfer – Shepherd/Sonic
9. Sebastian Kunz – Shepherd/Sonic
10.Andreas Weyhoven – Xray/LRP

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