Practice Update
The third round of free practice has been completed here at the Speed Passion supported DHI Cup where it is defending Champion Viktor Wilck who is setting the pace. The Swede tried two TRF416s in the latest 5 minute practice run which featured different chassis plates to move around weight distribution. Admitting to suffering with pain in his hand at the start of the runs, once he is up to full concentration all is ok.
With many drivers changing cars during each practice run we are using each driver’s four fastest consecutive laps to give us a true indication of who is doing what and after Wilck that puts Kyosho factory driver Steen Graversen second. The Dane is very happy with his car describing it as ‘Super easy to drive’ and thinks his car will get much better as the traction comes up. Having finished on the podium here last year, Graversen is aiming for a repeat performance at his big home event.
Alexander Hagberg is third fastest ahead of Xray team-mate Teemu Leino. Hagberg says his car is feeling quite good and he likes the high speed open track layout. The Swede plans to use the final practice to scrub in new tyres for the first qualifier which is set to get underway here in Odense at 18:30. Leino described his car as alright and is really hoping the fluff clears up as he is having to spend an hour after each run cleaning the car of the grey stuff!
World Champion Marc Rheinard, who has not raced since taking his second Touring Car World title in Thailand back in November, tried a lightweight body on his Tamiya in P3 but found the car became too aggressive and so the German will revert to a standard shell.
Heading the Team Associated challenge is Finn Christer Andersson. The youngster has been practicing hard at his local track ahead of this event and is really pleased with his TC5 describing it as ‘super good’. Andersson will leave the car set-up the same and wants to let the track come to him as traction improves with each run. One concern for the youngster is run time as the fluff build up is draining extra power.
In Pro Stock it is German domination at the moment with the SMI Motorsport team looking very strong as their four drivers complete the four places for the third practice run. All running Xrays it is Matthias Lang who is fastest from 2007 DHI Cup winner Bastian Henning, last year’s Top Qualifier Christoph Thiele and Meik Niemann. All of team are reporting that track conditions are remaining difficult despite the best efforts of the race organisers to regularly clear the track of the fluff build up. Henning described it as ‘very difficult to drive’ with the fluff causing the car to pull off to the side as the build up on the drive shafts effects the car. Thiele is complaining of a lack of corner speed but hopes a change of springs for the final round of practice will improve things.
Tommy Bergfeldt is the fastest non Xray driver in Pro Stock with the Swedish Hot Bodies Cyclone TC driver fifth fastest just ahead of fellow countryman Christopher Sodergren who is driving a Serpent S400.
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