Rheinard TQ’s Round 3
Defending European Champion Marc Rheinard (17/5:15.987) got the second day of qualifying off to a good start by TQ’ing the third round of heats but only after Tamiya teammate, and overnight TQ holder, Jilles Groskamp (17/5:17.660) dumped less than half a lap from the finish line. The German described the run as OK saying he missed his lines a number of times and over the last minute found his Speedpassion powered TRF416 lost traction. A much happier Viktor Wilck (17/5:16.054) claimed second for the round having finally got his Tamiya to go the full distance. Switching to older batteries and running lighter shock oil, the Swede said the car was working better today but his ‘own mistake’ cost him a TQ run. Wilck was right on Rheinard but in the closing laps caught a curb at the hairpin in front of the drivers stand loosing him valuable tenths. Groskamp, who still retains the provisional TQ, said he wasn’t too bothered by his short run time as he had used the run to test new batteries. Finding the new pack dropped off without warning the Dutch ace said he will now revert back to his older packs.
One would never have predicted a Losi making it into the A-Main of the 2009 European Championships but another amazing drive by Lucas Urbain looks set to ensure a JRXS-R will line up on the 10 car grid. The French driver claimed fourth for the round just missing out on a 17 lapper due to a small driver error. Applying tyre additive for longer made for a faster more consistent car and Urbain said he has already reached his goal now of making a place in the Main. For the penultimate qualifier he plans to try used tyres which he said in practice had suited his Losi better than new ones.
‘Finally getting my electric driving style together’ was Alexander Hagberg’s response to setting the fifth fastest time. Runner-up at the 1:10 Nitro Touring Euros in Italy last week, the Swede said less rear tow on his Xray T2 009 had given him more steering but that more fine tuning was required. A finalist last year he feels it is going to be hard to get close to the pace of the Tamiya team but is hopeful of a better run in the next qualifier.
Next up were the two factory Kyosho’s of Steen Graversen and Christopher Krapp. Graversen was pleased with his Stallion and feels the hotter conditions expected for the next round should suit his car even better. The Dane, who missed out the A Main last year in Spain, said he needs another Top 6 finish to be sure of an A Main spot as he feels there are around 15 drivers in with a shout of making the final right now. 16-year-old Krapp wasn’t happy with his run to seventh. The German said he made mistakes and with his Team Orion powered Stallion working perfectly it should have been better.
Unfortunately for Team Yokomo’s Ronald Volker, the only person right now who looks capable of challenging the Tamiya domination here in Luxembourg, pulled up after a lap due to a badly glued rear tyre on his BD5.
Full results from the event can be found here.
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