Mitch tops Q2 but Evans remains fastest
JR Mitch set the fastest time in round two of 2WD Short Course qualifying to move up to second overall behind TLR team-mate Dustin Evans who, a long way of his Q1 pace, posted the third fastest time behind Taylor Larsen who despite improving his time drops to third overall as the 22T holds the Top 3 spots on the grid with Associated’s Steven Hartson best of the rest in 4th. Mitch said his 22SCT was ‘so much better’ after he changed pretty much everything that can be changed on the truck and moved to the same set-up as Evans is running. Confident that his Q1 time would be hard to beat Evans used the round to try a different tyre sauce which he said while it made the truck easy to drive overall he didn’t have enough grip to get even close to his morning pace.
In 4WD Buggy, Hartson topped the Q2 times ahead of Xray’s Paul Lemieux but it was a slower time for the Associated driver who remains 2nd overall behind team-mate Ryan Maifield who lasted less than a minute retiring after he popped a dog bone on his B44.2. Switching from blue to green compund Barcodes on his B44.2, defendng champion Hartson said his buggy felt better with him able to set a new fastest lap time of 17.844 but too many crashes meant he could convert that into an overall faster time. Lemieux’s improved time sees the Touring Car ace move up a stop to hold third overall.
2WD Short Course Qualifying after Round 2
1. Dustin Evans – TLR – 16/5:19.789 (1)
2. JR Mitch – TLR – 15/5:04.345 (2)
3. Taylor Larsen – TLR – 15/5:07.547 (2)
4. Steven Hartson – Associated – 15/5:10.973 (1)
5. Michael Twilling – Kyosho – 15/5:11.416 (2)
6. Mike Stoll – Associated – 15/5:13.699 (2)
4WD Buggy Qualifying after Round 2
1. Ryan Maifield – Associated – 17/5:18.257 (1)
2. Steven Hartson – Associated – 16/5:06.004 (1)
3. Paul Lemieux – Xray – 16/5:15.841 (2)
4. Kyle Skidmore – Associated – 16/5:17.266 (2)
5. Trevor Nault – Associated – 16/5:17.533 (2)
6. Aaron Breuer – Kyosho – 16/5:19.478 (1)
View the event image gallery here.