Pietsch is Worlds Top Qualifier
Factory Mugen/Novarossi driver Robert Pietsch will start the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship from pole position on Saturday ahead of defending Champion Lamberto Collari. Setting his time in the penultimate qualifier this morning the result was made official when his rivals failed to better the German’s 30 lap run in the sixth & final round. Coming to Switzerland as the pre race favourite Piestch, who was a direct qualifier at the 2005 Worlds, said it was an incredible feeling to be on pole ahead of such a legendary driver as eight time World Champion Collari. In the final round of qualifying Pietsch pulled up early as the track proved slower and his Novarossi started to run lean.
Lining up second on the grid Collari is very pleased with his performance in the championships so far with his hopes of a unprecedented 9th World title still very much alive. In Argentina the Team Kyosho/Novarossi driver won from the number two spot and having focused on a one stop fuel strategy all week this could be his making in the 1 hour final.
Having had problems with his car sliding around this morning when most drivers recorded their top run, Picco will line up third having being demoted one place by Collari. The Italian said he was very satisfied with 3rd and used the final qualifier to test some new things with his car in preparation for the final.
Completing the much sought after Top 4 placings and ensuring Team Serpent will have a presence in the one hour final was British ace Mark Green. Complimentary of his Novarossi powered 966 all week, the UK National Champion said he finally got his driving together in Q5 and was ‘over the moon’ to claim his first direct qualification for a Worlds Final. In the final qualifier he suffered radio problems in the warm up but said track conditions wouldn’t have allowed him to improve his time and so he ends the day a very happy man.
Fastest for the final round ahead of Collari was Serpent’s Michael Salven who will start pole in the Semi A. The only driver in the Top 18 to record their best time in the final qualifier, the German improved by just over 1/10th of second but it wasn’t enough to move him ahead of team-mate Green and he remained fifth. The designer of the 966, said Q6 was a perfect heat but track conditions were just slower. Leaning off his Mega engine 1/2 a turn it allowed him to record the fastest lap of the round, with a 20.156, something which he was very pleased with.
Josh Cyrul was third fastest for the round but is still kicking himself for his poor driving this morning when the track was at it fastest. The American said his Shepherd was once again really good but the track was too hot. Running in Group 12 which had the full force of the Swiss sun, he said he would really liked to have run in the top heat, Group 15, when the sun had dropped behind the mountains as those conditions would have given him a better chance to redeem himself from this morning. Starting 4th on the grid in the Semi B Cyrul is confident he can move up. Fellow American Paolo Morganti will line up on pole for that 30-minute affair having ended qualifying as the sixth fastest driver. The Serpent driver failed to better his Q5 time but said his is still pleased with sixth.
Top Qualifier at the last World’s, 2009 is proving a total different affair for Massimo Fantini. Setting his best time in the final qualifier, the Italian could only manage 28th and will line up in the 1/4 B Final two places behind former World Champion Adrien Bertin. 2007 podium finisher Chris Tosolini who qualified one place behind Fantini will line up in the 1/4 A Final where he will be joined by current 1:10 Onroad World Champion Daniele Ielasi.
Final Starting order
Final – A
1. Pietsch Robert (DE) – Mugen/Novarossi
2. Collari Lamberto (IT) – Kyosho/Novarossi
3. Picco Alberto (IT) – Mugen/Picco
4. Green Mark (EN) – Serpent/Novarossi
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1/2 Final – A
1. Salven Michael (DE) – Serpent/Mega
2. Vrielijnck Rick (NL) – Mugen/Reds Racing
3. Mack Oliver (DE) – Shepherd/Novarossi
4. Tanaka Masao (JP) – Kyosho/Max
5. Balestri Dario (IT) – Motonica/Novarossi
6. Swauger Mike (US) – Mugen/Novarossi
7. Solaroli Stefano (IT) – Motonica/Sirio
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1/2 Final – B
1. Morganti Paolo (US) – Serpent/Max
2. D’hondt Robin (BE) – Motonica/Novarossi
3. Cristiani Andrea (IT) – Serpent/Max
4. Cyrul Josh (US) – Shepherd/Novarossi
5. Fukuda Keisuke (JP) – Mugen/Novarossi
6. Shimo Takaaki (JP) – Kyosho/O.S.
7. Müller Marco (CH) – Shepherd/Novarossi
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