Ronnefalk on pole at Euros
16-year-old reigning European Junior Champion David Ronnefalk will start the Main final at the 2012 1:8 Offroad European Championships from pole position after the Swede won his Semi in a faster time than that of reigning champion Robert Batlle’s Semi winning time.
Starting from pole Ronnefalk controlled the 20-minute encounter to take a comfortable win over the Xray of Renaud Savoya and his Kyosho team-mate Elliot Boots who had to recover from a first lap off that left in at the tail end of the 12 car field. While the top 3 appeared to have everything under controlled in relation to their progression to the final the main battle of the race was over 4th, 5th and 6th position. In the end having bumped up from the 1/4 final Team Xray’s Martin Bayer just pipped JQ’s Joseph Quagraine to the line for fourth while behind them LRP driver Borja Hernandez secured the final place on the grid having had to recover from an number incidents early in the race and a battle with Ignacio Candell and former 2 time Champion David Tortorici.
In terms of drama it was the first Semi which produced the biggest moment so far as Top Qualifier Darren Bloomfield’s TLR came to a halt while the British driver was out front. Half way through the race Bloomfield looked as though he might suffer the same faith as last year when while also holding a bump place he suffered a flame out. With his car stopped on the track when the marshal picked up the Novarossi powered 8ight a stone fell out of the rear wheel. Turning the wheels backwards the car had drive again and he was able to resume in fifth position. Setting the fastest lap of the Semis two laps later Bloomfield was able to recover to take fourth which puts him 6th on the grid, the first of the cars that will start around the corner of the split starting grid.
After Bloomfield’s scare it was the No.2 starting Mugen of Batlle that went on to win ahead of the man he beat to claim last year’s title Jérôme Aigoin. Having been Top Qualifier the last two years and started on pole 12 months ago, the French Champion will line-up third for this evening’s 45-minute title deciding encounter. Two former champions to bump from the first Semi were TLR’s Miguel Matias who finished third and Yannick Aigoin who finished fifth and will be the sole Associated on the grid. Finishing fifth to make Kyosho the most represented brand in the final with four MP9s was Christoffer Svensson who will line up 9th.
Having successfully defended his 4WD Electric European Championship title at the track just last month Team Durango’s Joern Neumann, who made the final last year, will not be adding to his trophy cabinet this evening as he could only manage 9th in his Semi. Also missing the cut, finishing 7th in the same Semi, was former champion & Agama team driver Daniel Vega.
Main Final Starting Grid
1. David Ronnefalk (SE) – Kyosho/Orion
2. Robert Batlle (ES) – Mugen/Novarossi
3. Jérôme Aigoin (FR) – Kyosho/Novarossi
4. Renaud Savoya (FR) – Xray/RB
5. Miguel Matias (PT) – TLR/RB
6. Darren Bloomfield (GB) – TLR/Novarossi
7. Yannick Aigoin (FR) – Associated/Novarossi
8. Elliot Boots (GB) – Kyosho/Novarossi
9. Christoffer Svensson (SE) – Kyosho/OS
10.Martin Bayer (CZ) – Xray/nVision
11.Joseph Quagraine (FI) – JQ/JQ
12.Borja Hernandez (ES) – LRP/Alpha
View complete event results here.
View our event image gallery here.