Pietsch TQs opening Qualifier
2009 World Championship Top Qualifier Robert Pietsch has topped the opening round of qualifying at the 18th IFMAR 1:8 Onroad World Championship. The reigning European Champion was fastest from 2008 finalist Dario Balestri and class newcomer Atsushi Hara, the three being the only drivers to record 37 laps.
Pietsch was surprised by his own pace of a 10:12.769 as he drove within his limits to ensure he had a solid time should he encounter any problems in the remaining qualifiers. Describing track conditions as good and happy that the wind which caused him problems yesterday had gone, he said his Mugen worked well as did his pitman who pulled off two very quick pitstops.
Driving his Novarossi powered Capricorn Balestri said he lost some time during one of his two stops but other than that everything worked really well. Like most of the leading drivers the Italian said he did not push too hard and now with a strong time to his credit he can push harder in the second of today’s qualifiers. With the skies having filled with clouds since the opening run the potential is there for much faster track times in Q2.
Hara said the opening qualifier ‘worked as planned’. Having predicted he could run a 37 lap run after setting the pace in yesterday’s extra practice, the Japanese ace achieved it. Once he made 36 laps, the OS Speed team driver made a fuel stop to ensure he made the finish and hopefully that 37 laps is good enough to ensure him a spot in the Semis, he said he will now try to run just one stop at the 5 minute mark in the second qualifier and run straight through to the finish.
Having not featured in practice, Kyosho team driver Takaaki Shimo got everything right when it counted as he set the fourth fastest time. A-finalist in Switzerland, the Japanese driver, who like Hara runs OS engines, made the run with just one fuel stop but said it was very close and this forced him to run a cautious second half of the run. Japanese drivers enjoyed a strong opening qualifier with 19-year-old Takehiro Terauchi setting the fifth fastest time with his Mugen.
Former 1:10 Onroad World Champion Daniele Ielasi took his Shepherd Velox V8 to the sixth fastest time. Describing the run as good, the popular Italian said his factory Picco engine was a little too rich but he was happy to have a safe run in the bag.
Top Serpent for the round was Paolo Morganti who he said his 966 was really good but the driver was not and for Q2 the only thing he needed to change was himself. The best placed American he also set the fastest lap for the round being the only driver to post a 15 second lap.
For defending champion Lamberto Collari his plan to run just one stop did not pay off as his Novarossi powered Kyosho stopped after four and half minutes. Runner-up at the last World Championships Mike Swauger continued to struggle with the clutch settings on the new Xray RX8 and he only completed 8 laps.
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