Volker continues domination in France

Ronald Volker’s domination of the 2010 European Touring Car Championship continues on the second day of qualifying with the Team Yokomo driver topping Q3 in a new fastest time as the Top 3 for the round broke into the 16 laps.  Recording 16-laps in 5:17.156, the German said his car was loose in the beginning of the run, something he feels may be due to removing the tyre warmers too early as after a few laps his LRP powered BD5 feels ready good.

Recording the second fastest time and the fastest lap for the round, Viktor Wilck was slightly more content with his car after adjustments to the rear wing gave his Speed Passion powered Tamiya more steering.  Despite putting in his best run so far the Swede is not happy saying the gap to Volker is still far too big.  Also suffering with his car being loose at the start of the run Wilck plans to warm his tyres for longer next time out.

TRF team-mates Elliot Harper and Jilles Groskamp took 3rd and fourth fastest respectively, both having headed Volker in the first half of the run.  The only other driver to make 16 laps, Harper said after 2-minutes he starts to lose around 1/10th of a second a lap to Volker although the car doesn’t feel any slower.  With three good results now to his credit the British teenager plans to use the remaining three qualifiers to test and try to close the gap to Volker.  Having run a Speed 6 bodyshell Harper plans to switch to an LTC-R for Q4.  Groskamp said he has to drive better admitting he lost concentration in the middle of the run.  The defending Champion will start Q4 behind Volker, Wilck and Harper and believes this could play to his advantage as he can chase them down rather than have to worry about their position behind him.  Team leader Marc Rheinard’s event isn’t getting any better the World Champion crashing again in the round and didn’t finish.

Having thought he had a bad set of tyres in yesterday’s second round of qualifying, Andy Moore later discovered that the problem was in fact a faulty tyre warmer cup.  With new cups fitted this morning, the factory Hot Bodies driver was back at the sharp end of the time sheets setting the fifth fastest time. Describing his run as solid, the 2006 Champion said he was surprised by his pace.  With his TCX pushing a little he plans to move the rear shock position to get more steering.

Yannick Pruemper said his Yokomo developed bad understeer in the later part of the run but the German teenager was still able to set the sixth fastest time.  Looking to defend his European Junior title here tomorrow, he plans to try heavier shock oil in Q4.  Team-mate Steven Weiss set the ninth fastest time and although his car is better overall he continues to struggle to get it to be fast over the opening laps.

Team Corally’s Marc Fisher enjoyed his best run so far but the German said he is having to drive with caution to stop the rear end getting loose.  The German said tyre preparation is critical on this technical track, but even with that 100% he feels that Volker, Groskamp and Harper are going to be very hard to catch.  Once again Loic Jasmin was the best of the French competitors taking his Team Orion powered Tamiya to the eight fastest time with 2009 Finalist Lucas Urbain breaking into the Top 10 for the first time with his Losi.

Outside the Top 10 Olly Jefferies was the best of the Associated drivers recording the 12th fastest time while Manuel Henriet was fastest Schumacher in 16th three places ahead of the quickest Xray for the round driven by Martin Hudy.

Qualifying standings after 3 rounds
1. Ronald Volker (DE) – 0pts (Yokomo/LRP)
2. Elliott Harper (GB) – 8pts (Tamiya/Speed Passion)
3. Jilles Groskamp (NL) – 9pts (Tamiya/Team Orion)
4. Victor Wilck (SE) – 11pts (Tamiya/Speed Passion)
5. Yannick Preumper (DE) – 19pts (Tamiya/Speed Passion)
6. Loïc Jasmin (FR) – 21pts (Tamiya/Team Orion)
7. Andy Moore (GB) – 24pts (Hot Bodies/Nosram)
8. Steven Weiss (DE) – 29pts (Yokomo/LRP)
9. Cyril N’Diaye (F) – 30pts (Tamiya/LRP)
10.Marc Fisher (DE) – 33pts (Corally/GM)

Full results can be found here.

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