Yannick Aigoin heads Losi 1-2 in opening qualifier

Yannick Aigoin headed a Team Losi 1-2 in the opening round of qualifying for the 2010 EFRA 1:8 Off Road European Championships here in Portugal.  The French ace set the pace from team-mate Martin Bayer who was just 7/10 adrift, the pair being the only drivers to record a 37 second lap during the round.

Aigoin, who ran Procircuit Marathon tyres on his Novarossi powered 8ight, said the track conditions had deteriorated since yesterday and his suspension set-up was not perfect but overall it was not a major problem for him.  Runner up last year, the former Champion said the event is proving a real challenge in terms of set-up as both the track and the weather conditions are constantly changing and it is hard to predict the correct things to change.  With the running order changing for the second round of qualifying, the top drivers have over a four hour wait until they are back on track so most are waiting til nearer that time to see the condition of the track and then make set-up and tyre choices accordingly.

Bayer described his first run as ‘a perfect start’ and felt the track was much cleaner than yesterday.  Running Caliper M2 tyres, he described his Losi as easy to drive and very consistent but the Czech ace believes the second run is probably going to be a very different challenge.  Only 19th fastest for the first round Darren Bloomfield described the run as frustrating saying the track conditions are so random.  Having set the fastest lap time in yesterday’s practice and ended up fourth overall, the British driver had two crashes, both of which he put down to the surface breaking up. One of these was as a result of a stone which his Losi duly dug out of the track.

Setting the third fastest time, Kyosho’s Simon Willets said his run was ‘not bad’.  Running soft AKA Cityblock tyres on his Orion powered MP9, the UK driver retained the set-up used yesterday but just pushed a little harder today now that times count.  Willets thinks he will not change much in terms of set-up but closer to the time will speak to Mark Pavidis regarding what tyres to choose for Q2.  One of three ex-racers behind AKA, former World Champion Pavidis is over from the US to support the growing number of drivers using their tyres.  Team-mate Jerome Aigoin was fifth fastest, a position he seems keen on, having been fifth in both timed practices yesterday.  TQ’ing Q1 last year in Austria, the twin brother of Yannick said the track was very different to yesterday offering a lot more grip but he is pleased how it went.  In between the two Kyosho drivers with the fourth fastest time was yesterday’s pace setter Miguel Matias with his Losi.

Heading the Team Associated challenge with the sixth fastest time was Neil Cragg.  The British Champion was first out on track along with Matias in the top group and found the track a little slippy. Running Revolver M3 tyres, he said he lacked a little steering, forcing him to ‘drive it like he stole it’, the more aggressive style helping him to make the corners.  For team-mate Robert Batlle the day did not start out well as he struggled around in only the 13th fastest time, one place behind Electric Touring Car World Champion Marc Rheinard.  The Spaniard said his car had a complete lack of grip but he is not sure why that is.  Using Caliber M3 tyres he could not make the double due to his lack of grip.  A switch to softer shock oil is one change he will make but after that he is undecided but said at least he has plenty of time to make the call.

Driving the Agama Racing A8-Evo, Dani Vega was an impressive 7th fastest for the opening qualifier.  Having switched back from the Losi Active diff he tried yesterday to the standard Agama kit diff he said the car was so much better. Running AKA iBeam medium compound, the 1999 Champion said his focus for the rest of the day will be to tune his driving to the buggy rather than making big set-up adjustments.

Having driven conservatively yesterday 1:10 Off Road ace Lee Martin set the 8th fastest time with his Losi.  The British driver said he is still gaining confidence with the heavier 1:8 buggy but was pretty happy with his run this morning and hopes to build on that later today.  For now he plans to make no changes to his 8ight.

Fastest of the Mugens and completing the Top 10 for Q1 were Daniel Reckward and defending champion Renaud Savoya.  Savoya said he went with too hard a tyre and had no traction.  After a disastrous opening lap, on which he lost over 3 seconds, he said he had to switch to a safe driving style which was ultimately slower.  Chasing his third consecutive European title here the Warm-up race winner is going to give the set-up on his MBX-6 a full rethink.

Results after Round 1 of qualifying
1. Yannick Aigoin (FR) Losi/Novarossi – 8 Laps in 5:09.008
2. Martin Bayer (CZ) Losi/Novarossi – 8 Laps in 5:09.772
3. Simon Willets (GB) Kyosho/Team Orion – 8 Laps in 5:11.724
4. Miguel Matias (PT) Losi/RB – 8 Laps in 5:12.183
5. Jérôme Aigoin (FR) Kyosho/Novarossi – 8 Laps in 5:12.857
6. Neil Cragg (GB) Associated/Reedy – 8 Laps in 5:13.700
7. Daniel Vega (ES) Agama/Team Orion – 8 Laps in 5:13.771
8. Lee Martin (GB) Associated/Reedy – 8 Laps in 5:14.750
9. Daniel Reckward (DE) Mugen/RB – 8 Laps in 5:16.664
10.Renaud Savoya (FR) Mugen/RB – 8 Laps in 5:16.803

Full results can be found online here.

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