Neumann is 4WD Buggy Top Qualifier at DHI Cup
Defending DHI Cup offroad champion Joern Neumann will start his challenge for a hat trick of wins at the Danish event from the best possible position tomorrow with the Team Durango ace securing the overall TQ honors in the final round of qualifying. With Team Xray’s Martin Bayer topping the opening two qualifiers, the German came back strong in the Q3 & 4 taking both rounds but it was his Q4 time that would decide the tie break and secure him the No.1 spot n the grid. Behind the two Pro factory team drivers, young local talent & Team Associated supported driver Jesper Rasmussen will line up third, his third fastest time in Q4 bumping Schumacher team leader & designer Tom Cockerill back down to fourth on the triple A-Main grid.
‘Getting a little closer now’ was how Neumann summed up his performance in the final two qualifiers. Changing to heaver oil in the rear shocks of his Orion powered DEX410, the Worlds Top Qualifier said the buggy was really good and tomorrow should make for very exciting racing. Having been slightly surprised by Bayer’s early pace, the winner of the DHI Cup in both 2WD and 4WD since offroad was introduced to the famous international touring car event, he said his is now very confident about his chances for the win in 4WD, adding it is more than can be said for hopes of success in 2WD.
‘Really close’ was how a slightly disappointed Bayer summed up Q4. The European Champion was neck & neck with Neumann but got it wrong on the wall section on the penultimate lap costing himself 3-seconds. Really happy with the pace and performance of his LRP powered XB4, he said he is really looking forward to tomorrow adding it should be a really good final and battle between him & Neumann.
The best placed Dane over all four classes at the end of qualifying, 15-year-old Rasmussen was clearly pleased with his days driving. Having targeted himself a podium finish at the event of which is father Ulrich is instrumental in its annual organisation he said he is really confident about achieving his goal tomorrow as his B44.4 is working really well.
‘Just not quick enough’ was Cockerill’s response to securing fourth on the grid. The British driver said he couldn’t pull away from Rasmussen in the final qualifier and for the finals he hopes reverting to his Q2 set-up will give him some chance of being able to fight for a podium placing. After a crash in Q3 he pulled in to adjust his ride height to test some options but the set-up he ran for the final qualifier just left his Nosram powered K1 Aero lacking pace. Pitting next to Marc Rheinard he said jokingly it was some consolation to know his qualifying result was still better than that of the 3-time World Champion achieved in the touring car section of the event.
4WD Buggy A-Main Grid
1. Jörn Neumann (DE) – Team Durango – 310 pts
2. Martin Bayer (CZ) – Team Xray – 310
3. Jesper Rasmussen (DK) – Team Associated – 305
4. Tom Cockerill (GB) – Schumacher – 303
5. David Hassel (SE) – Team Xray – 303
6. Kim Nielsen (DK) – Team Xray – 301
7. Oskar Levin (SE) – Team C – 300
8. Niclas Månsson (SE) – Team Associated – 299
9. Simon Moss (GB) – Schumacher – 299
10.Joakim Nicolaisen (NO) – Team Associated – 298
View the complete Offroad event results here.
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