Practice over, Groskamp fastest
Practice for the 2009 EFRA 1:10 Electric Touring European Championship has just ended here in Luxembourg and it is Jilles Groskamp who tops the time sheets in all aspects. The official ranking list, which is based on a driver’s best three consecutive laps, sees the Tamiya driver in the No. 1 spot but in terms of run time and fastest single lap the Dutch ace is also the pace setter. The winner of the Warm Up race here at the Mini-Circuit “Ville de Luxembourg” at the end of June, Groskamp said his TRF416 was working very well and he was very happy with things heading in to qualifying. For this morning’s final practice the Speedpassion driver switched from the Competition 2.0 motor he was running yesterday to the new 3.0 version which he reports offers the same power but has taken away the worry about run time.
Second fastest in the ranking is 15-year-old Yannic Pruemper. The Tamiya Junior driver, who is the protege of Toni Rheinard, said his car is very good and he will leave it as is for the first qualifier but he is slightly concerned about his run time which is on the limit. Defending Champion Marc Rheinard is next up but the German ace said his car felt strange in the final run with the car loose on right turns and in left handers was pushing.
Ronald Volker, who has the second fastest run time for this morning, said his Yokomo was good in the first session but changes to the set-up didnt work in the second and he will revert back. The German who was Top Qualifier last year said its going to be a very close qailifying here but he is confident he is on the pace over five minutes. Behind the 2007 Champion is Viktor Wilck. The Swede said he is ‘struggling big time’ with his car being very loose and while he can post quick lap times he can’t consistently do it for 5-minutes. Completing the Top 6, Chris Grainger appears much happier with his Schumacher Mi4 today. The British Champion said his car is much better than yesterday and the set-up is not far away now. Run time was tight but he was using practice packs and he hopes fresh race packs for the qualifying will give him that extra buffer.
Corally driver Marc Fisher said things are very close but so far he is happy enough with his pace. The former German Champion will continue with the same set-up but described his run time as being ‘maybe too close’. Another German in the Top 10 after practice is Christopher Krapp. The Kyosho team driver is very happy with his Stallion after switching additive this morning and his plan for the first qualifier is to keep cool and put in a clean opening round.
Making it seven different makes of cars in the Practice Ranking Top 10 are Lucas Urbain and Olly Jefferies. Urbain has been the surprise here in Luxembourg with his Losi. The French driver said his car was not as good this morning and he needs to get more stability as it is very nervous on the high speed corner at the end of the main straight but he is still confident he has Top 10 pace over 5 minutes. Team Associated driver Jefferies said his TC5 is better today allowing him to do his fastest times yet and that the current set-up is workable. The British driver came short on run time in the final practice but believes this was down to the charging of the batteries.
Just outside the Top 10 was former World Champion Andy Moore with his Hot Bodies and Tamiya off road ace Hupo Honigl. For European Junior Champion Elliot Harper his steering wows continued this morning. For the first practice he ran a new servo and crystals but the problem was still there. Fitting all new electrics to his T2 009 for the second the problem still remained until they unplugged his personal transponder. The Xray/Nosram driver will switch to a new PT for the first qualifier.
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