Worlds field reduced to Final 38
Today was for many the one on which their World Championship dreams came to an end with a number of big names failing to make it through to tomorrow’s main day when, weather permitting, the 16th 1:8 Onroad World Champion will be crowned.
Running through the lower finals the day closed with the 1:8 Finals with the Top 3 finishers enjoying the elation of progressing to the big day. First driver to secure a place in the 1/4 Finals was Thai driver Meen Vejrak. A finalist at the electric touring car Worlds, the Mugen driver won ahead of fast female driver Sabrina Lechner who was delighted to progress. Also progressing from the 1/4 B is the sole South African driver here in Switzerland Wayne Joelson who is at the controls of a Mugen. Big casualties of the 20-minute affair were top French driver Stephane Bouche, who had moved up from the 1/32 Finals, and Japan’s Tadahiko Sahashi after the pair clashed in the pits.
In the other 1/8 Final, which just finished before the rains opened up over Lostallo, it was two time Brazilian Champion Flavio Elias who stormed to victory with his Mugen. Behind him Marco Vanni benefited from a 5 minute fuel stop strategy to take second ahead of fellow countryman Michele Romagnoli. The Serpent driver, who had come through from the 1/16 Finals, was pushed right to the line by current European Champion Jernej Vuga but the Slovenian couldn’t find a way passed and can now pack his bags. This race was also the end of the road for 2006 European Champion Fabio Domanin who finished 5th. Pole sitter Steven Cuypers had his race ruined by a controversial Stop/Go penalty for his Sirio powered Mugen apparently being badly placed in the start box.
Tomorrow, Day 10 of the 2009 IFMAR 1:8 Onroad Worlds, kicks off with the first of the 1/4 Finals at 10:00 as 34 drivers chase an elusive spot on the grid for the Main Final where they will join Top Qualifier Robert Pietsch, defending Champion Lamberto Collari, Alberto Picco and Mark Green. Our coverage which is supported by Serpent and Mugen will start with reports after each of the 1/4 Finals right through to the end of the 1 hour title deciding race which is due off the line at 15:30.
View the full grid listings here.
View our event image gallery here.