Rheinard tops first timed practice
Tamiya driver Marc Rheinard has topped the time sheets for the first of the timed practice runs here at the 2008 Euros. Posting a time of 17 laps in 05:10.830 the German was 2/10th faster than fellow countryman and defending champion Ronald Volker over the 5 minute run. The 2008 European 1:12 Champion, Rheinard said his TRF416 was pretty good but he will run a fresh car in the last run of the day.
Volker used the run to try a brand new Cyclone TC which he said was good but he will try older shocks from the previous Cyclone in the P4 to get a comparison with the newer version.
Third fastest man Teemu Leino changed his shock settings but his Xray was not as good as this morning and the TITC winner will now try a totally different set-up for his next outing.
Euro Touring Series Champion Jilles Groskamp, who is running a very similar set-up to Rheinard only with heavier shock oil, ran a different motor but will revert to the prototype Speed Passion unit he ran in the first two runs of the day. The Dutch driver said the power delivery of the prototype is better.
Hupo Honigl ran a brand new car and was very happy with the performance. The Austrian ace is finding his car is going off more than his rivals in the latter part of the run but is not sure if it is the car or him being more aggressive early in the run. Hupo will run his older car in the final practice of the day and then decide which chassis he will race. Tamiya team mate Viktor Wilck completed the Top 6 despite a suspected differential problem during his run.
Top Kyosho on the time sheets was Steen Graversen in seventh. He ran different rear springs but he wasn’t happy with the change and will revert back to those used in P2. The Dane is lacking steering and will make a number of changes to try and cure the problem but is pleased with his pace as he’s already running faster than he did during testing.
Heading the UK Challenge with the eight fastest time is Olly Jefferies who decribed his pace as ‘Not Bad’ considering this is his first visit to the Nitro 15 track. The Hot Bodies driver said he needs to be a little more consistent so as to get a good rythm going. Many drivers have commented how even the smallest mistake on one corner destroys the flow through the next few corners.
Elliot Harper switched to shorter drive shafts on his Xray which have improved intial turn in and sitting in ninth he is very pleased with his pace. Alexander Hagberg from Sweden rounds out the Top 10 also driving an Xray T2 008.
View our image gallery here.