Levanen pulls off big surprise

Juho Levanen pulled off a big surprise in the final free practice for the 1:12 Worlds here in Thailand when he recorded a blistering fastest lap time of 12.347 at the controls of his Associated RC12R5. The Finn has been running in the Top 10 all morning in terms of lap times and seemed to surprise himself in the third as he became the first driver to top title favourite Hara who produced a 12.470 lap.

Asked where he had found his extra pace from, the Associated factory driver wasn’t sure but admitted the car was only good for four minutes, after which grip became a big problem. The Finn will play around with tire additives for the first of the two controlled practice runs later today.

Completing the Top 3 for free practice was Naoto Matsukura. The young Japanese star, who Hara yesterday told us he rated very highly, has his car dialled in now and is starting to show why he is back to back Japanese Champion. Jilles Groskamp is fourth fastest on lap times and is much happier with his CRC now having tried specially produced CRC tyres in the third run. The Dutch driver is confident that over 8 minutes he is really in good shape.  Hideo Kitazawa and Teemu Leino, who failed to improve his lap time in FP3, completed the top 6.

There were some concerns raised about bodyshells and the use of trim strips but after checking the rules race officials here in Bangkok have clarified that they may be used, even if not supplied with body, once they do not exceed the maximum permitted height. Elsewhere emerging young British talent Elliot Harper, who currently leads the BRCA 1:12 National Championship, is finding driving on asphalt a very different experience to carpet. The Xray driver says tyres are critical but he doesn’t have the right one hence he finds himself 25th fastest in terms of lap times, a full second off the pace.

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