Naoto Matsukura retains World title

Naoto Matsukura has retained his World title after an amazing performance in the second A-Main here at the 2010 IFMAR 1:12 World Championships in Burgdorf, Germany.  Making a mistake in the opening section of corners, the Top Qualifier dropped to last but the driving display that was to follow shows just why the 16-year-old is a truly worthy winner of his second World title.

Following his error Matsukura literally sliced his way through the World class field and by lap 16 had his Yokomo R12 back out front where he would stay to wrap up the event.  Successfully defending his crown the Japanese youngster becomes only the 3rd driver in the history of the fifteen 1:12 World Championships to achieve this feat, one of the other drivers being his mentor and rc legend Masami Hirosaka.

Afterwards Matsukura said he felt ‘unbelievably happy’ with the result and it was a great reward for his hard work and preparation over the past two years.  He said his biggest worry coming to German was the new car but early on he proved that it was a capable package. Asked about his mistake, the hugely popular character said everything went blank for a split moment but he regained his composure telling himself he was faster than the rest of the field and he could still win the Leg. That exactly what he did.

Rheinard who led the field briefly paid great respect to Matsukura for his spectacular drive.  ‘I thought when he crashed I could push the title out to the third leg but I could hear Scotty (Ernst) announcing lap after lap that he had made up more places and I knew he was going to do it.’ The German said that even without his mistake he would not have been able to hold off Matsukura saying he was just the class of the field at this event.

Although the World title is decided it is all still to play for in the 3rd leg of the final with the remaining two spots on the podium up for grabs.  Rheinard has two second place finishes but Paul Lemieux took third in Leg 1 and Jilles Groskamp was third for Leg 2 and so the place is not guaranteed yet.  With Matsukura set to sit out the last race of the day we can expect a very close fight to decide the final ranking of the Top 10 1:12 drivers in the world.

A-main leg 2 results
1. Matsukura Naoto – 36 8:05.662
2. Rheinard Marc – 36 8:08.302
3. Groskamp Jilles – 36 8:08.875
4. Völker Ronald – 36 8:12.293
5. Ahoniemi Simo – 36 8:13.673
6. Hebert Keven – 35 8:01.444
7. Cyrul Josh – 35 8:04.562
8. Harper Elliot – 35 8:04.895
9. Lemieux Paul – 34 7:53.008
10.Fischer Marc – 23 5:39.885

Full results can be found here.

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